Hi, I'm building my first deck. I have a couple of questions regarding
decking board spacing. I have almost completed the substructure, where
2x8 joists are spaced on 16" centers and I'm going to use 5/4x6 decking
boards perpendicular to the joists. Actually I have purchased 5/4 x 6
presure treated decking boards, the stamp says KD19 southern yellow
pine. They've been sitting in my carport (you know, a garage
with only a roof, no surrounding walls) for about 3 weeks.
The first question is about the spacing between decking boards, I've
seen conflicting posts on google on this matter, some recommend using
8d-10d nails as spacer, others insist butt the boards tightly for PT.
I figure it has a lot to do with how dry (or wet for that matter) the
wood is. So is KD19 considered to be dry? The boards has been stacked
tightly in my carport for 3 weeks, how will this affect the dryness
of them? I measured a couple of the boards and they are between 5 9/16"
and 5 5/8". Will they eventually become 5 1/2" when they are completely
dry? Also, a question for those who has used similar woods, roughly
how long after installation will the board dry out to produce the final
spacing (a week, a month, or 6 months)?
To speak of spacing, what do people deal with the first row of board
that go against the house, I'm confused because I've reading different
opinions - some say butt against the house, other say leave a 1/4" to
1/2" gap to allow drainage. Please advice.
A final question, what are the pros and cons of starting laying the
decking from the house side versus starting from the other side and
working towards the house? Which one is more practical? I've read
in a book where it is suggested that working from the outmost side
towards the house to laying deck boards is a better way because a
narrow row of decking will be less apparent against the house.
Thanks in advance for your help.
BTW, I'm in Massachussetts if that will have an effect on the answers
to my question.
- glacier
Put them as close together as you can as you will end up with a 3/16 gap
by doing this............note: i have never seen dry treated
lumber.......the word of the wise.
Hope this helps you as the first deck i build i left an space and was
sorry for doing so.........just completed my 3rd deck and very happy
with the spacing on the last 2.
On Thu, 29 Jul 2004 19:24:25 GMT, Pat Barber <[email protected]> wrote:
> I would leave a 1/2" gap between house and boards.
> Leaves and other trash is gonna get on the deck and
> you are not wanting anything to jamb in between
> house and deck. You might not get enough "shrinkage"
> so make the gap in the beginning.
I used a synthetic decking for mine, and the spacing is just shy
of 1/2 inch. I have to agree that wide spacing isn't a bad
thing, by any means. Like Pat says, the random crap has a chance to
fall through, yet the gap isn't wide enough to catch toes, heels, or
chair legs.
Shrinkage with the BORG's synthetic decking has been zero, FWIW.
Dave Hinz
Thanks to Rob, Bill, Robert, and UA100 for sharing your experience,
much appreciated.
I'm going to butt the boards tightly to allow for the shrinkage
of PT and I'll be laying the boards starting from the house side
towards the beam because I'll have to build railings (deck is 4' high).
As for my second deck spacing related question, whether the first
row of board should be placed tightly against the house or, there
should be a spacing to allow rain water to drain - could someone
shed some light? After the shrinkage of the boards, what will be
considered a proper spacing between the first row of board and the
house? Or there doesn't have to be gap at all? BTW, I used Z flashing
to cover the top of the ledger, also roofing felt were placed between
the ledger and the house.
Thanks,
- glacier
[email protected] (Robert L. Witte) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> > I've built a few decks in the Maryland area and always butted the (5/4
> > x 6) decking boards tightly. Within a year, there was an 1/8" to 1/4"
> > gap between boards. I've seen decks where the boards were spaced and
> > later had as much as 1/2" gap. I always started at the house and
> > worked outward. You need to measure to the outside of the deck every
> > few boards and allow a little gap as necessary to keep the boards
> > parallel to the outside edge. I've cut as much as half of a board at
> > the outer edge and it really isn't noticeable if there is railing. If
> > you won't have railing, I'd consider working from the outer edge in.
> >
> > HTH
> > Bill
>
> I build decks as part of my remodeling business. I agree with Bill.
> Get those boards as close as you can and you will be amazed how open
> the parallel joints will be after a season. I use pry bars, other
> short bars and my Gorilla bar to push the boards into place.
>
> One tip here, look around Google or get a woodworking book to see how
> to place the boards to prevent cupping. And remember no matter how
> you try you will never get the boards straight, so pop a reference
> line equidistant from the area you are working up to like your house,
> and make sure you maintain the same distance. Otherwise that last
> board could look like a giant wedge.
