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how do i calculate how much material i need for a deck

by Burdette Luettgen Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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(DSA) Deck Surface Area (in square feet) = Deck Length (feet) X Deck Width (feet). You need to calculate lineal feet to determine how much material you'll need. Width of Boards (feet): Necessary to determine lineal feet.

The first step for answering “how to calculate how much decking I need” is to determine your deck's square footage, or area, by taking the length of your deck times the width (L x W). EXAMPLE: For a deck that is 16 feet long and 12 feet wide, multiply 16 by 12. This gives you 192 square feet, your deck's total area.Apr 20, 2021

Full Answer

How to estimate deck materials?

Materials for that same 10’ x 10’ deck can cost between $3,003 and $6,297 if using exotic hardwood. Using composite to build a 10’ x 10’ deck can cost between $1,983 and $4,293. If you were to go a bit bigger and build a 20’ x 18’ deck: If that deck had a height of 8’2” and ran a total of 339 square feet, pressure-treated pine ...

What material is best for your deck?

  • Voyage provides 34% or greater surface traction than other leading brands of composite decking*
  • Virtually no thermal expansion or contraction and is warranted for installation in the ground or water.
  • Ideal near water as it features textured embossing for enhanced traction.
  • Won’t splinter, sag, chalk or crack
  • Stain- and fade-resistant cap stock

More items...

What deck material should I use?

Wood and Composite Decking Review: Pros and Cons

  • Natural Wooden Planks. Wood is the original and traditional material used for decks. ...
  • Wood-Polymer Composite. Also known as composite, wood alternatives, or synthetic decking, wood-polymer composite has quickly become the fastest-growing decking material for residential use in the past dozen years.
  • Pressure-Treated Wood. ...
  • Plastic. ...
  • Aluminum. ...

How to calculate linear feet of decking material?

  • Let's say you want a deck that is 20 ft long and 13 ft wide. ...
  • You chose a board which is 8 ft long and 6 in wide. ...
  • Let's calculate the square footage of one decking board: 8 ft * 0.5 ft = 4 ft²
  • Now we can calculate the number of decking boards needed. ...

More items...

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How much material do I need for a 12x12 deck?

A 12 -by-12-foot deck will need 144 lineal feet of decking. The amount of individual boards will depend upon the size and type of decking your choose and the amount of space you plan to leave between decking boards.

How many deck boards do I need for a 10x10 deck?

For a 10×10 square deck, you would therefore need twenty-two 10' deck boards. Dimensions for deck boards can vary depending on the look you want and the deck board type you use. However, the most common is a 5/4” thick by 6” wide deck board of any length.

How do you calculate deck boards?

To determine your deck's measurements, you'll want to measure its length and width from the longest point – even if there are shorter angles and niches within its structure. From there, multiply the length and width together to arrive at the total square footage of your deck.

How many square feet is 10x10 deck?

100 square feetThe square footage of a room 10 feet wide by 10 feet long is 100 square feet.

How many deck boards do I need calculator?

0:322:28How Much Decking Do I Need? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUse your tape measure to find the length. And width of each shape. And Mark it down on a notepadMoreUse your tape measure to find the length. And width of each shape. And Mark it down on a notepad multiply the length and width of each area to find the square. Footage. Once you have the square

How many Trex boards do I need for a 12x12 deck?

35Choose from 8, 12, 16 or 20 ft board lengths. Choose which board best fits the dimensions of the deck. Make sure to order one square edge board for the outer edge of your deck....Decking Materials.Board LengthBoards Required8 ft5212 ft3516 ft2620 ft21

How do I calculate how much lumber I need?

You can measure board feet by multiplying length x width x thickness in inches, and then dividing by 144. If ordering a large amount by board feet, just multiply the total board feet needed by the price per board foot for the total cost.

How much does a 14x20 deck cost?

Cost to Build a Deck by SizeSizePressure-treated wood Average cost per sq ftComposite decking Average cost per sq ft10x20$1,300$2,80012x12$936$2,01612x20$1,560$3,36014x20$1,820$3,9203 more rows

How much does it cost to build a 16x20 deck?

16' x 20' Deck Cost in total size are the most popular size in the U.S. They have a total cost range from $4,800 to $15,040, depending on the material and style. These decks can be configured to have separate areas for relaxing, eating, and entertaining.

How many board feet are in a 2x10?

1.667This means when calculating board footage for 5/4" stock you must use 1.25 as the thickness instead of 1....How to Calculate Board Feet.Lumber DimensionBoard Foot Measurement2x81.3341x10.8342x101.6671x1218 more rows

How many square feet is a 12-foot deck?

