Should I leave a gap between pressure treated deck boards?
Leave a gap between pressure treated deck boards when the wood is wet. Whether to leave a gap between pressure treated wood deck boards depends on how dry the wood you’re using is.
Why is it important to leave space between deck boards?
This is why it is necessary to leave appropriate spacing between them when building a deck. Most deck boards are pressure treated, which means they will be somewhat wet when they’re new. When wet, the fiber in the woods holds moisture and, as a result, expands.
How far apart should wood deck boards be spaced?
Proper wood deck board spacing should have at least a 1/8 inch gap after the decking has dried out. If you install your wood or treated deck boards while they are still wet boards, then they should be attached without a gap between them. The gap will be created as the fresh wood slows dries and contracts within the first month.
Do I need different spacing for hardwood and pressure-treated decking?
Pressure-treated wood and hardwood decking will usually require different spacing than modern composite decking, innovative mineral-based composite decking, or strong PVC decking. DecksDirect is your deck project guide - we believe in planning decks that will not only look great today, but last for years to come with minimal maintenance.
What Should Deck Board Spacing Be?
How much space between deck boards?
Should I space my pressure treated deck boards?
And if so, how big should the gap be? Proper deck board spacing should have a 1/8-inch gap after the decking has dried out. If you install your decking using wet boards, pressure-treated decking that has not yet dried out, then you should install them with no gap as a gap will be created as they dry and shrink.
What is the proper spacing for pressure treated deck boards?
The amount of space between deck boards should be anywhere from ¼” to 3/8” inch. You want plenty of space for water to flow between the boards and to allow small debris to fall to the ground. Deck board spacing greater than 3/8” of an inch can become problematic.
Do I need to leave a gap between decking boards?
Determining Deck Board Spacing When using wood decking, you want a gap of at least 1/8 of an inch after your decking has dried out. If you're using decking that's already been dried out, you can leave a 1/8-inch gap when you install. Many decks will use “green” wood, or wood that hasn't been dried down or kiln dried.
What happens if you don't space deck boards?
Without the right deck spacing, the boards may expand, cup, and buckle out of place. As a result, you may have to replace broken decking, or reinstall the boards with wider spacing to prevent further cupping and buckling, which can be time consuming and expensive.
How much of a gap should be between deck boards?
When installing new air-dried decking the proper gap ranges from 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) - 1/4 inch (6.5mm) depending on the environment. If you are installing air-dried decking during a rainy or humid season you may want to place the boards with a 1/8 inch (3.5mm) gap.
Is it better to nail or screw deck boards?
Should I use Decking Nails or Decking Screws? Decking screws are better than nails when building a deck. Decking screws hold down your decking more securely than nails and will stop your decking from warping. Also, you can easily remove screws for deck maintenance without causing damage.
How long does it take for pressure treated wood to shrink?
Over time, most treated lumber will shrink slightly across its width as it dries out. Take this small amount of shrinkage into account when laying decking or fence boards. After being outdoors for six to 12 months, treated lumber will develop cracks, called "checks," along the surface of each board.
What can I do if the boards on my deck are too close together?
To widen the gap between the deck boards run the saw forward lightly touching one side, then check for clearance. If the space is still too narrow, make a second pass on the other side. You may have to make several passes using the same process to widen the space between the deck boards for desired spacing.
What is the correct way to lay decking boards?
What is the correct way to lay decking? Any decking board manufacturer or professional will tell you: “The proper way to install a decking board is ridge side down.” The ridges are designed to allow for airflow, to stop moisture sitting in the ridge, and allow for a stronger structure.
How do you work out deck board spacing?
Square footage of board spacing = (S) x Length of deck First, convert the inches into feet (3.125 divided by 12) to get 0.26 feet. Then multiply 0.26 feet by 16 feet to get 4.16 square feet, the total area of board spacing.
Is it better to nail or screw deck boards?
Should I use Decking Nails or Decking Screws? Decking screws are better than nails when building a deck. Decking screws hold down your decking more securely than nails and will stop your decking from warping. Also, you can easily remove screws for deck maintenance without causing damage.
How far apart should deck screws be?
Though there's no legal standard for screw spacing, an even spacing looks best. Don't put the screws three inches apart on one board and four inches apart on the next. Pick a spacing and stick with it.
A Guide to Proper Spacing Between Pressure-Treated Deck Boards
Learning how to correctly install deck boards may truly let your outdoor area shine to its full potential. There are various options for decking materials out there from natural and pressure-treated deck boards’ alternatives to the rich, diverse hues of composite deck boards.
How long should a deck spacer be?
Make a few to allow you to space the full length of the board. The board needs to be 3-4″ (75-100mm) long. Long enough to easily grab but short enough as not to overhang the decking board.
What happens when you put decking on the bark side up?
As it dries, the longer cells will shrink more, pulling the edges of the deck down and the water off the decking. When installed bark side up, the boards will cup, pool water and rot.
Why do you need to gap between deckings?
It is not good for the decking to pool water, which will increase rot and make your deck unsafe. Gapping between the decking allows for excess rain to drain off the deck.
What is 5/4 decking?
5/4″ decking was an innovative idea to reduce decking costs while improving appearances of wood decking. And caught on it has, now the majority of wood decking I install is 5/4″. I am not alone, as now most new wood decks are 5/4″. But the spacing of 5/4″ decking is a little different than traditional decking.
How many boards will a six board gap grow?
A simple story of multiplication. Six boards gapped large will grow less than 30 boards. Small adjustments will blend into the design. A large wedged decking board at the wall is ugly, and small adjustments can avoid that.
Can you cut 5/4 decking through a tree?
Yes, a lot of 5/4 decking boards are cut through the heart of the tree. So on one end of the decking, the rings may be smiling, but the other end is frowning. I get it, but you need to try at least. The good news is with edge screwing or face screwing.
