Table of Contents
Comparing 5/4 Decking With 2×6 Deck Boards, Pros and Cons 2×6 Deck Boards 5/4 Decking Thickness 1 ½” (38mm) 1″ (25mm) Joist Spanning 24″ (600mm) 16″ (400mm) Weight 2.36 lbs (1.07kg) lnft* 1.59 lbs (0.72 kg) lnft* Profile cut Square Cut Rounded Radius Edge.
What is the standard thickness of decking?
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”.
Is it better to use 2×6 or 5 4 decking?
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. For lumber decking, both the moisture content of the lumber and the environment its installed in matter.
How far can a 5 4 deck board Span?
Decking boards span from joist to joist. 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. If you will run decking at an angle, you might need to put the joists closer together.
How thick should patio decking be?
The most commonly used thickness for deck construction is 1-1/4”. But you can also get boards 2” thick, while there are boards only ¾” thick. It depends on the material, how flexible it is, and its hardness rate.
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.
Can you use 1×6 for deck boards?
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.
What is the most common deck board size?
The most common or standard deck board width is 6-inch wide planks based on square-foot coverage, labor, and material cost.
Do you leave a gap between decking boards?
Proper Gap between Decking Boards When installing decking boards, make sure to leave 1/4 to 1/8 inch gaps in between them. This gap will make sure that the decking can breathe, have sufficient drainage, and make it easier to clean.
Can you use 4×2 for decking frame?
4 x 2 Timber Rail / Joist. These decking joists are the most common sized framing timber for decking. They provide a solid structure for fixing your decking boards too. When making your decking frame you should use a 400mm spacing between your timber joists.
Can 2×4 be used as deck joist?
The short answer is yes. 2x4s can work for deck joists. 2x4s are the smallest dimensional option, making them great for low, ground-level decking if they’re spaced no further than 12” on center. “On center” is the term to measure from one joist to the next, starting from one center to the center of another.
What is the best joist size for a deck?
Commonly used joist sizes are 2-by-6, 2-by-8 and 2-by-10. For example, when you space joists 16″ apart — which is standard for residential decks — a deck spanning 9 1/2′ would require 2-by-6 joists, a 13′ deck would need 2-by-8 joists and a 16′ deck calls for 2-by-10 joists.
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.
What size wood should I use for my 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. Cedar 1x lumber usually has one rough side and one smooth side.
How thick are composite deck boards?
Most manufacturers offer composite decking boards in 12′, 16′ and 20′ lengths. The width varies by brand and style and can range from one to two inches thick and four to six inches wide.
Why do they call it 5 4 decking?
Quarters refer to the thickness of rough-sawn lumber measured in ¼-inch increments. Instead of reading it as a fraction, it should be read as a number of quarters: 5/4 is five quarters, 4/4 is four quarters, etc.
What type of wood is 5 4?
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 many deck 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.
How thick is a 1×6 deck board?
1×4 and 1×6 boards lose 1/4 inch in thickness and 1/2 inch in width before leaving the mill. That means a 1 x 4 board is actually 3/4 inches by 3 1/2 inches. The larger 1x boards (1×8, 1×10, etc.).
What is the actual width of a 5 4 board?
Hardwood Lumber Dimensions Nominal Size Rough Size Actual Size: Surfaced 1 Side 5/4 inch 1 1/4 inch 1 1/8 inch (29 mm) 6/4 inch 1 1/2 inch 1 3/8 inch (35 mm) 8/4 inch 2 inches 1 13/16 inch (46 mm) 12/4 inch 3 inches 2 13/16 inch (71 mm).
