"Thomas G. Marshall" . com
wrote in message news:w6mQj.4$r12.1@trndny03...

I've spoken to a number of people who have put composite decks in and they
followed the manufacturers suggestions carefully and ended up with boards
that just "seem" too far apart. A friend of mine has these large gaps
around his posts that I'm not particularly fond of.

And two of these people say they've never seen the boards expand nor
shrink the way the manufacturer warned. I'm not sure of the brands.

But this reminds me of something a construction guy told me once about PT
(I know, a different issue): "Don't ever listen to the advice about
keeping the boards a nail width apart....they will dry and shrink on their
own". The only reason I mention this is because I would like to know to
what degree such rules of thumb (PT or composite) are real, or just passed
along advice that never really applies.

For example, has anyone seen trouble with compostite decking boards placed
flush (say, in the summer)?

Thanks!

I'd put spacing just to allow the gook to fall through. Make it easier to
power wash, too. Probably help decrease the drying time. Let air circulate
to keep icing down. Make mold and crud harder to grow in there. Lots of
reasons. More than I can think of for butting the boards together.

Steve