Should You Stagger Deck Boards

The more joints you have the weaker the structure is. Tangelo makes a good suggestion about using longer deck boards so there is no joint at all. The next row do a 12 and 6 arrangement.
should you stagger deck boards should you stagger composite deck boards

Rich bergman editor you should consider staggering the joints and i would cut some of the deck boards into 6 lengths.

Decks feature planks for walking on but if these.

Should you stagger deck boards. Do you stagger composite decking. Any time you can use a long boardyou should. For years down the line you will be able to enjoy your deck just a little bit extra knowing that you personally built it. This will look better and may even be stronger.

How to stagger deck boards. Composite decks are not as stable as wood so the. Deck boards no matter the thickness 54 or 2 should always be fastened on top of a double joist so there is enough nailing edge on each decking board where they are butted. You need to be aware of things like thermal expansion because the climate fluctuates which could cause problems on the way the decks are spread.

Wooden decks are a common exterior addition to homes allowing families extra space to use when enjoying the outdoors. One way to make your deck more aesthetically pleasing is to stagger your boards. If you dont the center beamjoist should be doubled up. Building your own deck is a satisfying achievement.

Youre essentially building two 8x8 decks next to each other with the center beam carrying double the load it should be if not doubled up. Staggering deck board patterns by. Installing double joists where the boards meet in a run takes pre planning meaning you need to know where the boards will butt and have a double joist installed before nailing down the decking. The only caveat would be that longer board are more prone to twisting and warping as they dry.

You should start one row with a 6 and 12 arrangement. But unless you are going to have your lumber custom milledthe longest standard lumber is 16 at least where i live. Typically if youre going to have butt joints on your deck boards you want to stagger those joints randomly so they dont form a pattern. If you stagger them that is not the case.

When installing composite decking it is vital to follow the instructions issued by the manufacturer. The deck is more structurally sound if you stagger. You would run these along the 18 side. You can custom order your lumb.