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Are the gaps in decking boards (PT or composite) *REALLY* necessary?
Are the gaps in decking boards (PT or composite) *REALLY* necessary?
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'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!
Re: Are the gaps in decking boards (PT or composite) *REALLY* necessary?
sometime in the recent past Thomas G. Marshall posted this:
> 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".
But if already well dried, they will expand on their own too.
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)?
All materials expand and contract. Without spaces, dirt will still find its
way in and then stay there, water will puddle and possibly freeze. Sometimes
'been doing it that way forever' has a real reason. Just my 2 cents.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
>
>
--
Wilson N45 W67
sometime in the recent past Thomas G. Marshall posted this:
> 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".
But if already well dried, they will expand on their own too.
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)?
All materials expand and contract. Without spaces, dirt will still find its
way in and then stay there, water will puddle and possibly freeze. Sometimes
'been doing it that way forever' has a real reason. Just my 2 cents.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
>
>
--
Wilson N45 W67
Re: Are the gaps in decking boards (PT or composite) *REALLY* necessary?
"Thomas G. Marshall" <tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com >
wrote in message news:w6mQj.4$r12.1@trndny03...
>
> I've spoken to a number of people who have put composite decks in and they
> followed the manufacturers suggestions carefully and ended up with boards
> that just "seem" too far apart. A friend of mine has these large gaps
> around his posts that I'm not particularly fond of.
>
> And two of these people say they've never seen the boards expand nor
> shrink the way the manufacturer warned. I'm not sure of the brands.
>
> But this reminds me of something a construction guy told me once about PT
> (I know, a different issue): "Don't ever listen to the advice about
> keeping the boards a nail width apart....they will dry and shrink on their
> own". The only reason I mention this is because I would like to know to
> what degree such rules of thumb (PT or composite) are real, or just passed
> along advice that never really applies.
>
> For example, has anyone seen trouble with compostite decking boards placed
> flush (say, in the summer)?
>
> Thanks!
Don't know anything about composite.
Treated lumber, like any other lumber, absorbs water. In that process, it
expands. As an example, treated lumber placed immediately next to the next
deck plank sequentially may buckle. This is because the board expands and
may cup either way as well as a result. There is no room for expansion.
Would suspect that composite may have the same property if it absorbs water
as well.
--
Dave
Hypocrisy. Big SUV, filament lights on all night. You think your neighbor
should be changiing to compact fluorescent light bulbs and driving the
hybrid.
"Thomas G. Marshall" <tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com >
wrote in message news:w6mQj.4$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!
Don't know anything about composite.
Treated lumber, like any other lumber, absorbs water. In that process, it
expands. As an example, treated lumber placed immediately next to the next
deck plank sequentially may buckle. This is because the board expands and
may cup either way as well as a result. There is no room for expansion.
Would suspect that composite may have the same property if it absorbs water
as well.
--
Dave
Hypocrisy. Big SUV, filament lights on all night. You think your neighbor
should be changiing to compact fluorescent light bulbs and driving the
hybrid.
Re: Are the gaps in decking boards (PT or composite) *REALLY* necessary?
Dioclese said something like:
> "Thomas G. Marshall"
> <tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com > wrote in
> message news:w6mQj.4$r12.1@trndny03...
...[snip]...
>> For example, has anyone seen trouble with compostite decking boards
>> placed flush (say, in the summer)?
>>
>> Thanks!
>
> Don't know anything about composite.
>
> Treated lumber, like any other lumber, absorbs water. In that
> process, it expands. As an example, treated lumber placed
> immediately next to the next deck plank sequentially may buckle. This is
> because the board expands and may cup either way as well as a
> result. There is no room for expansion. Would suspect that composite
> may have the same property if it absorbs water as well.
Ok. Hmmmm....my side porch (uncovered, and just a landing for steps leading
into the house, perhaps 5' x 7', is covered with 5/4 PT untreated, and it
was placed tight and never buckled. I'm not saying that this is the rule,
I'm just adding it as empiracle evidence that's made me start to wonder...
Dioclese said something like:
> "Thomas G. Marshall"
> <tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com > wrote in
> message news:w6mQj.4$r12.1@trndny03...
...[snip]...
>> For example, has anyone seen trouble with compostite decking boards
>> placed flush (say, in the summer)?
>>
>> Thanks!
>
> Don't know anything about composite.
