Deck Board Comparison
| 5/4” x 6” | Deck Material | 2” x 6” |
| Standard or premium | Lumber grade | #2 or standard |
| Smooth | Finish | Less Smooth |
| 1/2″ round | Edges | 1/4″ round |
| 8’, 10’, 12’, 16’ | Standard lengths | 8’, 10’, 12’, 16’ |
What is the length of a standard deck board?
Jun 29, 2021 · What Is the Standard Deck Board Size? Common deck board widths are 4”, 6” and 8”. The widths are readily available in most lumber or building supply stores, and the number of pieces easily calculated into deck dimensions. Other …
What is the width of a standard deck board?
4 rows · Jan 09, 2020 · 9/16 inch (14 mm) 4/4 inch. 1 inch. 13/16 inch (21 mm) 5/4 inch. 1 1/4 inch. 1 1/16 inch (27 mm) ...
What is the actual size of a deck board?
Wood decking is commonly available in 2x6 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. 2x6 is thicker and is stronger, but is also more expensive. Spacing between deck boards provide a few critical functions. The primary function is to drain water from the deck.
What are the dimensions of a 5 4 deck board?
E.g., 5/4 x 6, 5/4 x 4. 1”. This is the most common decking board sold; based on standard 16” OC joist spacing and type of material, this may be the minimum allowable thickness. “Eight-Quarter” or “8/4” or “2x”. E.g., 2 x 6, 2 x 4. 1.5”.
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.
What is the actual size of a decking board?
Lumber sizes are usually given in "nominal" measurements. The nominal measurements are a board's size before it has been planed smooth (surfaced) on all 4 sides....Decking Planks.Nominal SizeActual Size5/4 × 61" × 5-1/2"6/4 × 61-5/16" × 5-1/2"
Should I use 2x6 or 2x8 for deck?
For upper-level decks, 2x10 is recommended as the minimum size to use for strong guard post connections. 2x6 joists should only be used on ground-level decks that do not require, and will not provide for, any guards. ... Most decking is not strong enough to support longer spans than 16".
Can you use 2x6 for deck boards?
Wood decking is commonly available in 2x6 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. 2x6 is thicker and is stronger, but is also more expensive. Spacing between deck boards provide a few critical functions.
How many deck boards do I need for a 12x12 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.
How many decking 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 far can a 2x8 span for a deck?
Depending on various factors, the maximum span for a 2×8 floor joist is 16' 6”. The maximum span for roof rafters is 23' 9”. For headers, the maximum span is 11' 2”. Finally, a single deck beam has a maximum span of 5' 11” and double maxes out at 8' 9”.
How far apart should the posts be on a deck?
8 feetFor Building a Deck Railing, Deck Frame, or Fence The maximum spacing of 4x4 deck posts should be 6 feet on center, while the maximum spacing of 6x6 deck posts should be 8 feet on center.15-Jul-2019
How far can a 2x8 span without support?
Based on different manufacturers' specifications, the maximum span a 2×8 LVL is from 12' to 15'. Spans are also affected by the species of wood used in the manufacture of the laminated joists, with western woods edging out eastern woods in unsupported span distance.
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.27-Jan-2022
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.
Can I use 1x6 for decking?
Never use 1x6 or 5/4x6 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.
What is the difference between 5/4 and 2x6 deck boards?
Since 5/4×6 have a specific purpose, they are milled smoother and have a more rounded edge to prevent splintering and scuffing.
How thick should deck joists be?
If the board is too thin for the span, it will feel spongy or bouncy. Deck joists are commonly 12-inch, 16-inch, or 24” on-center (OC).
What is composite decking?
Composite Decking. Composite boards are manufactured from recycled plastic and wood to look like wood. They are very resistant to mold, insects, and rot. It is available in more than 24 wood tones and colors, and lengths up to 20-feet.
How long is an aluminum plank?
Aluminum planks are weather and waterproof boards up to 36-feet in length. Available in many different anodized or powder coated finishes, as well as silver, sand, or gray tone aluminum. Low maintenance, no warping, cracking or splinters, or any mold, mildew, rot, or UV worries, plus a lifetime guarantee. (1” x 6”x 12’ = $60 to $80)
How thick is a tree plank?
