Do you space pressure treated deck boards?

Leave a gap between pressure treated deck boards when the wood is wet. 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.

Which way do you install pressure treated decking boards?

Place boards bark side up. This side will be more likely to have treated sapwood on the exposed face. For Above-Ground treated wood, make sure there is good under-deck ventilation, allowing airflow around the entire deck. All Above-Ground treated members must be off the ground and free of leaves or other debris.

How should deck boards be laid out?

Deck boards should sit 1 ½” off the edge of each side of your deck. Use your straightest deck board and lay it first across the deck’s front edge, opposite your house. Each board should have a ⅛” gap. All deck board should end on a joist, making sure to stagger deck board ends.

Should deck boards be bark side up or down?

The usual reason given for placing deck boards bark-side up or siding bark-side out is to reduce cupping, a form of warp. Cupping results from the shrinking of the top and swelling of the bottom of the wood, which are caused by exposure to moisture and drying by the sun.

Should a deck be level or sloped?

What slope should a deck have? The answer is it depends if the deck is solid or not. A solid deck needs to be sloped between a 1/8″ (3mm) and ¼” (6mm) per foot to encourage water drainage. Decks with properly gapped decking boards require no slope as rain will naturally run off the boards even when level.

How many screws should I put in decking?

Most decking boards will require two screws each to fix them securely onto the floor joists. As for decking boards to rim joists, many recommend using at least three screws.

Can you put composite decking over existing treated lumber?

Install the new joists so that there are only 8 to 12 inches between each joist. This will provide enough extra support to handle the composite decking. With the deck frame reinforced, you can install the composite planks with confidence. Lay the planks tightly together and ensure that they are all evenly placed by checking them with a square.

Why are there gaps between pressure treated wood deck boards?

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. For this reason, I usually butt deck boards as tightly together as possible, so that they’ll leave a slight gap when they do shrink.

What’s the best way to lay a deck board?

Use your straightest deck board and lay it first across the deck’s front edge, opposite your house. Each board should have a ⅛” gap. All deck board should end on a joist, making sure to stagger deck board ends.

Do you need to butt pressure treated wood boards together?

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT. Danny Lipford: When people are building pressure treated decks, they often ask whether they should space the boards apart or butt them tightly together. The answer really depends on the type of wood you’re using. Regular pressure treated wood tends to be somewhat wet when it’s new.