Hello,

I'm in the process of rebuilding an old deck and will be ready for decking
lumber very soon. The deck is 16' X 20' with the 20' dimension running
parallel to the house, as the joists run perpendicular to it. There will be
two (possibly 3) steps of the same length that go out to the yard. These
aren't going to be typical steps built with stringers, but rather more along
the lines of two rectangular platforms approximately 20' X 12" stacked one
on top of the other thereby creating open steps. The ends where the deck
meets the steps will be angled out as well with railings only on the sides
of the deck and the angled portion of the steps. Seeing as the deck height
is in the range of around 20" + or -, the idea is to have the steps spill
out into the yard.

With that in mind, I'm trying to determine the most effective size decking
to buy. Unless I've miscalculated, I believe that I'm looking for 320 sq.
ft. of decking for the deck itself with another 40 sq. ft. for both steps
combined. Add in some waste etc., so I've been looking at 400 sq. ft. in
total.

Ideally, I could buy 20' long deck boards in either 1 X 4" or 1 X 6" and
cover the entire area without having any butt joints. However, due to both
transportation issues and the higher cost of 20' long boards, it seems more
likely that I should go with shorter length boards. The question being,
what's the best length boards to use? Is there some way to calculate this? I
realize that there are all kinds of options with regard to the length of the
boards as long as they cover the area in question. For example, if I used
10' long boards, then I would have to stagger the seams somewhat similar to
how hardwood flooring is done. I'm just trying to learn the best way to go
about doing so.

On a similar note, I've been contemplating using hidden deck fasteners. The
ones that I've seen that screw in from the top don't interest me. Most of
them drive the screw in at an angle or require either slotted decking or the
use of a tool to create the slot. That leaves me wondering how one would go
about replacing a deck board should the need arise? I suppose that top
driven screws and plugs would do the job in that case without too much
cosmetic difference. Then there are the undermount track type. Any feedback
on either style would be appreciated.

BTW, I'm also planning on using the Grace Vycor deck protector product. The
problem that I've encountered is that most of the places that I've checked
either don't carry it or only carry the 9" size. Mail order adds too much
shipping to the cost. Does anyone have a source for it in CT?

Thanks in advance for reading this and to those who post a reply to the
group.

Peter.

On 7/25/11 11:44 PM, Peter Bogiatzidis wrote:
Hello,

I'm in the process of rebuilding an old deck and will be ready for decking
lumber very soon. The deck is 16' X 20' with the 20' dimension running
parallel to the house, as the joists run perpendicular to it. There will be
two (possibly 3) steps of the same length that go out to the yard. These
aren't going to be typical steps built with stringers, but rather more along
the lines of two rectangular platforms approximately 20' X 12" stacked one
on top of the other thereby creating open steps. The ends where the deck
meets the steps will be angled out as well with railings only on the sides
of the deck and the angled portion of the steps. Seeing as the deck height
is in the range of around 20" + or -, the idea is to have the steps spill
out into the yard.

With that in mind, I'm trying to determine the most effective size decking
to buy. Unless I've miscalculated, I believe that I'm looking for 320 sq.
ft. of decking for the deck itself with another 40 sq. ft. for both steps
combined. Add in some waste etc., so I've been looking at 400 sq. ft. in
total.

Ideally, I could buy 20' long deck boards in either 1 X 4" or 1 X 6" and
cover the entire area without having any butt joints. However, due to both
transportation issues and the higher cost of 20' long boards, it seems more
likely that I should go with shorter length boards. The question being,
what's the best length boards to use? Is there some way to calculate this? I
realize that there are all kinds of options with regard to the length of the
boards as long as they cover the area in question. For example, if I used
10' long boards, then I would have to stagger the seams somewhat similar to
how hardwood flooring is done. I'm just trying to learn the best way to go
about doing so.

On a similar note, I've been contemplating using hidden deck fasteners. The
ones that I've seen that screw in from the top don't interest me. Most of
them drive the screw in at an angle or require either slotted decking or the
use of a tool to create the slot. That leaves me wondering how one would go
about replacing a deck board should the need arise? I suppose that top
driven screws and plugs would do the job in that case without too much
cosmetic difference. Then there are the undermount track type. Any feedback
on either style would be appreciated.

BTW, I'm also planning on using the Grace Vycor deck protector product. The
problem that I've encountered is that most of the places that I've checked
either don't carry it or only carry the 9" size. Mail order adds too much
shipping to the cost. Does anyone have a source for it in CT?

Thanks in advance for reading this and to those who post a reply to the
group.

If it'll work with the joists use 8' boards, 2x8' + 1x4' == 20'.
Stagger the 4' onto the next rows, literally no waste.
Maybe? :-)

--
Froz...


The system will be down for 10 days for preventive maintenance.

Peter Bogiatzidis wrote:
Hello,

I'm in the process of rebuilding an old deck and will be ready for
decking lumber very soon. The deck is 16' X 20' with the 20'
dimension running parallel to the house, as the joists run
perpendicular to it. There will be two (possibly 3) steps of the same
length that go out to the yard. These aren't going to be typical
steps built with stringers, but rather more along the lines of two
rectangular platforms approximately 20' X 12" stacked one on top of
the other thereby creating open steps. The ends where the deck meets
the steps will be angled out as well with railings only on the sides
of the deck and the angled portion of the steps. Seeing as the deck
height is in the range of around 20" + or -, the idea is to have the
steps spill out into the yard.
With that in mind, I'm trying to determine the most effective size
decking to buy. Unless I've miscalculated, I believe that I'm looking
for 320 sq. ft. of decking for the deck itself with another 40 sq.
ft. for both steps combined. Add in some waste etc., so I've been
looking at 400 sq. ft. in total.