>
> Treated lumber, like any other lumber, absorbs water. In that
> process, it expands. As an example, treated lumber placed
> immediately next to the next deck plank sequentially may buckle. This is
> because the board expands and may cup either way as well as a
> result. There is no room for expansion. Would suspect that composite
> may have the same property if it absorbs water as well.
Ok. Hmmmm....my side porch (uncovered, and just a landing for steps leading
into the house, perhaps 5' x 7', is covered with 5/4 PT untreated, and it
was placed tight and never buckled. I'm not saying that this is the rule,
I'm just adding it as empiracle evidence that's made me start to wonder...
Re: Are the gaps in decking boards (PT or composite) *REALLY* necessary?
"Thomas G. Marshall"
> Ok. Hmmmm....my side porch (uncovered, and just a landing for steps
> leading into the house, perhaps 5' x 7', is covered with 5/4 PT untreated,
> and it was placed tight and never buckled. I'm not saying that this is
> the rule, I'm just adding it as empiracle evidence that's made me start to
> wonder...
PT is wood. Composites are a mix of wood sawdust and plastics. The movement
will be different so you are comparing different physical properties. With
wood, most of the expansion occurs in one dimension, the board width. With
plastics, it will occur equally in all dimensions.
Other factors are the temperature and humidity swings where you reside and
that of others who may take your empirical evidence and apply it to their
situation that may differ greatly.
"Thomas G. Marshall"
> Ok. Hmmmm....my side porch (uncovered, and just a landing for steps
> leading into the house, perhaps 5' x 7', is covered with 5/4 PT untreated,
> and it was placed tight and never buckled. I'm not saying that this is
> the rule, I'm just adding it as empiracle evidence that's made me start to
> wonder...
PT is wood. Composites are a mix of wood sawdust and plastics. The movement
will be different so you are comparing different physical properties. With
wood, most of the expansion occurs in one dimension, the board width. With
plastics, it will occur equally in all dimensions.
Other factors are the temperature and humidity swings where you reside and
that of others who may take your empirical evidence and apply it to their
situation that may differ greatly.
Re: Are the gaps in decking boards (PT or composite) *REALLY* necessary?
"Thomas G. Marshall"
<tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com > wrote on 25 Apr
2008 in group alt.building.construction:
> 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)?
1. It's a standard look. If I don't do it that way, some clients will
complain.
2. Expansion is a real problem if the wood is already good and dry. If
you're using the stuff from the borg that drips when you put in a screw,
go ahead and butt it together.
3. Puddling might occur if the boards don't shrink. The contractor
doesn't want to be sued because you slipped in a wet spot.
--
Steve B.
New Life Home Improvement
"Thomas G. Marshall"
<tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com > wrote on 25 Apr
2008 in group alt.building.construction:
> 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)?
1. It's a standard look. If I don't do it that way, some clients will
complain.
2. Expansion is a real problem if the wood is already good and dry. If
you're using the stuff from the borg that drips when you put in a screw,
go ahead and butt it together.
3. Puddling might occur if the boards don't shrink. The contractor
doesn't want to be sued because you slipped in a wet spot.
--
Steve B.
New Life Home Improvement
Re: Are the gaps in decking boards (PT or composite) *REALLY* necessary?
While I find that new PT wood is in various stages of being soaked with
water and will shrink in width according to the amount of wetness.
I have found that composite materials do expand, particularly in length,
during summer and shrink in winter. I have some 20 foot lengths and they can
grow about a 1/4 inch in length over the winter measurements, and they will
actually "crawl" or move in one direction over a number of years, requiring
some leverage and banging to get them back in place. We do have extremes in
temperatures, winters down to zero, and summers up to 100 degrees which can
cause these problems.
"Thomas G. Marshall" <tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com >
wrote in message news:w6mQj.4$r12.1@trndny03...
>
> I've spoken to a number of people who have put composite decks in and they
> followed the manufacturers suggestions carefully and ended up with boards
> that just "seem" too far apart. A friend of mine has these large gaps
> around his posts that I'm not particularly fond of.
>
> And two of these people say they've never seen the boards expand nor
> shrink the way the manufacturer warned. I'm not sure of the brands.
>
> But this reminds me of something a construction guy told me once about PT
> (I know, a different issue): "Don't ever listen to the advice about
> keeping the boards a nail width apart....they will dry and shrink on their
> own". The only reason I mention this is because I would like to know to
> what degree such rules of thumb (PT or composite) are real, or just passed
> along advice that never really applies.
