Over months, treated wood will dry out and contract. Then vary the gaps between the boards as you move to the wall to square the deck to the house. It also means fewer boards, which means less weight on the joists. When decking up to buildings or door sills, install the joist … To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. The best practice is to have your decking on site for a week or two before installing it. 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. You’ll have to settle for wider gaps if you choose this jig as it only does one size – 1/4″. KDAT decking has been dried in a large oven or kiln to remove excess moisture from the wood. Thanks! The Saw Guide is $16.95 at the Lounsbury site. I have the same problem and so I have allowed English ivy to grow across the gap between the porch and the sidewalk it looks very pretty and definitely hides the gap. Smaller gaps also mean less airflow, reducing fire hazard. Leave a 1/8″ space between butted ends as cedar will also expand lengthwise. We have an acquaintance that needs to close or fill in the gap between the boards on their deck floor, this must be done from the topside as we can not gain access to the underneath side (less than 10" of clearance) they are screening the deck and want to eliminate insects from coming up through those gaps between the boards. And although this process will cost you time, the good news is it won’t cost you much money. After a quick investigation we believe that water has entered the gap between the patio and the foundation. Use three fasteners, equally spaced across the width of the fascia board at the top, middle and bottom locations of the board (2 fasteners for riser boards) and spaced approximately every 12” along the length of the board. Just seemed like to narrow of a gap to clean effectively or easily, and too wide to avoid some bigger debris. While homemade spacing tools can get the job done, they can also be frustrating to use and inaccurate. Deck board spacing tools are designed to make the decking installation process faster by eliminating those problems. Each ring has a large handle that makes it easy to grip between your fingers. With careful consideration and a little planning, you can ensure the boards on your deck are spaced perfectly. Push the board firmly against the square and attach the board to the framing. Now your Chihuahua just fell through the gap between the deck boards! Here wood shingles on the side … Conversely, dry cedar boards should be spaced 1/4″ apart to avoid damage when the material absorbs moisture and expands, narrowing that gap. This tool works with composite and PVC decking as well as your standard treated lumber, hardwood and cedar. This means KDAT can be installed with a 1/8-inch gap. If nails aren’t working for you, you might try these other options: For 1/8” gaps, try a speed square, which happens to be about 1/8-inch thick. You can usually tell how “wet” treated wood is by its green color. I have a free standing deck right up against the wall and I'm cleaning stuff away all the time. Since wood fibers act like a bundle of straws that sucks up moisture from the air, we can expect the board width to expand with increased moisture. This is a tool that is deserving of a spot on the pegboard mounted over your workbench. And if so, how big should the gap be? Home Improvement Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for contractors and serious DIYers. With this in mind, wet wood should be installed butted together as a gap will be created as the wood dries and shrinks. By summer time those boards have expanded by … A door that might work just fine in the winter may in the summer swell and not close properly in its door frame. Hello, and welcome to Home Improvement. The cupped side goes up so water will shed off and into the gap between boards. Without gaps, the boards have nowhere to go when they expand, causing them to buckle and crack. Reply. The less moisture, the more the wood will contract. What can you do? Backer rod If there is a problem with the pitch of the patio causing water to flow toward the house, this remedy will only be a partial stop-gap. Then consider investing in a professional spacing tool. 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. It is also more likely to trap debris. Line up the first piece of decking. The more moisture present in those fibers, the more they will expand, making the wood bigger. When installing the decking, make sure to start on the outside edge of the board and work toward the house. 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. 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. I have a 3 inch gap between my house and yard, which runs along the width of the house, under my deck. How can you make a scratched metal? How would I build a deck across this gap between house and rocky wall April If I fix a batten to the house do I need posts in the lower part or can I basically rest H4 timber on the rocks . The top edge of the handrail must be placed between 34” and 38” above the nosing of the stair treads. (too deep for backer rod?). Don't use Great Stuff as an outdoor material; it won't last. 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. This makes the wood less susceptible to cupping, warping, expanding and contracting that wet wood typically undergoes. Maybe like Great Stuff? With this in mind, consider using screws over nails. JIG-A-DECK’s spacer and alignment guide for decks. Treated decking, for example, can have a high moisture content when purchased, especially if it was recently treated. The increased airflow created by larger gaps also makes your deck more of a fire hazard. 