![]() Plastic expands and contracts differently than wood. Composite decking is made with a significant amount of plastic. Should you be working with composite decking, you have similar expansion and contraction considerations. ![]() At the same time, you need to be very aware of the moisture content of the wood as you install it so that when it does dry and shrink, the spacing gap will not be too big! You may ask, “Why space deck boards?” Because the wood expands and contracts the greatest amount across the surface that you’ll walk on, you must be sure that you don’t create too little space that could prevent proper drainage or cause other issues. The importance of deck board spacing can’t be overemphasized. Different wood species have different coefficients of shrinkage as they dry. For example, a 16-ft pine board could potentially shrink around 1/8 to 3/16” in length, and ¼" in width as it dries. Wood doesn’t expand or contract equally in all directions. Traditional wood decking, be it treated lumber, redwood, cedar, or an exotic rain-forest species, needs to be spaced so the wood can expand and contract with changes in moisture content. ![]() Ventilation below the deck is also enhanced by the gaps between the deck boards, but this is only important in ground-level decks. Larger gaps, such as 1/4”, allow more of this material to fall through the deck. Gaps that are narrow (1/8”), can catch debris, specifically on top of the joists, and can be difficult to clean out. The primary function is to drain water from the deck. Spacing between deck boards provides a few critical functions. You may think you know how to install and stagger deck boards, but the only way to truly determine this is by reading and comprehending the written installation instructions offered by the decking manufacturer. One of the main reasons is to make sure you don’t void the warranty of your decking should you make a mistake at this point. But the spacing between deck boards is critical for many reasons. ![]() You’re nearing the end of the project and it’s normal to want to get the job done as quickly as possible. Deck board spacing is an extremely important step to build a deck. ![]()
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