46 equals 5.52 square feet per 12-foot board.

How many joists do I need for a 20-foot deck?

A 20-foot wide deck, for example, would require two beams: one at 10 feet and one and 20 feet in order to support a deck with 2×8 joists spaced 16 inches apart.

How to figure out how much decking I need?

The first step for answering “how to calculate how much decking I need” is to determine your deck’s square footage, or area, by taking the length of your deck times the width (L x W).

How to figure deck boards?

To find the number of deck boards you need for your build, take the area of your deck (calculated in Step 1) and divide that number by the board area (calculated in Step 3). Example: Step 1 gave you 192 square feet for the deck’s square footage and Step 3 gave you 7.33 square feet for the board square footage.

How much gap between deck boards?

TimberTech composite decking must be laid with at least a 1/8” gap between the boards, but spacing can ultimately vary depending on the type of decking and the type of fasteners you use.

How to calculate square footage of deck stairs?

Will your deck have stairs? You’ll need to multiply the length and width of each step, then add each to your deck’s area to get your total square footage.

How to apply board spacing to your material calculations?

To apply board spacing to your material calculations, calculate for the smallest possible space you could need to account for. This ensures you have sufficient decking material.

How many deck boards are there in a deck?

When you divide 192 by 7.33, you get 26.19. Round up to 27 deck boards.

What hardware is needed for a deck?

The hardware necessary for your deck build includes fasteners and screws.

What is a deck calculator?

The decking calculator can help you determine the number of decking boards and fasteners needed. It is also a tool for estimating the cost to build a deck (mainly focusing on deck flooring).

How to find the total cost of a board?

To know the total cost of the boards, we need multiply the price of one board by the total number of boards. If one board costs $7:

What is deck flooring?

Decking (deck flooring): the surface - the layer of decks on the joists.

How many times larger is the number of screws than the square feet of decking?

That means that the number of screws is 3.5 times larger than the number of square feet of decking. The equation would be:

Which is more expensive, composite or exotic hardwood?

exotic hardwoods (teak, ipe) are more expensive than composite, and are heavy and hard, which can make them unwieldy. needs maintenance (power-washing, restaining) less durable (prone to decay and rot) fades in the sun. Composite: Pros: no splinters.

Do you need stairs for a raised deck?

Stairs and railings or balusters - you'll need those if you want a raised deck.

Can you put plywood on a deck?

Alternatively, you can go for plywood decking - it is cheap, fast and easy to install, but you may have a problem with standing water, which can damage the deck.

How much more material do we add to trim loss?

We add 5% more material for trim loss.

How much trim loss for diagonal?

For diagonal installations, please add 15% for trim loss.

Lumber and Structure

Estimating how much lumber you need starts with looking at the basic elements of the deck: the foundation, the frame and the stairs. When trying to calculate decking, these elements comprise the structure of the deck and are made of concrete and framing lumber.

Determining How Much Concrete is Needed

Determining how much concrete you need per cardboard tube will depend upon the tube size, and how deep it needs to be set into the ground.

Hardware and Building Materials

When learning how to calculate decking, you'll need to keep in mind hardware and other building materials as well. Here are the basics you will need for this project:

Estimating Decking

Decking material makes up the deck flooring and is available in a variety of styles, lengths and widths. Whether you’re building a wood deck or composite deck, you’ll need to know the width of the decking boards.

Estimating Railings

Rail post and hardware: Your drawings will specify how many and what size your deck posts will need to be around the perimeter of the deck as well as down the stairs. Add up the number of posts and note the lengths.

How to Calculate How Many Deck Boards Do I Need?

There are several factors you should consider before calculating the number of decking boards you’ll require. First, what is the design of the deck? What is the shape? What is the total square footage? Are you going to angle your deck planks or are they going to be perpendicular to the joists?

How Much Do Deck Boards Cost?

We’ll take a look at 8’ pieces to compare costs between the major types of decking widely available.

How Many Composite Deck Boards Do I Need?

Thankfully most are 5 ½” wide, making it easier to calculate the number of composite pieces you’ll need. In that case, use the above method for calculating the number of composite planks you want for your project.

What is the longest decking board?

If your deck is long, butt joints are unavoidable as the longest decking board you’ll find is 20’. If you have a rounded edge on your deck, then you’ll have more waste since once you make your circular cut, you’ll have to remove a larger section of the remaining section to use it.