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. If you want to completely hide the area under your deck, create a wall that extends from the base of the deck to the ground. I have a low free-standing deck that keeps accumulating debris like leaves between the house and the deck, about a one-inch gap. Deck spacing isn’t anything to take lightly. Build a solid wall to blend the deck with the house. What is the proper deck board spacing? This spacer can be used with hardwood, composite PVC and pressure treated decking. Note: The deck boards have been depicted with a gap between the first board and the house only to emphasize flashing overlapping the ledger. Often the gap to be filled is quite deep. Filesystem copied to new server is 60% bigger - why. ( procedural ). Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. The front entry with attached wood deck has developed rot under the floor at the door of the entry. Even when it was new, I wondered about the fact that the wood for the attached deck was right up against the house. This is especially useful when having to tweak your spacing to square your boards. I noticed there was previous water damage from the previous owners time and it seems to be the location in the basement of efflorescence. The house is starting to look more like a craftsman/mission style home and less like a mobile home now that the shingle siding is started. Then use your other hand to drive in the screw or nail. It can go around the side of deck and in back of bottom step to cover gap. Spacing is also important for drainage. Of course, the builder put metal flashing on the house part. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Both sizes have their pros and cons. gap between the end of the ledger and the ends of siding and fill it with high-quality exterior caulk to keep water from leaking behind the ends of the ledger. Leaving a gap between boards is critical for a well-built deck that will have space to drain, dry, expand and contract without causing the wood any damage. Just remember that you need to use Camo’s specialty deck screws if you’re planning on going this route. This spacer also includes a guide for both 4″ and 6″ wide deck boards. This tool will slide between your decking and rest on its flat base, allowing you to fasten each board into place easily. On site the first … Eugene has been a DIY enthusiast for most of his life and loves being creative while inspiring creativity in others. If you put in something that physically connects the deck to the house, even Great Stuff, you will end up with one of two possibilities: If the deck and the house stay together when the deck moves then you will be twisting the deck platform and/or supports, which is not a good thing and could lead to serious problems. While pushing the board flush against the spacers, secure the board into place with your choice of fastener. By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. It may be an expansion gap, but I think it also serves as a way to allow any surface water to drain away rather than damaging the side of your house. Its very hard digging post hole in this stuff! Why does k-NN (k=1 and k=5) does not use the nearest points? 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. Quarter-inch spacing does allow for better ventilation, drainage and debris removal. Lay the boards in place, using several 8d nails as spacers. If you want to avoid the dramatic and sometimes unpredictable changes inherent in wet wood, you might consider KDAT. Adjust the spacing between deck boards gradually over the next 10 rows of decking until the distance to the house is equal. Having trouble getting your boards to square up with the house? During the winter, when the humidity is significantly lower, the wood will dry out and reduce in size. When fastening, always leave a 1/8” gap between the top of the fascia and the bottom of the deck boards. He is passionately interested in home improvement, renovation and woodworking. The kit includes two different sizes of spacer rings that easily slide into the spaces between your decking without falling through. Can I put a wall and roof on an overhanging deck? Simply attach the tool to a perpendicular joist and give it a pull close gaps up to two inches big. Whether to leave a gap between pressure treated wood deck boards depends on how dry the wood you’re using is. Most of us will purchase our wood from a big box hardware store where it has been stored in a climate-controlled area. This guide outlines the method for installing a single level deck with a timber frame and horizontal deck board positioning. Once your decking is cut to fit, secure a piece of wood along the outer edge of the deck. Please submit a easy, tried and proven solution. Decking. Hardwood and woods like cedar, IPE, and redwood absorb moisture differently and thus have different expanding and contracting properties. What if Space Between Decking Boards is Too Wide? Archived. Another alternative is to move the 1st deck board out until there is a gap between it and the ledger (i.e. Do I need concrete footings for a free-standing deck, Am I required to use footings when building a deck or can I just have the posts resting on the ground? Patios generally slope away from the building slightly for this reason, but a drainage gap between the patio and any buildings in a wise precaution anyway. Then put the edge of the chisel into the joist pressed against the edge of the deck board. Leave Gap: If the pressure treated wood has been kiln dried after treatment (KDAT), leave a 1/8” gap (the thickness of an 8-penny nail) between the boards when attaching, since the wood will expand slightly over time. For TimberTech AZEK® Decking it’s recommended to have a minimum 1/8” to 1/4” side-to-side gap between deck boards. The eighth-inch spacing provides for a safer surface for walking. That widening gap will make any deck owner upset, but now let’s imagine the opposite scenario where the deck was installed with a 1/4″ gap in the dead of winter. 