Adequate Airflow and Ventilation, below the deck, is important to the performance of wood decking. The deck should maintain a similar air moisture content below the deck as above the deck. This may require implementing certain drainage methods such as, pitching the soil underneath, plastic barriers, drainage substrate, etc.. In addition, the perimeter under the deck should not be enclosed. Failing to maintain adequate airflow and below-drainage can lead to poor performance, cupping, or warping.
To prevent cupping when affixing boards to a flat surface, kerf the bottoms of decking boards lengthways before installation – 3 grooves half the thickness of the board deep equidistance apart. These grooves can also be applied to boards when there is limited ventilation or moisture buildup below the deck. Watch the video about cupping here, www.bwdepot.com/videos
We advise adding extra boards because shipping only a few boards costs more than ordering a few extra. This also alleviates any additional shipping costs should a few of your full-length boards get damaged. Normally, you would simply cut out the damage and not need additional boards shipped. We will make good on any footage damaged, but we are not responsible for replacing the full-length boards when only a small portion of this board is the damaged portion.
Decking boards are not perfectly straight. The industry standard for variance in the straightness of Brazilian Hardwood decking is, 1/8”per ft. MOST decking boards have FAR less variance than that. This said, it is real wood and a product of nature, they are not manufactured in facility like composite and plastic decking. We do not sell deck boards that are unusable. You may need to utilize fulcrum leverage against the joists to straighten boards out, while installing.
Full length boards are not recommended because:
- They look more like man-made boards,
- The seams help the decking look more like plank flooring and an extension of your home,
- Brazilian Hardwoods are very resistant to rot at the joints
- Easing the ends of the boards improves the appearance (see this article, bwdepot.com/finishing-touch-hardwood-deck-designs/)
- Longer boards cost more, and most importantly, buying a variety of lengths is more environmentally responsible.
1×6 (5.5” x .75”) is the standard size for hardwood decking because these woods are so strong that the thicker, more expensive, 5/4×6 boards aren’t typically necessary. We do stock 5/4×6 material for situations that might require the additional thickness.
When installing decking with any clip system or Camo, apply sub floor adhesive under the deck boards and on top of the joists during installation. This will fill any voids between a low joist and the deck board and prevent any board movement after acclimation. Please refer directly to the specific installation guides for more detailed information, www.bwdepot.com/installation
When installing T&G you must allow 1/16TH INCH spacing between boards to allow for expansion. Apply sub floor adhesive under the deck boards and on top of the joists during installation. The boards DO NOT need to end on the joists. DO NOT install T&G boards on a subfloor. They should be fastened directly to the joist system. Specific installation instructions here.
Using Decking boards on a vertical or horizontal face like siding or fencing can amplify, the above mentioned, imperfections. Deck Boards are often utilized as siding/fencing/cladding, however you may not be able to create the necessary leverage to straighten them out, while installing. Alternatively, we mill siding that comes out perfectly straight, but costs more than decking and requires width loss, in milling. By utilizing decking boards in this way, the cost savings are usually considerable. The tradeoff is that some boards may be difficult to utilize. We are not responsible for replacing Deck Boards that are not usable as siding, cladding, fencing, or the like. This should be taken into consideration when planning the necessary ‘waste factor’ of the materials.
RainAway Decking: Joist spacing must by 16” or less. Install using SS face screws OR screws and plugs installed 1.5” away from edges. Deckmaster can be used but you must drill more holes in the mounting brackets without penetrating the channel. Boards must be installed with a ¼” / foot slope slanting away from the house. Boards MUST be spaced at 1/8”.