>
> For example, has anyone seen trouble with compostite decking boards placed
> flush (say, in the summer)?
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
>
>
While I find that new PT wood is in various stages of being soaked with
water and will shrink in width according to the amount of wetness.
I have found that composite materials do expand, particularly in length,
during summer and shrink in winter. I have some 20 foot lengths and they can
grow about a 1/4 inch in length over the winter measurements, and they will
actually "crawl" or move in one direction over a number of years, requiring
some leverage and banging to get them back in place. We do have extremes in
temperatures, winters down to zero, and summers up to 100 degrees which can
cause these problems.
"Thomas G. Marshall" <tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com >
wrote in message news:w6mQj.4$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!
>
>
>
>
>
Re: Are the gaps in decking boards (PT or composite) *REALLY* necessary?
EXT said something like:
> While I find that new PT wood is in various stages of being soaked
> with water and will shrink in width according to the amount of
> wetness.
> I have found that composite materials do expand, particularly in
> length, during summer and shrink in winter. I have some 20 foot
> lengths and they can grow about a 1/4 inch in length over the winter
> measurements, and they will actually "crawl" or move in one direction
> over a number of years, requiring some leverage and banging to get
> them back in place. We do have extremes in temperatures, winters down
> to zero, and summers up to 100 degrees which can cause these problems.
Huh....Hold on.....please verify.... The composite grows when cold and not
when hot?
EXT said something like:
> While I find that new PT wood is in various stages of being soaked
> with water and will shrink in width according to the amount of
> wetness.
> I have found that composite materials do expand, particularly in
> length, during summer and shrink in winter. I have some 20 foot
> lengths and they can grow about a 1/4 inch in length over the winter
> measurements, and they will actually "crawl" or move in one direction
> over a number of years, requiring some leverage and banging to get
> them back in place. We do have extremes in temperatures, winters down
> to zero, and summers up to 100 degrees which can cause these problems.
Huh....Hold on.....please verify.... The composite grows when cold and not
when hot?
Re: Are the gaps in decking boards (PT or composite) *REALLY* necessary?
"Thomas G. Marshall" <tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com >
wrote in message news:DNCQj.80$Bd1.15@trndny09...
> EXT said something like:
>> While I find that new PT wood is in various stages of being soaked
>> with water and will shrink in width according to the amount of
>> wetness.
>> I have found that composite materials do expand, particularly in
>> length, during summer and shrink in winter. I have some 20 foot
>> lengths and they can grow about a 1/4 inch in length over the winter
>> measurements, and they will actually "crawl" or move in one direction
>> over a number of years, requiring some leverage and banging to get
>> them back in place. We do have extremes in temperatures, winters down
>> to zero, and summers up to 100 degrees which can cause these problems.
>
> Huh....Hold on.....please verify.... The composite grows when cold and
> not when hot?
>
Re-read what he said.
>>and they can grow about a 1/4 inch in length over the winter measurements,
"Thomas G. Marshall" <tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com >
wrote in message news:DNCQj.80$Bd1.15@trndny09...
> EXT said something like:
>> While I find that new PT wood is in various stages of being soaked
>> with water and will shrink in width according to the amount of
>> wetness.
>> I have found that composite materials do expand, particularly in
>> length, during summer and shrink in winter. I have some 20 foot
>> lengths and they can grow about a 1/4 inch in length over the winter
>> measurements, and they will actually "crawl" or move in one direction
>> over a number of years, requiring some leverage and banging to get
>> them back in place. We do have extremes in temperatures, winters down
>> to zero, and summers up to 100 degrees which can cause these problems.
>
> Huh....Hold on.....please verify.... The composite grows when cold and
> not when hot?
>
Re-read what he said.
>>and they can grow about a 1/4 inch in length over the winter measurements,
Re: Are the gaps in decking boards (PT or composite) *REALLY* necessary?
On Apr 25, 10:43 am, "Thomas G. Marshall"
<tgm2tothe10thpo...@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com > wrote:
> 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 shrin=
k
> 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 t=
he
> boards a nail width apart....they will dry and shrink on their own". Th=
e
> 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 advic=
e
> that never really applies.
>
> For example, has anyone seen trouble with compostite decking boards placed=
> flush (say, in the summer)?
>
> Thanks!
Composites are spaced for drainage and yes I have seen them spaced too
far apart. I think they actually make guage for spacing them now.
