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 widths may be used for aesthetics and effect.
What is the most common deck board size?
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 are treated deck boards?
x 16 ft. Standard Pressure-Treated Decking Board.
What size is deck wood?
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.
What is the actual size of a 5 4 deck board?
5/4 Decking Actual Dimensions 1″ x 5.5.”
If you use 5/4 decking, you are getting two-thirds of the board of a 2×6.
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Can I use 1×6 for decking?
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.
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.
How thick is a standard deck board?
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”.
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.
What is the actual size of a 1×6 deck board?
Nominal vs. Actual
| 1x Lumber | |
|---|---|
| Nominal Size | Actual Size |
| 1×4 | 3/4 x 3-1/2 |
| 1×6 | 3/4 x 5-1/2 |
| 1×8 | 3/4 x 7-1/4 |
Should deck boards have a gap?
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. Deck spacing isn’t anything to take lightly.
Is 4×2 OK for decking?
4 x 2 Timber Rail / Joist. Pressure treated timber joists. These decking joists are the most common sized framing timber for decking. They provide a solid structure for fixing your decking boards too.
Can you use 2×10 for deck boards?
For upper-level decks, 2×10 is recommended as the minimum size to use for strong guard post connections. 2×6 joists should only be used on ground-level decks that do not require, and will not provide for, any guards.
Why do they call it 5 4 decking?
It simply refers to how many 1/4-inches thick the rough stock is. For example, 4/4 (read out loud as four-quarters) is 1-in. thick in the rough. 5/4 is 1-1/4-in.
How far can you span 5 4 deck boards?
Decking Board Considerations
If you use 5/4 decking, joists must be no farther apart than 16 inches. Decking made of 2x4s or 2x6s can span up to 24 inches.
What is the actual width of a 6 inch deck board?
Specifications
| Actual Thickness (in) | 1.25 |
|---|---|
| Actual Length (ft) | 16.00 |
| Actual Width (in) | 6.00 |
| Common Length In Feet | 16-ft |
| Industry Standard Minimum Length (ft) | 16.00 |
Can you use 1 inch boards for a 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.
What is a 5 4 deck board?
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: Decking Thickness Definition Table.
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 many square feet is a 16 foot deck board?
EXAMPLE: Say you’ve chosen the 16-foot standard width deck board. First, take the width (5.5 inches) and convert it into feet by dividing it by 12 inches, which gives you 0.45 feet. Then multiply 0.45 by 16 to get the board’s area: 7.33 square feet.
How much does it cost to build a 16×20 deck?
On average, you can expect to pay about $20,000 for a 16 x 20 foot composite board deck.
How do you stagger deck boards?
A common method for staggering a deck is to start the first row with a full plank, then cut one-third of the next row’s first board off the end. The row after that has an additional one-third cut off and then repeat when you get back to a full board.
How do you measure a deck board?
How Much Decking Do I Need? – YouTube
What is a 5 4 inch board?
5/4 means approximately 1-1/4″ thick. 6/4 means approximately 1-1/2″ thick. 8/4 means approximately 2″ thick.
How many posts do I need for a 12×16 deck?
A standard deck will need four footings parallel to the house, but they will need to be temporarily braced by 6 inch-by-6 inch posts. Using doubled boards, you will then need to build beams on the top row of the posts to frame the edges of the deck. These must be topped with adjustable post caps.
How much does it cost to build a 10×10 deck?
Cost To Build A Deck By Size
| Deck Size | Square Feet | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 10×10 | 100 | $1,500 – $3,500 |
| 10×12 | 120 | $1,800 – $4,200 |
| 12×12 | 144 | $2,160 – $5,040 |
| 12×20 | 240 | $3,600 – $8,400 |
How much lumber do I need for a 8×10 deck?
You will need six 4-by-4 or 6-by-6 pieces of lumber for the posts and four 2-by-10 pieces of lumber that are at least 10 feet long. The latter will combine to make up the two large beams to support the deck. You will also need eight 2-by-6 beams for your joists, which have to be at least 8 feet long.
What does a 1×6 actually measure?
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. The length of the boards is generally exactly what you order, though we usually only stock pieces of even lengths.
What is the actual size of a 1×8 board?
Nominal vs. Actual Measurements of Dimension Lumber
| Nominal Size | Actual Size |
|---|---|
| 1 x 6 | 3/4 x 5 1/2 inches (19 x 140 mm) |
| 1 x 8 | 3/4 x 7 1/4 inches (19 x 184 mm) |
| 1 x 10 | 3/4 x 9 1/4 inches (19 x 235 mm) |
| 1 x 12 | 3/4 x 11 1/4 inches (19 x 286 mm) |
How much is a 2×8 piece of lumber?
2 x 8 Construction/Framing Lumber at Menards
| Everyday Low Price | $39.99 |
|---|---|
| 11% Mail-In Rebate Good Through 3/5/22 | $4.40 |
Should you nail or screw deck boards?
Decking screws are better than nails when building a deck. Decking screws hold down your decking more securely than nails and will stop your decking from warping. Also, you can easily remove screws for deck maintenance without causing damage.
Do you have to stagger deck boards?
Staggering the seams or butt joints where the boards meet is an important part of how to lay out the deck boards. What is this? Staggering the deck boards decreases the number of screws or nails going into one joist, which can weaken or rot the joist more quickly.
Should deck boards be installed crown up or down?
Crown up is the preferred installation method, despite the potential for bark side down deck boards to experience shelling. Bark side down allows for the formation of a crown warp. Once the board forms a crown, there’s less potential for the wood to hold water, which could lead to the wood splintering and rotting.
Can you use 3×2 for decking base?
3×2 can be used but you’ll have to support it more frequently throughout its length, say every five feet or so.
What lengths do 4×2 come in?
4×2 Timber lengths
3.6 metres x 100mm x 47mm. 4.8 metres x 100mm x 47mm. 5.4 metres x 100mm x 47mm. 6.0 metres x 100mm x 47mm.
Can you use 3×2 for decking frame?
Building a deck requires joists or framework that are fully treated to cope with all the extreme conditions for external use. Whether you require 3×2, 4×2 or even 6×2 we are able to supply the required timber for the job.
How far can I span a 2×8 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”.
Can I use 2×8 for deck boards?
Q: Can I use 2×8 treated lumber as deck boards? A: No, that’s a not a good idea. Lumber wider than 6 inches should not be used as a flat surface. Wide, flat boards have a tendency to pool rain water, which can lead to cupping problems.
How far can a 2×8 span without support?
A rule of thumb is 1.5 times a joist’s depth but in feet when spaced at 16” centers. In general, a 2×8 will span 1.5 x 8, so 12-feet.