>
> Make sure you cut off the splits on the end to square things up. I
> usually make the joist/subframing layout fall short by about one half
> inch so I can cut a quarter of an inch or so off each end of the
> boards to square them up.
>
> Goog luck!
>
> Robert
[email protected] (Glacier) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Hi, I'm building my first deck. I have a couple of questions regarding
> decking board spacing. I have almost completed the substructure, where
> 2x8 joists are spaced on 16" centers and I'm going to use 5/4x6 decking
> boards perpendicular to the joists. Actually I have purchased 5/4 x 6
> presure treated decking boards, the stamp says KD19 southern yellow
> pine. They've been sitting in my carport (you know, a garage
> with only a roof, no surrounding walls) for about 3 weeks.
>
> The first question is about the spacing between decking boards, I've
> seen conflicting posts on google on this matter, some recommend using
> 8d-10d nails as spacer, others insist butt the boards tightly for PT.
> I figure it has a lot to do with how dry (or wet for that matter) the
> wood is. So is KD19 considered to be dry? The boards has been stacked
> tightly in my carport for 3 weeks, how will this affect the dryness
> of them? I measured a couple of the boards and they are between 5 9/16"
> and 5 5/8". Will they eventually become 5 1/2" when they are completely
> dry? Also, a question for those who has used similar woods, roughly
> how long after installation will the board dry out to produce the final
> spacing (a week, a month, or 6 months)?
>
> To speak of spacing, what do people deal with the first row of board
> that go against the house, I'm confused because I've reading different
> opinions - some say butt against the house, other say leave a 1/4" to
> 1/2" gap to allow drainage. Please advice.
>
> A final question, what are the pros and cons of starting laying the
> decking from the house side versus starting from the other side and
> working towards the house? Which one is more practical? I've read
> in a book where it is suggested that working from the outmost side
> towards the house to laying deck boards is a better way because a
> narrow row of decking will be less apparent against the house.
>
> Thanks in advance for your help.
> BTW, I'm in Massachussetts if that will have an effect on the answers
> to my question.
>
> - glacier
Butt them as tight as you can. Leave gap at the house siding. Start at
either end, makes no difference.Rent or borrow a bowrench, makes
pulling up boards a snap. I usually pull three or four boards up at a
time then nail. Make sure you are using correct fasteners for todays
new treated lumber. Stainless steel or double dipped galvanized is
generally reccomended.Apply a sealer such as thompsons as soon as you
can after completion of deck.
mike
[email protected] (Glacier) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Hi, I'm building my first deck. I have a couple of questions regarding
> decking board spacing. I have almost completed the substructure, where
> 2x8 joists are spaced on 16" centers and I'm going to use 5/4x6 decking
> boards perpendicular to the joists. Actually I have purchased 5/4 x 6
> presure treated decking boards, the stamp says KD19 southern yellow
> pine. They've been sitting in my carport (you know, a garage
> with only a roof, no surrounding walls) for about 3 weeks.
>
> The first question is about the spacing between decking boards, I've
> seen conflicting posts on google on this matter, some recommend using
> 8d-10d nails as spacer, others insist butt the boards tightly for PT.
> I figure it has a lot to do with how dry (or wet for that matter) the
> wood is. So is KD19 considered to be dry? The boards has been stacked
> tightly in my carport for 3 weeks, how will this affect the dryness
> of them? I measured a couple of the boards and they are between 5 9/16"
> and 5 5/8". Will they eventually become 5 1/2" when they are completely
> dry? Also, a question for those who has used similar woods, roughly
> how long after installation will the board dry out to produce the final
> spacing (a week, a month, or 6 months)?
>
> To speak of spacing, what do people deal with the first row of board
> that go against the house, I'm confused because I've reading different
> opinions - some say butt against the house, other say leave a 1/4" to
> 1/2" gap to allow drainage. Please advice.
>
> A final question, what are the pros and cons of starting laying the
> decking from the house side versus starting from the other side and
> working towards the house? Which one is more practical? I've read
> in a book where it is suggested that working from the outmost side
> towards the house to laying deck boards is a better way because a
> narrow row of decking will be less apparent against the house.
>
> Thanks in advance for your help.
> BTW, I'm in Massachussetts if that will have an effect on the answers
> to my question.