When a tree is cut down and then milled into planks, it is commonly 1 or 2-inches thick with varying dimensions in widths. The surfaces are rough to touch and show milling saw marks. The wood is either air or kiln-dried, which decreases the moisture content. As it dries, the wood shrinks, especially in width.
How many inches is one foot?
Mathematically, one-foot or 12-inches is divisible by 1-2-3-4-6-12, making the number of planks to cover a deck surface easier to calculate. Widths of 1”, 2”, 3” or 4” require more pieces and thus labor to cover the same area.
What is Eugene's passion?
He is passionately interested in home improvement, renovation and woodworking.
What kind of wood is used for decking?
People used redwood, cedar, pressure-treated pine and even some exotic hardwoods. Wood has some beautiful natural characteristics, but also requires some maintenance. Decking comes in many forms these days. There are over a hundred different man-made decking products on the market today.
How often should I stain a deck?
Wood decking will require you to stain your deck at least every year for the first several years to protect the surface from sun and moisture damage. When the decking is installed, it is usually high in moisture content, which can lead to cracks in the wood if it is allowed to dry too quickly.
What is the moisture content of lumber?
For lumber decking, both the moisture content of the lumber and the environment its installed in matter. “Green” lumber with a moisture content of more than 19% can be installed with nearly no gaps in arid environments, and in a few short months, will shrink to a desired size gap.
What is a TV screen made of?
Most are composed of wood-plastic composite, capped composite, vinyl and aluminum. They offer low-maintenance and a variety of appearances. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Videos you watch may be added to the TV's watch history and influence TV recommendations.
How thick is a deck board?
There is a nominal thickness and then an actual thickness. The most popular thickness for decking boards in North America is a 5/4 thickness which is an actual 1” thick. Use the table below to understand the most common board thicknesses:
What is composite decking made of?
One of the most popular options for homeowners in the past 20 years has been composite decking, made of modified plastics and other materials. They made a splash in the market for their variety of colors and affordability, but over time the downsides have become more well-known.
What are joists on a deck?
Joists are the heart of your deck infrastructure. If you have ever looked up at a deck from underneath, you’ve seen joists, which are dimensional lumber, (often 2×8’s or 2×10’s). They are set upright for strength, usually fastened to the house at one end, and sitting on top of a central support beam near the other end.
What is joist spacing?
Joists are typically spaced out evenly for stability, ease of board installation and a clean look. Joist spacing is the distance between each joist, and are measured in inches from center-of-joist to center-of-joist. Joist spacing is typically referred to as “On-Center” or “OC”, e.g, 16” OC. The bigger the space between the joists, ...
Deck Board Thickness by Material Strength
When it comes to traditional decking, the species (or type) of wood you build with impacts the overall performance and longevity of your deck. Why? Because different types of wood are stronger — or weaker — than others. Certain tropical hardwoods, for example, are hardier than common pressure-treated woods like cedar or pine.
Deck Board Thickness by Joist Spacing
The primary reason to choose thicker deck boards over standard? If you need more than the conventional 16” spacing between the center of your deck joists.
Deck Board Thickness: Residential vs. Commercial
There will be different building codes and requirements depending on whether your build is residential (like a composite deck in your backyard) or commercial (like a dock, boardwalk, or similarly high-traffic area).
What is a deck frame?
A deck frame is essentially a wooden platform raised off the ground and supported by beams and posts. The posts stand on concrete footings called piers. The platform frame is made primarily from of 2-by lumber called joists. On a small deck, the beams are sometimes incorporated into the joist framing.
How far apart should joists be on a deck?
The minimum joist size is a 2-by-6, which may span up to 11 feet 7 inches without additional support if they are spaced just 12 inches apart.
What is rim joist?
The rim joists are the joists that make up the outside of the frame. If the deck is fastened to a house or other building, the board that fastens to the house framing is the ledger board. The ledger board is another joist and is usually the same size lumber as the other joists.
Is a deck a good addition to a house?
A deck is always a nice addition to have in your home, especially when you’ve got a nice garden view overlooking it. It’s an outdoor space that becomes an extension of your indoor living space.
