Leave a 1/8″ space between butted ends as cedar will also expand lengthwise. What do you do? Finally, wood species can also impact spacing. Decking board spacing provides airflow through your deck, allowing evaporating air to escape. Again, consider how dry the wood is and the season before deciding on going with the wider 1/4” gap or a 1/8” gap. While the gap in your deck boards may seem like a small step in a deck project, the gap size you choose serves a significant purpose. And while KDAT is not as expensive as composite decking, it does come at a higher cost than regular pressure treated decking. DecksDirect. With this in mind, consider using screws over nails. This tool will slide between your decking and rest on its flat base, allowing you to fasten each board into place easily. Side-angle entry provides a beautiful, fastener-free deck surface. With my YouTube channel, I am able to give accurate and credible videos to the viewers. Poorly spaced boards can lead to damage to deck boards and even your deck framing, or it may leave gaps that may make your deck unsafe for walking. When considering deck spacing, it’s important to remember that wood is made up of fibers that are capable of retaining moisture. If you’re trying to create a 1/4” gap, try 1/4-inch thick plywood. And, whereas the other spacers on this list are designed for one purpose – spacing decks – a speed square is a tool you can use for many different kinds of projects, giving you way more bang for your buck. The gaps allow rain and snow to drain through rather than a puddle on your deck, resulting in an unsafe walking surface, and the growth of mold and mildew. Myard DJS3.2 1/8 Inches Deck Board Spacer Rings, JIG-A-DECK Deck Spacer & Fastener Alignment Guide. Simply attach the tool to a perpendicular joist and give it a pull close gaps up to two inches big. Proper spacing of your deck boards is a critical step that shouldn’t be overlooked. Gaps that are too small will trap debris, creating an environment for rot. BoWrench® BW-2 Board Bending Decking Tool. This makes it easy to yank the spacer free after your deck boards are secured. Use Our Free Deck Design Software. Try a speed square. Simply slide the square into place between the boards. With this in mind, if you’re installing decking in the summer, you could install it with a minimal gap, knowing that in the winter, the wood will shrink, creating a larger gap. This heavy-duty aluminum-alloy speed square makes for a nice 1/8″ spacer between your deck board. Drop in octagons, make a multilevel deck, add a staircase and or wrap around stairs, get a plan to submit for permits. Nails fall through cracks as you’re working the boards into place. The tool head is stainless steel and is 1/8″ thick, which will clear the standard spacing between deck boards. Joist Spacing … Start a nail or screw in the board. Having appropriate spacing for your deck is important to allow for everything to expand and contract when the temperature fluctuates. Likewise, if installing in the winter, you might need that quarter-inch gap to account for the wood swelling come summertime. Board: Show in Diagram: Running Board Measurements. Leave at least a 1/8″ gap between composite boards. However, if you make your home in say Denver, Colorado, where humidity stays consistently dry throughout the year, you don’t need to worry about how humidity will affect your boards. Available now on tablets with screen sizes 8" … Make sure you carefully consider the characteristics of the wood you’re using and the environmental conditions your deck is exposed to before you determine what size gap to go with between your deck boards. The Camo Marksman Pro If you’re using the Camo Edge Fastening system to attach your decking, then you don’t need to worry about spacing. Available Description & Documents. You’re not the first one to make this mistake and you certainly won’t be the last. And unlike other spacers that only provide you a tab large enough to fit a finger or two, this spacer includes a full-sized handle. Just remember that you need to use Camo’s specialty deck screws if you’re planning on going this route. If your deck is slightly out of square (different widths), calculate results for both widths, and set out each end to suit. Not sold on these DIY options for creating a perfect gap between your deck boards? One single spacer captures the four (4) most common deck spacing dimensions. The eighth-inch spacing provides for a safer surface for walking. Over months, treated wood will dry out and contract. Quarter-inch spacing does allow for better ventilation, drainage and debris removal. Each ring has a large handle that makes it easy to grip between your fingers. The folks at Lounsbury Products LLC know this, and they’ve designed The Saw Guide to help you. Build the backyard haven of your dreams with deck projects at Menards®! A 1/8” gap can easily be accomplished through the use of an 8d nail. Wet wood takes time to season. Gaps that are too large are unsightly, cause tripping hazards and make your deck more susceptible to fire. The initial moisture level is also important to consider. With this in mind, wet wood should be installed butted together as a gap will be created as the wood dries and shrinks. One of the tougher tasks to accomplish, especially if you are by yourself, is getting a tight fit against your spacer as you install each board. Shop By Department ... DecksDirect offers a selection of tools for a DIY-er to install a high-quality deck. With each side providing its … It is also more likely to trap debris. Treated decking, for example, can have a high moisture content when purchased, especially if it was recently treated. The less