I recently hired a highly-rated handyman to replace the decking on my porch with Timber Tech composite materials. I ordered enough tongue and groove boards for the porch surface and some finished side boards for the landing. However, now that the materials have finally arrived, I'm worried about the steps. They need a polished appearance on the sides, and I realized that the tongue and groove boards wouldn't work for that. Is it possible to cut the tongues off the boards to make them look finished, or will they end up looking rough? I'm hoping I won't need to order more polished boards since it took ages to get this order in, and the supplier doesn't do small orders. I'm also feeling uncertain about this handyman as it seems like he should've anticipated this issue. Any advice on what to do?
2 Answers
Honestly, if your steps need to look polished, it's probably worth ordering some additional boards. I know it’s a hassle, but it's better to get it done right rather than regret it later. Maybe ask the handyman if he has ideas on how to make the cut look better if you decide not to order more. Sometimes they can do creative things with the edges!
Yeah, you can definitely cut off the tongues, but be prepared—they might not turn out perfectly smooth, especially if they're not designed for that. If you're looking for a clean edge, it’s usually better to have the right boards. But if you’re in a pinch, a good saw cut can do the trick. Just make sure your handyman knows what he's doing with the edges!
That’s good to know! I guess I'll need to discuss it with him. I just want it to look right, you know?
Thanks for the advice! I'll bring it up with him. I just hate the wait for more materials.