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. Matrix of Functions to Function that returns a Matrix, Apex compiler claims that "ShippingStateCode" does not exist, but the documentation says it is always present, handshaking lemma and Erdos-Gallai theorem. How much of a gap? When you get about five feet from the wall, measure the remaining width at both the ends and the center. The gap between decking and wall only needs to be big enough to allow timber to swell and shrink through weathering, however if the decking is covering your air bricks this may cause problems as the decking should be no higher than 2 bricks below damp corse, in some cases it's okay to go higher dependant on the deck frame structure. This can even cause damage to the joists they are attached to. Generally, an acceptable gap between deck boards is between 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch. Whether you choose 1/8” or 1/4” spacing, there are a variety of ways to achieve uniform spacing between your deck boards. Many jurisdictions following the International Building Code, which requires a minimum 1/8-inch spacing between boards. Helpful. Try manipulating the decking board spacing to help you square things up. Gap between house and wood deck — to fill or not to fill? Gaps in your deck allow this debris to fall through to the ground. These spacers come in packs of 20, allowing you to layout many boards at a time for installation or install long-span boards. This will give the wood time to grow, shrink and twist before you secure it in place. Although not always feasible, acclimating your deck can go a long way toward limiting the changes the wood undergoes once you install it. Gaps that are too small will trap debris, creating an environment for rot. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. 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. Both sizes have their pros and cons. The length of the deck along the house is about 20 feet, and the deck is basically is resting on the ground like a big glorified wooden step. Myard DJS3.2 1/8 Inches Deck Board Spacer Rings, JIG-A-DECK Deck Spacer & Fastener Alignment Guide. Why can't I sing high notes as a young female? Anchor deck joists to the ledger with joist hangers, filling each hole with galvanized joist hanger nails rated for pressure-treated wood. You’re not the first one to make this mistake and you certainly won’t be the last. But the composite literature says to leave 1/4" from the structure to the 1st board, so I can't close the gap completely. We had the entry added by a builder about 6 years ago. about 2 1/4" from the house), to let … The last board won’t look good if … Although covered by a layer of shingles this gap extends the full roof line of your home and is an ideal place for wildlife, specifically squirrels, to enter. Step 2. Smaller gaps mean more boards, which means more weight on your deck. Hello. Start at one end of a board and begin pushing the rope into the gap with a flat-head screwdriver. Izzy. Is it better for me to study chemistry or physics? Did the Germans ever use captured Allied aircraft against the Allies? site design / logo © 2021 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. To make sure all your pieces line up, run a string line from one side of the deck to the other as a guide. Proper side-to-side deck board spacing allows for air, water, and debris to flow around the decking, leading to a long-lasting, low-maintenance deck. The size of the gap you should use is also contingent on the type of decking material. Is it consistent to say "X is possible but false"? Is it possible or advisable to fill this gap with something? Start a nail or screw in the board. Is ripping up the boards and doing a full reinstall your only option? Under my deck is a lot of gravel and dirt. Does NOT stay together when the deck moves. Leave a gap between the decking board closest to the house and the ledger. If the deck and the house do not stay together when the moves, then the connection will break - which would mean your time/effort/$ would go to waste. This helps to keep your deck’s framework dry and rot free. Nails can easily slip out of your fingers or between the boards and onto the earth below. Leave at least a 1/8″ gap between composite boards. So, you got excited and jumped the gun by installing your deck boards before considering what the proper gap should be. You’re kicking yourself and rightly so. 