Is it better to install decking boards tighter than final design?
All softwood decking will shrink. Therefore it is best to install decking boards tighter than your final design to account for shrinkage. With SPF treated decking, tight is best. With cedar with its lower shrinkage rate, a small 1/16″-1/8″ gap (2-3mm) works better.
Why Appropriate Spacing of Deck Boards Is Vital?
Having an appropriate space between deck boards is absolutely vital for a number of reasons. We have already talked about the shrinking and expanding that they will be subject to during the seasonal cycles. But there are three other reasons why you will want to leave enough space between deck boards.
How much space between deck boards?
And according to code, you will need to leave a minimum of 1/8 in (0.32 cm) gap between your deck boards. If you’re living in a place with this code, you could be required to uninstall your boards. So make sure to check it beforehand.
What Do I Do About the Shrinking and Expanding of Deck Boards?
The best way to deal with the shrinking and expanding of deck boards is to leave proper spacing. The process is pretty straight forward. But it depends on what season you install the boards in.
Why do boards rot?
The moisture caught in the boards can also evaporate more easily. This is important to prevent the boards from accumulating moisture for too long and, as a result, succumbing to rots.
Why are boards bigger?
When these fibers hold moisture, they tend to expand, making the boards bigger.
When do wood boards contract?
During the more humid months of summer, the wood fibers in the boards will soak in more moisture, leading them to expand. And during the dryer months of winter, the boards will once again contract as they lose their moisture.
When do boards go flush?
This means the boards will go flush during the rest of the humid season, and then once they lose the moisture from the pressure treatment and the additional moisture accumulated during the wet season, they will contract back in the dryer seasons.
What is the purpose of spacing between deck boards?
Spacing between deck boards provide a few critical functions. The primary function is to drain water from the deck. Gaps that are narrow (1/8”), can catch debris, specifically on top of the joists, and can be difficult to clean out. Larger gaps, such as 1/4”, allow more of this material to fall through the deck.
What kind of wood is used for decking?
People used redwood, cedar, pressure-treated pine and even some exotic hardwoods. Wood has some beautiful natural characteristics, but also requires some maintenance. Decking comes in many forms these days. There are over a hundred different man-made decking products on the market today.
What is man made decking made of?
There are over a hundred different man-made decking products on the market today. Most are composed of wood-plastic composite, capped composite, vinyl and aluminum. They offer low-maintenance and a variety of appearances. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.
Why is decking important?
Your choice in decking is very important because it is the surface you will see, walk on, maintain and have to live with for years to come. Do some research on our site to find a material that lends itself to your tastes.
Is ventilation necessary for a deck?
Ventilation below the deck is also enhanced by the gaps between the deck boards, but this is only important in ground-level decks. For lumber decking, both the moisture content of the lumber and the environment its installed in matter.
How much gap between pressure treated wood?
Leave Gap: If the pressure treated wood has been kiln dried after treatment (KDAT), leave a 1/8” gap (the thickness of an 8-penny nail) between the boards when attaching, since the wood will expand slightly over time.
Does pressure treated wood shrink?
Regular pressure treated wood tends to be somewhat wet when it’s new. That means, as it weathers in the sun and the heat, it will dry out some and shrink slightly.
How much does it cost to maintain a PT deck?
Upkeep: The biggest downside to PT wood decks is the upkeep. PT wood decks can withstand weather and stand strong for 30+ years, but they must be maintained regularly. This includes applying water sealant every year, staining the deck every two years, and pressure washing the deck twice a year. In all, you will spend approximately 20 hours and $250 every year to maintain a deck. Over a 30 year period, that is 600 hours (or 30 weekends) and $7,500 maintaining a wood deck.
What is pressure treated wood used for?
Generally, pressure treated (aka 'PT') wood is used in the construction of decks, pergolas, and sheds.
What happens to wood decking in the winter?
In other words, during the Winter we have ice and during the Summer we have rain. What happens to the wood during this time is that water enters the pores of the wood, causing the wood to expand and contract as the water enters and leaves the wood. This process causes splits (or 'checking') in the wood (which occurs with every wood deck). But, applying water sealant will decrease the effects of this natural process.
What happens to wood when water enters the pores?
What happens to the wood during this time is that water enters the pores of the wood, causing the wood to expand and contract as the water enters and leaves the wood. This process causes splits (or 'checking') in the wood (which occurs with every wood deck).
Does lumber have a warranty?
Warranty: The good news is that most lumber manufacturers offer a long-term warranty, which generally covers fungal decay and termite infestation. The bad news is that most consumers don't know it.
Is pressure treated wood good for decking?
In all, pressure treated wood, like anything, has its good qualities and its not-so-good qualities. But, with excellent features such as its resistant to fungal decay and termites as well as its attractive price-point, pressure treated wood is an outstanding choice to use for the construction of your deck.
Does pressure treated lumber repel insects?
Rot Resistant & Repels Insects: The chemicals used to create pressure treated lumber prevent rot resistant but they also act as an insecticide; so, with PT wood, you receive a 2-for-1 deal.
What Should Deck Board Spacing Be?
From natural and pressure-treated decking options to the rich, versatile colors of composite deck boards; learning how to install deck boards properly can truly make your outdoor space shine to its fullest. Whether attaching the deck boards via wood deck screws or color-matching deck fasteners, or using a proprietary hidden deck fastener system; learning what deck board spacing should be is crucial.
How much space between deck boards?
Proper wood deck board spacing should have at least a 1/8 inch gap after the decking has dried out. If you install your wood or treated deck boards while they are still wet boards, then they should be attached without a gap between them. The gap will be created as the fresh wood slows dries and contracts within the first month.
