How To Work Out Decking Boards

How to Work Out Decking Boards: A Comprehensive Guide

Building a deck is a rewarding project that significantly enhances your home's aesthetic appeal and outdoor living space. However, before you even begin laying the first board, you need to meticulously plan and calculate the required decking materials. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to accurately work out your decking board requirements, ensuring you have enough materials without excessive waste. We’ll cover everything from measuring your space to accounting for waste and special considerations.

1. Planning and Measuring Your Deck

Accurate measurement is paramount. Inaccurate measurements can lead to significant material shortages or, conversely, costly excess. Here's a step-by-step approach:

1.1. Sketch Your Deck Design

Start by creating a detailed sketch of your planned deck. Include all dimensions: length, width, and any changes in elevation. Note the location of any steps, posts, or other features that might affect board placement. This visual aid will be invaluable throughout the process. Consider using graph paper to maintain accurate scale.

1.2. Calculate the Total Area

Once you have your sketch, calculate the total area of your deck. For rectangular decks, this is simply length multiplied by width (Length x Width = Area). For more complex shapes, break the deck down into smaller, easily calculable rectangles or triangles and sum their individual areas. Remember to record all measurements in the same units (feet, meters, etc.).

1.3. Account for Deck Features

Your initial area calculation might need adjustments depending on the design. Consider these factors:

• Steps: Calculate the area of each step separately and add it to the total deck area.
• Benches or Seating: If you're incorporating built-in seating, account for the area these elements occupy.
• Railings: Railings require additional materials. Measure the total linear footage of railing needed and factor in the number of posts and balusters.
• Cutouts: Any cutouts for features like hot tubs or planters will reduce the overall decking area. Subtract these areas from your total.

2. Selecting Your Decking Boards

Choosing the right decking boards is crucial for both aesthetics and durability. Consider these factors:

2.1. Material Selection

Popular choices include:

• Pressure-Treated Wood: Affordable and durable, but requires regular maintenance.
• Cedar: Naturally resistant to rot and insects, offering a beautiful, rustic look. More expensive than pressure-treated wood.
• Redwood: Similar to cedar in durability and aesthetics, but often more costly.
• Composite Decking: Low-maintenance, durable, and available in a wide range of colors and styles. More expensive than wood.

2.2. Board Dimensions

Decking boards come in various standard sizes. Common sizes include:

• Width: Typically ranges from 5.5 inches to 8 inches.
• Thickness: Common thicknesses include 1 inch, 1 1/4 inch, and 1 1/2 inch.
• Length: Board lengths vary considerably, typically ranging from 8 feet to 16 feet. Longer boards reduce the number of joins, resulting in a cleaner look.

Choosing appropriate board dimensions will influence the number of boards required.

2.3. Board Spacing

Proper spacing between boards is essential for drainage and preventing warping. A standard gap is about 1/8 inch to 3/8 inch. This needs to be considered when calculating the total number of boards.

3. Calculating the Number of Decking Boards

This section delves into the detailed calculations. While you might use a decking calculator online, it's essential to understand the underlying calculations for accuracy and to handle complex designs.

3.1. Calculating Linear Footage

First, calculate the total linear footage of decking required. This calculation is essential for determining the number of boards of a specific width. Consider the following:

• Deck Width: Divide the deck's width by the actual width of the decking board (including the gap). This gives you the number of boards needed for each row. Round this number up to the nearest whole number.
• Deck Length: Multiply the number of boards per row by the length of your deck. This gives you the total linear footage for a single layer.
• Multiple Layers: If your deck design has multiple layers (e.g., a tiered deck), repeat this process for each layer.
• Total Linear Footage: Sum the linear footage for all layers to get the overall linear footage required.

Example:

Let's say your deck is 10 feet wide and 12 feet long, and you're using 5.5-inch wide boards with a 1/4-inch gap. The actual width of each board section will be approximately 5.75 inches (5.5 + 0.25).

1. Boards per row: 120 inches (10 feet x 12 inches/foot) / 5.75 inches/board ≈ 20.87 boards. Round up to 21 boards.

2. Linear footage per row: 21 boards * 12 feet/row = 252 linear feet

This indicates you need 252 linear feet of 5.5 inch wide boards for this example.

3.2. Determining the Number of Boards

Knowing the total linear footage, you can determine the number of boards needed based on their available lengths.

• Board Length Selection: Choose a standard board length. Longer boards generally result in fewer cuts and joints.
• Number of Boards: Divide the total linear footage by the length of the board you’ve selected. This provides the minimum number of boards required. Again, round up to the nearest whole number.

Example:

If you chose 12-foot boards, you would need 252 linear feet / 12 feet/board = 21 boards.

3.3. Accounting for Waste

Always add extra materials to account for cuts, mistakes, and potential damage. A typical waste allowance is 10-15%. This percentage may need adjustment based on complexity of the design and your experience level. For beginners, it’s wise to add a higher percentage.

4. Advanced Considerations

4.1. Dealing with Irregular Shapes

For decks with non-rectangular shapes, break the deck into smaller, rectangular sections. Calculate the board requirements for each section separately and sum the results.

4.2. Staggering Boards

For a more visually appealing deck, stagger the board joints. This requires careful planning and may slightly increase the number of boards needed due to the increased number of cuts.

4.3. Using a Decking Calculator

Many online decking calculators are available to assist in these calculations. Input your dimensions and material choices to generate estimates. However, always double-check the results against your own manual calculations to ensure accuracy. These calculators are tools to assist, not replace your own calculations.

4.4. Factor in Fasteners

Don't forget to include sufficient decking screws or nails in your materials list. The number of fasteners required will depend on the board spacing and length. Always consult the manufacturer's recommendations for appropriate fasteners and spacing.

5. Conclusion

Calculating the decking board requirements may seem daunting, but by carefully following the steps outlined above and using a combination of manual calculations and online tools, you can confidently determine the precise amount of material needed for your project, minimizing waste and ensuring a successful deck building experience. Remember, accurate measurements and planning are the keys to a successful project. Don't rush the process, and always double-check your figures. A little extra time spent on planning will save you time, money, and frustration in the long run. Happy building!