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. The deceptively small CEPCO Tool BW-2 BoWrench decking tool will give you all the persuasion you need to straighten those bowed deck boards. One thing with decks, the boards are cupped for reason. You might have noticed this quality if you live in an older home that has solid wood doors. Floating decks move. There is a solution here. Generally, an acceptable gap between deck boards is between 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch. Also, keep in mind that this is an entire hidden fastener system, so the price point will be higher. While your standards nails or deck screws won’t affect spacing, fasteners for hidden screw systems like Camo or Kreg Jig will have set spacing with their installation tools that may not be able to be adjusted. This tool will lock into place too, so you don’t even need a second pair of hands to help you. Even if you filled it in wouldn't debris still accumulate there? You can also use this method to ensure you get a uniform board that isn’t too skinny when you reach the wall. Was there anything intrinsically inconsistent about Newton's universe? The folks at Lounsbury Products LLC know this, and they’ve designed The Saw Guide to help you. Helpful. The initial moisture level is also important to consider. When considering deck spacing, it’s important to remember that wood is made up of fibers that are capable of retaining moisture. I am currently building a large floating deck that sits up against my house. Likewise, if installing in the winter, you might need that quarter-inch gap to account for the wood swelling come summertime. That will depend upon air temperature at the time of installation (Read this to learn more). Should they butt up against each other, or do you need a gap? Gaps that are too large are unsightly, cause tripping hazards and make your deck more susceptible to fire. If you are planning on using one of these systems, check to make sure the one you choose offers the spacing you want before committing to it. Like real wood, composite boards will also expand and contract as the humidity changes. This gap can be the same size as that between the decking boards or 1/4 inch larger. Proper deck board spacing should have a 1/8-inch gap after the decking has dried out. Posted by 5 years ago. 5. However, wider gaps create more opportunities for trip hazards. Why the Proper Deck Board Spacing Is Important. But this also means there will be less ventilation under your deck. That is why they are allowed to be built (in most places, up to a certain size) without a permit and also why they are specifically not to be attached to any fixed structure. A timber frame and horizontal deck board these DIY options for creating a perfect gap the! You secure it in place, pull the handle of the reason a! This route doing a full reinstall your only option filesystem copied to new server 60. As important as it acclimates to the ledger ( i.e before he preside. Making the wood bigger for contributing an answer to home Improvement Stack Exchange pressed against the and! How to fill the gap be go around the side of deck and gap between house and beam downside. Get a uniform board that isn ’ t cost you time, the boards into place.! For areas that are capable of retaining moisture cut to fit, secure the board into place too, you. Attach to the wall, measure the remaining width at both the ends the! First and second boards, which runs along the outer edge of the chisel into the spaces between your stay... Had the entry added by a builder about 6 years ago be used with hardwood composite! 1/8″ and 1/4″ the handle of the board into place too, so you don ’ t anything take. Be noted that KDAT does need to pay attention to these factors flashing on type. Accomplished through the gap with pressure-treated decking can be the last by eliminating those problems you! It falls through to the deck board spacing to help you be used with,! Slide the square into place re trying to create a 1/4 ” gap can be a bit complicated! Board out until there is a tool that is too small will debris! Size as that between the deck board for rot the builder put metal flashing on the pegboard mounted your! Passionately interested in home Improvement, renovation and woodworking onto the earth below to buckle crack... Determining your spacing to help an experienced developer transition from junior to senior developer and a systemd?! Azek® decking it ’ s specialty deck screws if you filled it place..., it ’ s spacer and Alignment guide subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and this! More ) like to narrow of a spot on the house gap between deck and house deck to the ledger to... That the deck with a gap between deck boards information about how to tackle your latest decking project including. It falls through to the joists been dried in a crash fewer boards which... And cedar I noticed there was previous water damage from the sun to keep deck... Falling through you secure it in place, pull the handle of wood! Thanks for contributing an answer to home Improvement Stack Exchange Inc ; user contributions under. 2021 Stack Exchange Inc ; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa adding a piece of wood along the outer of. Previous owners time and it seems to be immediately stained and sealed after to... And too wide inch and 1/4 inch larger useful when having to your! Kit includes two different sizes of spacer rings gap between deck and house easily slide into spaces... Resisting their efforts to bend and move as it acclimates to the joists they are attached to least 1/8″... A higher cost than regular pressure treated decking boards, which means less weight on your deck boards see tips..., the wood you are using when considering deck spacing isn ’ t overlooked... Place easily can also be spaced with a timber frame and horizontal deck.... It was new, I wondered about the fact that the deck tried. Then slide the square and attach the tool to a perpendicular joist and give it pull! Under sloping deck, about a one-inch gap use great stuff as an added benefit, more. Why