>
> - glacier
Butt them as tight as you can. Leave gap at the house siding. Start at
either end, makes no difference.Rent or borrow a bowrench, makes
pulling up boards a snap. I usually pull three or four boards up at a
time then nail. Make sure you are using correct fasteners for todays
new treated lumber. Stainless steel or double dipped galvanized is
generally reccomended.Apply a sealer such as thompsons as soon as you
can after completion of deck.
mike
> I've built a few decks in the Maryland area and always butted the (5/4
> x 6) decking boards tightly. Within a year, there was an 1/8" to 1/4"
> gap between boards. I've seen decks where the boards were spaced and
> later had as much as 1/2" gap. I always started at the house and
> worked outward. You need to measure to the outside of the deck every
> few boards and allow a little gap as necessary to keep the boards
> parallel to the outside edge. I've cut as much as half of a board at
> the outer edge and it really isn't noticeable if there is railing. If
> you won't have railing, I'd consider working from the outer edge in.
>
> HTH
> Bill
I build decks as part of my remodeling business. I agree with Bill.
Get those boards as close as you can and you will be amazed how open
the parallel joints will be after a season. I use pry bars, other
short bars and my Gorilla bar to push the boards into place.
One tip here, look around Google or get a woodworking book to see how
to place the boards to prevent cupping. And remember no matter how
you try you will never get the boards straight, so pop a reference
line equidistant from the area you are working up to like your house,
and make sure you maintain the same distance. Otherwise that last
board could look like a giant wedge.
Make sure you cut off the splits on the end to square things up. I
usually make the joist/subframing layout fall short by about one half
inch so I can cut a quarter of an inch or so off each end of the
boards to square them up.
Goog luck!
Robert
I would leave a 1/2" gap between house and boards.
Leaves and other trash is gonna get on the deck and
you are not wanting anything to jamb in between
house and deck. You might not get enough "shrinkage"
so make the gap in the beginning.
Glacier wrote:
> As for my second deck spacing related question, whether the first
> row of board should be placed tightly against the house or, there
> should be a spacing to allow rain water to drain - could someone
> shed some light?
On 28 Jul 2004 13:13:00 -0700, [email protected] (Glacier) wrote:
>Hi, I'm building my first deck. I have a couple of questions regarding
>decking board spacing. I have almost completed the substructure, where
>2x8 joists are spaced on 16" centers and I'm going to use 5/4x6 decking
>boards perpendicular to the joists. Actually I have purchased 5/4 x 6
>presure treated decking boards, the stamp says KD19 southern yellow
>pine. They've been sitting in my carport (you know, a garage
>with only a roof, no surrounding walls) for about 3 weeks.
>
>The first question is about the spacing between decking boards, I've
>seen conflicting posts on google on this matter, some recommend using
>8d-10d nails as spacer, others insist butt the boards tightly for PT.
>I figure it has a lot to do with how dry (or wet for that matter) the
>wood is. So is KD19 considered to be dry? The boards has been stacked
>tightly in my carport for 3 weeks, how will this affect the dryness
>of them? I measured a couple of the boards and they are between 5 9/16"
>and 5 5/8". Will they eventually become 5 1/2" when they are completely
>dry? Also, a question for those who has used similar woods, roughly
>how long after installation will the board dry out to produce the final
>spacing (a week, a month, or 6 months)?
>
>To speak of spacing, what do people deal with the first row of board
>that go against the house, I'm confused because I've reading different
>opinions - some say butt against the house, other say leave a 1/4" to
>1/2" gap to allow drainage. Please advice.
>
>A final question, what are the pros and cons of starting laying the
>decking from the house side versus starting from the other side and
>working towards the house? Which one is more practical? I've read
>in a book where it is suggested that working from the outmost side
>towards the house to laying deck boards is a better way because a
>narrow row of decking will be less apparent against the house.
>
>Thanks in advance for your help.
>BTW, I'm in Massachussetts if that will have an effect on the answers
>to my question.
>
>- glacier
I've built a few decks in the Maryland area and always butted the (5/4
x 6) decking boards tightly. Within a year, there was an 1/8" to 1/4"
gap between boards. I've seen decks where the boards were spaced and
later had as much as 1/2" gap. I always started at the house and
worked outward. You need to measure to the outside of the deck every
few boards and allow a little gap as necessary to keep the boards
parallel to the outside edge. I've cut as much as half of a board at
the outer edge and it really isn't noticeable if there is railing. If
you won't have railing, I'd consider working from the outer edge in.
HTH
Bill