moisture, the more the wood will contract. Add To List Click to add item Johnson Level® DeckMate Deck Spacing Tool … To achieve perfect spacing, overcome warped boards, or drive screws faster, we have the reliable tools … The size of the gap you should use is also contingent on the type of decking material. With these pros and cons in mind, many builders choose to split the difference and go with 3/16” spacing between deck boards. The Johnson 60-275 Deckmate is made out of hard plastic that will hold up even when being pried from tight-fitting boards. Remember: The regular OC stud spacing is 16, 19.2 or 24 inches. Screws have threads that bite into the wood, making them much more likely to hold boards in place when they begin to expand and contract than nails, which can pull out more easily. Merchandise credit check is not valid towards purchases made on MENARDS.COM … Online orders and products purchased in-store qualify for rebate redemption. A door that might work just fine in the winter may in the summer swell and not close properly in its door frame. Automatic 3/16-in spacing between deck boards. Deck board spacing tools are designed to make the decking installation process faster by eliminating those problems. Moving lengthwise between boards is a breeze thanks to the spacer's unique handle. Don’t despair! If this is the case, go with 1/8″ spacing to ensure you don’t end up with gaps that are too large and potentially unsafe. The spacers included with this system, however, are large at 5/16″ and 1/4″ widths, so if you’re after a 1/8-inch gap, the KJDECKSYS won’t work for you. Deck and floor board spacing diagram. The types of fasteners you choose can also affect deck spacing. KDAT decking has been dried in a large oven or kiln to remove excess moisture from the wood. Thanks for watching:Subscribe- http://goo.gl/nD3r4vLikeCommentEnjoyHello Everyone, my name is Justin White. It also means fewer boards, which means less weight on the joists. Before deciding on how much space to leave between deck boards, check with your local building code to see if it covers deck board spacing. - I'm using AC2 Cedar Tone decking from Menards (5/4 x … Add a basic one-level deck to your home to create an outdoor living space. Smaller gaps also mean less airflow, reducing fire hazard. Please visit a Menards store for information and to purchase. During more humid seasons, like summer, decking will soak up more moisture, causing the boards to expand. This can even cause damage to the joists they are attached to. Shop Menards for miscellaneous specialty hand tools to help you complete your job. Is ripping up the boards and doing a full reinstall your only option? Where we know something about extremes. Fasteners are what hold boards in place, resisting their efforts to bend and move as the humidity changes. Nails can easily slip out of your fingers or between the boards and onto the earth below. These seasonal effects on your deck are dependent on where you live. And if so, how big should the gap be? Then vary the gaps between the boards as you move to the wall to square the deck to the house. Whether you choose 1/8” or 1/4” spacing, there are a variety of ways to achieve uniform spacing between your deck boards. See your deck … Cedar, a popular choice for decking, can also be spaced with a gap between 1/8″ and 1/4″. Available in deep rich colors and … You can also use this method to ensure you get a uniform board that isn’t too skinny when you reach the wall. The wrong spacing can turn the deck project you’ve spent so much time and money on into a disaster. Proper deck board spacing should have a 1/8-inch gap after the decking has dried out. The dimensionally stable steel of Trex Elevations stays in place, … If you can acclimate your wood, cover it and make sure it is not sitting directly on the ground, so it doesn’t soak up rain or groundwater. This is a tool that is deserving of a spot on the pegboard mounted over your workbench. FREE Ship To Store. Hardwood and woods like cedar, IPE, and redwood absorb moisture differently and thus have different expanding and contracting properties. Mail-in Rebate is in the form of merchandise credit check, valid in-store only. You’re kicking yourself and rightly so. Many jurisdictions following the International Building Code, which requires a minimum 1/8-inch spacing between boards. Wherever I am going, I constantly look at how and why something is working the way it is. It is ideal for use with … Depending on where your deck is, you may also have a fair amount of debris raining down on it. Generally, an acceptable gap between deck boards is between 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch. LIVE THE DECK LIFE TM Our unique composite decking is made right here in the Midwest. P:503-419-6407 F:216-373-4931 If you fail to space your boards properly, the consequences can be significant. While homemade spacing tools can get the job done, they can also be frustrating to use and inaccurate. The Johnson Level & Tool Deck-Mate Board Spacing Tool evenly spaces dry or "green" deck lumber without falling through cracks. Heavy-duty contractor-grade tool Easily attaches boards directly to the deck joists reducing board movement. The tool easily adjust to fit 5 -1/4 inch - 5-3/4 inch boards and provides automatic 3/16 inch spacing. The CAMO Marksman Pro Tool … The Saw Guide is an attachment for your circular saw specifically designed to widen the gaps in decks. Bring your lounge chairs and towels out to your pool by adding a pool deck.We also have a great selection of covered decks … This spacer can be used with hardwood, composite PVC and pressure treated decking. 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