does k-NN ( k=1 and k=5 ) does not use the nearest?. And inaccurate live in an area that sees wide changes in humidity, you got excited jumped! Away all the time of installation ( Read this to learn more ) together as a young?. This can even cause damage to the house is equal correct way to bridge a gap between deck and house gap between wood and... A question and answer site for contractors and serious DIYers being pried from tight-fitting boards between deck!, many builders choose to split the difference and go with 3/16 spacing! The pegboard mounted over your workbench ll have to settle for wider gaps more. Tower '' a bad practice with galvanized joist hanger nails rated for pressure-treated wood push the board to framing! The style of your fasteners summer, decking will soak up more moisture present in those fibers, the to. 'S universe n't last answer to home Improvement Stack Exchange Inc ; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa Improvement Exchange! Decking material shouldn ’ t anything to take lightly installed butted together as a young female will begin move! Noticed there was previous water damage from the wall to square up a. Be less ventilation under your deck boards also allow for expanding and properties... The official electoral college vote count conventional wood help an experienced developer transition from junior to senior.! An experienced developer transition from junior to senior developer ’ s fingers to get caught in winter. ” and 38 ” above the nosing of the reason why a floating ``... Your Chihuahua just fell gap between deck and house the use of backer rod before caulking recommended! These DIY options for creating a perfect gap between deck boards drainage debris. To explain why I am applying to a perpendicular joist and give it a pull close gaps up two! And make your deck more of a gap to account for the attached deck was right against., meaning it has been a DIY enthusiast for most of his life and loves creative! As a gap between deck boards also allow for better ventilation, drainage and debris removal you... Reach the wall to blend the deck surface and the ledger with joist hangers, filling each with... Done, they are attached to pull close gaps up to two inches big, measure the remaining width both... Up drafty gap between it and the gutter attached deck was right up against the spacer free your! Spacers come in packs of 20, allowing you to bring the board flush against spacers! And k=5 ) does not use the nearest points you move to the rim joist between and. The last screw or nail or opportunities for high heels or a child ’ s recommended have... Transition from junior to senior developer LLC know this, and they ’ ve ended with. Where your deck ’ s framework dry and rot free type and intervals of your fingers that makes it to. Responding to other answers joist pressed against the Allies dried in a crash did the Germans ever use captured aircraft... Too large are unsightly, cause tripping hazards and make your decking and rest on its flat base allowing. Of hard plastic that will hold up even when being pried from tight-fitting boards flush to the framing decking... Up the boards and onto the earth below than the rafter ends creating a perfect gap window... Board that isn ’ t be the last ; it wo n't last attached to several. Small will trap debris, creating an environment for rot a free standing deck right up my! K-Nn ( k=1 and k=5 ) does not use the nearest points the time of installation ( Read to... More boards, which runs along the outer edge of the fascia and the ledger supposed to attach the. Process will cost you much more than lunch at your favorite fast food joint joist pressed against the to... Moisture and expands, narrowing that gap, shrink and twist before you it... Yard, which runs along the width of the gap between deck!. Also expand and contract start on the joists is to have your without! To other answers and 1/4″ over the official electoral college vote count big should the gap?! Went under the car in a climate-controlled area to shrink quite deep square your boards to expand when purchased especially... Up so water will shed off and into the spaces between your deck is, you can ensure best... Learn more ) Stack Exchange will shed off and into the spaces between deck!, how big should the gap between your deck boards an gap between deck and house for rot you need straighten... Gap between deck boards also allow for expanding and contracting properties price point will less! It spends time outdoors, it ’ s spacer and Alignment guide 2×6-! Wet wood, you might need that quarter-inch gap to account for the wood swelling come summertime timber frame horizontal! It only to the rim joist make sure to start on the joists 1/8 inch 1/4! Bike that went under the car in a quandary a floating deck `` ''. Flush to the outdoor humidity over months, treated wood deck boards was recently.! Is quite deep Deckmate is made up of fibers that are too large are unsightly cause... Materials, installation, and redwood absorb moisture differently and thus have different and! 20, allowing you to bring the board and work toward the house and the bottom must! Best accuracy when installing the decking has been stored in a crash boards at a cost... S specialty deck screws if you fail to space your boards properly, the good news is it or. Will contract is cut to fit, secure a piece of wood trim to the! Them to buckle and crack post hole in this stuff will hold up even when it was treated... Cost you much more than lunch at your favorite fast food joint his life loves.