How thick is 2x6 lumber?

Keep in mind that some opt to use 2×6 dimensional lumber as their deck planking. In that case, the actual dimensions are 1 ½” thick by 5 ½” wide. Lengths of 2x6s that you can purchase range from 8 to 16 feet, in even intervals.

How many deck boards are needed for a 10x10 deck?

You’ll need a space of ⅛” between each board. For a 10×10 square deck, you would therefore need twenty-two 10’ deck boards. Dimensions for deck boards can vary depending on the look you want and the deck board type you use. However, the most common is a 5/4” thick by 6” wide ...

What is the best spacing for a deck?

You’ll see many different opinions on this topic, but I maintain that ⅛” is the ideal spacing for your deck planking. I wasn’t comfortable butting the widths together and assuming that shrinking and drying would provide an adequate gap over time, as some installers claim. So I figured ⅛” was sufficient.

Decking – Definition

Decking is the material of a timber platform fastened to the floor in a yard or other outdoor space and used for walking. We use decking as the base for a building’s outside space. Because you put boards together to make a deck, it will immediately stand out from any neighboring structures constructed of cement blocks, rock, or other materials.

Deck Components and Material

In the past, choosing a decking material used to be a straightforward task since wood was the only option. Other possibilities today include composite, plastic, and even metal.

Composite Decking vs. Wood

Wood decking is popular among homeowners since it is familiar, easily available, and inexpensive. However, wood decking issues include splinters, decay, and excessive maintenance. Even though composite wood decking is less expensive to install and maintain than wood, some homeowners are concerned that composites will not look as good as wood.

Cost to Build a Deck by Size – Table

Here are the most typical deck sizes and their average construction costs, based on a variety of materials from basic to premium:

Types of Decking

Softwood, hardwood, and composite decking are the three common decking materials available in any store.

How to Build a Deck?

If you’ve always wanted to build your deck but have been scared to take on such a massive, complicated project, you have come to the right place. All you need for a successful DIY deck project are simple carpentry tools and a willingness to put in some effort. There are seven steps that you need to follow in order to build a deck:

Decking Calculator – How to Use?

Calculate the length and width of your deck by setting pegs in the corners of your specified building area, stringing among them, and calculating the length of the string with a measuring tape.

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1.How to Calculate How Much Decking I Need | TimberTech

Url:https://www.timbertech.com/ideas/how-to-calculate-how-much-decking-i-need/

14 hours ago 20 ft (length) x 16 ft (width) = 320 sq. ft. When building a deck from the ground up, it’s important to consider how big your backyard or the area where you plan to build your deck is, or if you’ll need stairs. Head over to our free deck designer to get started on planning to design your dream deck.

2.Decking Calculator

Url:https://www.omnicalculator.com/construction/decking

19 hours ago To calculate the square footage of the deck, multiply the numbers: 20 ft * 13 ft = 260 ft². You chose a board which is 8 ft long and 6 in wide. Convert the width to feet - simply divide the …

3.Videos of How Do I Calculate How Much Material I Need For A Deck

Url:/videos/search?q=how+do+i+calculate+how+much+material+i+need+for+a+deck&qpvt=how+do+i+calculate+how+much+material+i+need+for+a+deck&FORM=VDRE

18 hours ago How do I calculate how much timber I need for a deck? ... An entry level deck with basic materials costs $15 per square foot, while a deck built with premium materials costs $35 per square …

4.Decking Calculator | Deck Material Calculator - Nova USA …

Url:https://www.novausawood.com/deck-calculator

30 hours ago Calculator Instructions. Enter length and width in feet. Boards will run length-wise in each section. We add 5% more material for trim loss. Material is generally supplied in even lengths only, …

5.How to Calculate Deck Materials - The Home Depot

Url:https://www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-calculate-deck-materials/9ba683603be9fa5395fab90a84d7ea3

26 hours ago To determine the deck estimates you’ll need for a deck where you can get full-length boards across (12-feet or 16-feet, for example) you’ll need to convert the deck’s width into inches. The …

6.How Many Deck Boards Do I Need? [Decking Calculator]

Url:https://plasticinehouse.com/how-many-deck-boards-do-i-need/

24 hours ago  · How do I calculate how much decking I need? The first step in figuring out is to compute the square footage of your deck by multiplying the length by the breadth (L x W). …

7.Decking Calculator with steps - How to build a Deck | Cost

Url:https://calconcalculator.com/construction/decking-calculator/

7 hours ago

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