jG

11/08/2003 12:46 PM

Cedar deck spacing

I am putting in a cedar deck and wanted to get some opinions on
spacing the deck boards. Important details are that my boards are 2x6
cedar and that I live in Oregon (i.e. it rains here sometimes). The
boards seem pretty dry, especially compared to the PT I bought for the
joists.

I searched postings and found advice ranging from butting them
together to leaving 1/4" space. I'm leaning toward about 3/16".

Thanks in advance.

-Greg


This topic has 3 replies

WB

"Wood Butcher"

in reply to [email protected] (Greg) on 11/08/2003 12:46 PM

12/08/2003 2:02 AM

I live in Oregon too and I used 1/4" spacing on mine. In
hindsight I wish I'd have gone with 1/8" instead. 1/4" is
just perfect for maple seeds to fall into and get stuck. It's
a real PITA digging them out individually by hand.

Art

"Greg" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am putting in a cedar deck and wanted to get some opinions on
> spacing the deck boards. Important details are that my boards are 2x6
> cedar and that I live in Oregon (i.e. it rains here sometimes). The
> boards seem pretty dry, especially compared to the PT I bought for the
> joists.
>
> I searched postings and found advice ranging from butting them
> together to leaving 1/4" space. I'm leaning toward about 3/16".
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> -Greg

WB

"Wood Butcher"

in reply to [email protected] (Greg) on 11/08/2003 12:46 PM

12/08/2003 1:49 AM

I live in Oregon too and I used 1/4" spacing on mine. In
hindsight I wish I'd have gone with 1/8" instead. 1/4" is
just perfect for maple seeds to fall into and get stuck. It's
a real PITA digging them out individually by hand.

Art

"Greg" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am putting in a cedar deck and wanted to get some opinions on
> spacing the deck boards. Important details are that my boards are 2x6
> cedar and that I live in Oregon (i.e. it rains here sometimes). The
> boards seem pretty dry, especially compared to the PT I bought for the
> joists.
>
> I searched postings and found advice ranging from butting them
> together to leaving 1/4" space. I'm leaning toward about 3/16".
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> -Greg

JF

Jack Forbes

in reply to [email protected] (Greg) on 11/08/2003 12:46 PM

11/08/2003 3:43 PM

Hi Greg

I just finished my deck. I used 5/4x6 cedar. I used about 1/8"
spacing. It's only been about a month since I finished. It's already
shrunk enough so that the gap is a lot wider then it was. Think about
that when you pick a gap size. Mine is more then double in some
places.

Jack

On 11 Aug 2003 12:46:49 -0700, [email protected] (Greg) wrote:

>I am putting in a cedar deck and wanted to get some opinions on
>spacing the deck boards. Important details are that my boards are 2x6
>cedar and that I live in Oregon (i.e. it rains here sometimes). The
>boards seem pretty dry, especially compared to the PT I bought for the
>joists.
>
>I searched postings and found advice ranging from butting them
>together to leaving 1/4" space. I'm leaning toward about 3/16".
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>-Greg

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Feel free to use it.
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