Ideally, I could buy 20' long deck boards in either 1 X 4" or 1 X 6"
and cover the entire area without having any butt joints. However,
due to both transportation issues and the higher cost of 20' long
boards, it seems more likely that I should go with shorter length
boards. The question being, what's the best length boards to use? Is
there some way to calculate this? I realize that there are all kinds
of options with regard to the length of the boards as long as they
cover the area in question. For example, if I used 10' long boards,
then I would have to stagger the seams somewhat similar to how
hardwood flooring is done. I'm just trying to learn the best way to
go about doing so.

You could use 12' and 8', halving some of each to pread out the butts.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

On Jul 25, 11:44*pm, "Peter Bogiatzidis" wrote:
Hello,

I'm in the process of rebuilding an old deck and will be ready for decking
lumber very soon. The deck is 16' X 20' with the 20' dimension running
parallel to the house, as the joists run perpendicular to it.

I just finished nailing (Stanley Bostich Pneumatic; 4" coated nails)
the first of a couple dozen 1 x 6 x 8 foot deck boards onto my new 12
x 16 ft deck. I noticed that the 8 ft boards cold be laid end to end
to cover six inches by sixteen feet but that, because they were not a
consistent length, trimming would be required. Nail them all down,
snap a line and trim to the outside edge is the usual route.

But I also noticed that, in my case, if I tacked a two by six to the
"center joist" and laid the eight-footers on the joists "butt up"
against this raised (one-inch) sister and nailed them all down, I
could eliminate the need to trim the decking boards on the left side
of the deck - they all lined up nicely w/o any overhanging.

As I surveyed the result, I noticed that the "sister" I'd placed as a
guide, with it's top surface level with the decking boards, looked
rather nice and divided the deck neatly as well as guiding the
installation of the decking on the left side.

So, I decided to incorporate it (the guide 2 by) into the design and,
after sister'ing on another joist piece to receive the left edges of
the deck boards on the right side of the (16ft-wide) deck with the
raised two-by serving again as a guide.

Essentially turning the design into two eight by twelve sections
(appearance-wise) and allowing me to best utilize the twenty-odd 1 x 6
x 8 foot deck boards I'd gotten as part of a Cull Lumber bundle at
Lowes for 75% of list and finish the deck with cheaper eight-foot deck
boards.

I used Cull Lumber to build the entire deck and cull concrete (half-
price) to set the piers. I had to cut a couple of 2 x 12's in half to
get enough 2 x 6 x 12 joists and one to get one of the 16 ft beams.
Looks like I cut about 25% off the cost of materials with the cull
lumber purchases only three of the boards could not be used at full-
length and will be used for stair treads I suspect.

/ raised "sister"
center joist __----__ sister joist

I plan to add two by eights as trim boards raised to the level of the
deck boards at the circumference of the deck. I thought this, with
the addition of that "raised sister" down the center would improve the
appearance and not hurt the structure at all. In fact, as I think
about it, this is "standard."

But, I will say that, using 1 x 6 deck boards is a bit of a waste of
money as the price difference between them and 2 x 6 lumber is
inconsequential relative to the additional amount of wood and strength
you get with the latter sized boards.

I built my other deck with two-by decking and have no regrets. This
time, the Cull Lumber cost was a more significant factor.

I have a patio door leading out to the deck that was poorly installed
by the previous owner and had to be removed and re-framed. It is a
brick over frame house and the fool jury-rigged the installation -
down to putting the slider opening on the wrong side. We had to flip
the frame and door, re-frame the opening and install brick mold and a
sill plate over the exposed cut brick (he had replaced a window with a
sliding glass patio door cutting the brick with a brick saw left,
right and bottom,

When we reset the door as per "standards" to conform to the other
window and door openings (as to set-back, brick mold, etc.) it left
exposed cut brick at the bottom of the door. Hardly a "proper sill."

I took one of those composite deck boards and ran it (bottom side up)
through my planer on a sled elevated a half-inch on one side to create
a (triangular) shape (profile?) that would mate neatly to the bottom
of the slider frame and slope nicely to the outside. I might have
been able to cut up a six-foot wide aluminum door sill to fit to and
around the slider, but I hoped this composite sill would serve as
well. I'll see. Proud of that jury-rig!

As to the calculation of the number and lengths of boards to purchase,
don't forget the labor, or the fact that the boards are seldom true to
the nominal dimensions listed and that the cost per square foot varies
with the length(s) - not sure of it works out to be costlier to buy
longer boards than shorter.

But you should be able to use my approach and plank the thing entirely
with ten-footers.

Note that, you need to trim the two boards (or three if you use four-
inch wide stock) closest to the house before nailing them down as the
saw can't get close enough to the building wall to cut the last few
inches of decking. I'm laying those first, establishing the edge, then
using a chalk line to establish a cut line for the rest of the boards
and trim them all in one fell swoop.

Hope this proves helpful