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NOTE: Standard boards are often called a 5/4 board when referring to traditional lumber, which means the actual thickness is typically somewhere between 1” and 1 ¼”. Thicker boards are often called a 2 x 6 when referring to traditional lumber, which means the actual thickness is somewhere between 1.2” and 1.5”.
Can I use 2×6 for deck boards?
Wood decking is commonly available in 2×6 and 5/4 x 6 profiles. 5/4 x 6 is produced specifically for decking and is milled with a radius edge or bull nose. 2×6 is thicker and is stronger, but is also more expensive. Spacing between deck boards provide a few critical functions.
How thick should patio decking be?
The most commonly used thickness for deck construction is 1-1/4”. But you can also get boards 2” thick, while there are boards only ¾” thick. It depends on the material, how flexible it is, and its hardness rate.
What is the most common deck board size?
The most common or standard deck board width is 6-inch wide planks based on square-foot coverage, labor, and material cost.
Can I use 1×6 for deck boards?
Width of material: We recommend only 1×4, 5/4×4 or narrower boards. Never use 1×6 or 5/4×6 material in close to ground applications. Spacing between boards: You must allow space for your deck boards to expand when they take on moisture, as they will inevitably do when exposed to wet weather, rain or high humidity.
Should deck boards have a gap?
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.
Should you leave a gap between deck boards?
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 size boards should I use for decking?
Width: Six-inch wide boards are ideal in most cases. Four inch wide material takes longer to install, creates more gaps and requires a lot more fasteners—but you can use it. Eight inch wide boards, because of their greater width, have more of a tendency to crack and cup; avoid using them.
What size wood should I use for my deck?
For the deck surface, you can use 2x4s, 2x6s, or 5/4x6s. The 5/4 decking (pronounced “five-quarter”), available in cedar and pressure-treated fir, is 1 inch thick and 5-1/2 inches wide with rounded edges that make for a splinter-free surface. Cedar 1x lumber usually has one rough side and one smooth side.
How many deck boards do I need for a 12×12 deck?
For example, a 12-foot x 12-foot deck of 5/4 x 6 pressure treated wood decking on 16 inches on center spacing of joists will require: A 12-foot long deck with joists 16 inches on center will require 10 joists. 20 fasteners x 26 (number of rows of decking) = 520 fasteners. Add 10 percent to be safe.
What is the actual thickness of a 5 4 deck board?
Comparing 5/4 Decking With 2×6 Deck Boards, Pros and Cons 2×6 Deck Boards 5/4 Decking Thickness 1 ½” (38mm) 1″ (25mm) Joist Spanning 24″ (600mm) 16″ (400mm) Weight 2.36 lbs (1.07kg) lnft* 1.59 lbs (0.72 kg) lnft* Profile cut Square Cut Rounded Radius Edge.
What size board should I use for deck joists?
Commonly used joist sizes are 2-by-6, 2-by-8 and 2-by-10. For example, when you space joists 16″ apart — which is standard for residential decks — a deck spanning 9 1/2′ would require 2-by-6 joists, a 13′ deck would need 2-by-8 joists and a 16′ deck calls for 2-by-10 joists.
How many decking boards do I need for a 10×10 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 thick is a 1×6 deck board?
1×4 and 1×6 boards lose 1/4 inch in thickness and 1/2 inch in width before leaving the mill. That means a 1 x 4 board is actually 3/4 inches by 3 1/2 inches. The larger 1x boards (1×8, 1×10, etc.).
Do deck boards need to be pressure treated?
As long as there’s a good chance that moisture can reach the wood, it should be pressure treated. This is why the International Building Code requires that siding and structural lumber used for the last six inches of the structure above the ground is pressure treated.
How wide is a 1×6 deck board?
A 1×6, for example, actually measures 3/4″ x 5 1/2″. In this case, the planing is necessary for a smoother surface, so that the board could be used for interior applications.
Should you nail or screw deck boards?
The Consensus: For a deck build it’s best to use a combination of nails and screws. Screws are superior for laying down the decking. They hold things flush better and have a better fastener/tensile strength, which keeps boards from popping up over time.
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 much should deck boards overhang?
The decking should overhang the joists between ¼ and 2 inches beyond the end joists and rim board. The amount of overhang you should leave depends on your deck board materials: Most wood decks: ¼” to 1 ¾”.
