2x6 PT decking, space or no space

[4EyedTurd]

Getting close to putting decking down on new porch and know pressure treated wood shrinks some over time. What do you guys think **** the wood tight or a nail gap between each one?

Also staining it, is it worth it to stain the entire board before installing or do it after its screwed to the porch and just the top and sides?

 

[TommyK]

Space

 

[maxwage]

In Texas, I would **** them tight. If you space, you'll end up with a large gap once they shrink. I've seen it many times on PT decks.

 

[Captain America]

Helped my cousin build a deck in Texas last year with PT decking and the debate was to space or no space. He spaced them (can't remember the gap) and ended up with a large space 6 months later. He had to remove and space them again after they dried and shrank.

I would say **** them.

 

[GTO]

I would go with spacing,but use a 5/4x6" treated board,you can find them in a #1 grade too.

 

[Justanoldguy]

I usually just leave a nail thickness between.
Just enough to allow a bit of variation in machining
so boards stay in line.

Just to add.
I've only been doing it this way for near 50 years.
No complaints from clients.
NZ is an extremely hot country in the summer and we sure do get shrinkage.

 

[Rookie2]

tight !


You might want to read these !

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=197962&highlight=pressure+treated+wood

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=154884&highlight=pressure+treated+wood

 

[volleyball]

You need to let PT dry out awhile before you can stain it. I say leave it natural for a year or two, then clean, sand and stain .

 

[Trihle98]

For a minimal difference in price you could upgrade to KDAT pressure treated lumber . The process is called kiln dried after treatment. Much better grade of wood is used and it allows you to set the gap you want and ensures no further shrinking .Staining and sealing can be done as soon as the project is finished also . On most decks I have built for customers the price on a 12x12 deck is usually less than 300$ difference over standard "wet" pressure treated .
I would **** the boards tight if standard pressure treated is used .

 

[rslaback]

Set them tight now. The gap is automatic.

 

[Richard Cranium]

We always used a nails gap between

 

[nfk]

If they are new boards I would set them touching. When they dry out you will have a gap. I would stain the deck after its built.

 

[rieferman]

Having used composite on my latest deck build, after years of many PT deck projects, I'm a firm convert... From here on out, I'll budget for composite every time, even if it means having to wait a bit longer to complete the project.

That said, if your PT boards are wet, I'd go with no space (or very small space if you must) due to the shrink-factor. If they are dry, I'd still keep the space very small.

Also, you noted using 2x for the decking (rather than 5/4 boards). I like 2x as well - less splintering, feels more solid underfoot etc.

 

[DangerousDan55]

I built a 50' clear span bridge from treated 2x6's. The boss purchased th wood. Some were sopping wet. He didnt want to wait for complete drying so, I measure & marked the size of each board. Started with the driest boards. Now I built the bridge all alone. So I had time for the wood to dry in 90+ Texas summer. With that, I found that some boards had shrunk up to 3/16".http://[URL=http://s1311.photobucket.com/user/DangerousDan55/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20140929_082442_zpsqgvqfwgw.jpg.html] [/URL]

 

[ddurrett896]

**** em up to each other!

 

[shoot summ]

The question is, how big of a gap are you OK with?

**** them and you will get about a 3/16" gap or so. Anything gap you add on top of that, is more gap...

 

[theoldwizard1]

... use a 5/4x6' treated board ...

ABSOLUTELY.

Wait a year for the wood to "weather in" before staining.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

I volunteer with a group that builds many decks and wheelchair ramps using the P/T decking boards. The consensus of the group is to gap the boards, but my personal preference is to **** them because of how much the wood shrinks. The thing that has not been mentioned here is that the width of these boards can and will vary from end to end. When placing them, whether butted or gapped, it is advisable to periodically measure the width at each end of the run to make sure the end board does not have to be cut to a pie shape.

 

[thewatusi]

I like my deck boards how I like my women.

Tight

 

[Reg1952]

I say tight together. Once it shrinks you will have a perfect cap that will not allow many things to fall between.

 

[Tejay]

I used the regular sopping wet PT boards and spaced them with a carpenter pencil- 1/4 inch or so. HUGE MISTAKE.. I had to go back to the job and redo it. The gaps were 1/2 inch at least.

 

[boobag]

I used the regular sopping wet PT boards and spaced them with a carpenter pencil- 1/4 inch or so. HUGE MISTAKE.. I had to go back to the job and redo it. The gaps were 1/2 inch at least.

oh wow. those gaps must have turned out huge.

i've done many decks, and always **** the boards tight. and when they shrink, it leaves a perfect gap.