On Apr 25, 10:43 am, "Thomas G. Marshall"
<tgm2tothe10thpo...@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com > wrote:
> 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 shrin=
k
> 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 t=
he
> boards a nail width apart....they will dry and shrink on their own". Th=
e
> 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 advic=
e
> that never really applies.
>
> For example, has anyone seen trouble with compostite decking boards placed=
> flush (say, in the summer)?
>
> Thanks!
Composites are spaced for drainage and yes I have seen them spaced too
far apart. I think they actually make guage for spacing them now.
Re: Are the gaps in decking boards (PT or composite) *REALLY* necessary?
JIMMIE said something like:
> On Apr 25, 10:43 am, "Thomas G. Marshall"
> <tgm2tothe10thpo...@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com > wrote:
>> 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!
>
> Composites are spaced for drainage and yes I have seen them spaced too
> far apart. I think they actually make guage for spacing them now.
It really really detracts from the looks I think when the gaps are large.
You start looking at a porch or a deck as an ordered collection of gaps, and
not boards.
JIMMIE said something like:
> On Apr 25, 10:43 am, "Thomas G. Marshall"
> <tgm2tothe10thpo...@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com > wrote:
>> 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!
>
> Composites are spaced for drainage and yes I have seen them spaced too
> far apart. I think they actually make guage for spacing them now.
It really really detracts from the looks I think when the gaps are large.
You start looking at a porch or a deck as an ordered collection of gaps, and
not boards.
Re: Are the gaps in decking boards (PT or composite) *REALLY* necessary?
"Thomas G. Marshall" <tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com >
wrote in message news:w6mQj.4$r12.1@trndny03...
>
> I've spoken to a number of people who have put composite decks in and they
> followed the manufacturers suggestions carefully and ended up with boards
> that just "seem" too far apart. A friend of mine has these large gaps
> around his posts that I'm not particularly fond of.
>
> And two of these people say they've never seen the boards expand nor
> shrink the way the manufacturer warned. I'm not sure of the brands.
>
> But this reminds me of something a construction guy told me once about PT
> (I know, a different issue): "Don't ever listen to the advice about
> keeping the boards a nail width apart....they will dry and shrink on their
> own". The only reason I mention this is because I would like to know to
> what degree such rules of thumb (PT or composite) are real, or just passed
> along advice that never really applies.
>
> For example, has anyone seen trouble with compostite decking boards placed
> flush (say, in the summer)?
>
> Thanks!
I'd put spacing just to allow the gook to fall through. Make it easier to
power wash, too. Probably help decrease the drying time. Let air circulate
to keep icing down. Make mold and crud harder to grow in there. Lots of
reasons. More than I can think of for butting the boards together.
Steve
"Thomas G. Marshall" <tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com >
wrote in message news:w6mQj.4$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
Re: Are the gaps in decking boards (PT or composite) *REALLY* necessary?
SteveB said something like:
> "Thomas G. Marshall"
> <tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com > wrote in
> message news:w6mQj.4$r12.1@trndny03...
...[snip]...
>> For example, has anyone seen trouble with compostite decking boards
>> placed flush (say, in the summer)?
>>
>> Thanks!
>
> I'd put spacing just to allow the gook to fall through. Make it
> easier to power wash, too. Probably help decrease the drying time. Let
> air circulate to keep icing down. Make mold and crud harder to
> grow in there. Lots of reasons. More than I can think of for
> butting the boards together.
Is there a (newer) rule of thumb for composites, or should I trust the
manufacturer. That's what my friends did and they thought it was too far
apart, and I have to agree looking at it.
SteveB said something like:
> "Thomas G. Marshall"
> <tgm2tothe10thpower@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com > wrote in
> message news:w6mQj.4$r12.1@trndny03...
...[snip]...
>> 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.
Is there a (newer) rule of thumb for composites, or should I trust the
manufacturer. That's what my friends did and they thought it was too far
apart, and I have to agree looking at it.
Re: Are the gaps in decking boards (PT or composite) *REALLY* necessary?
On Apr 25, 9:43 am, "Thomas G. Marshall"
<tgm2tothe10thpo...@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com > wrote:
> 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 shrin=
k
> 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 t=
he
> boards a nail width apart....they will dry and shrink on their own". Th=
e
> 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 advic=
e
> that never really applies.
>
> For example, has anyone seen trouble with compostite decking boards placed=
> flush (say, in the summer)?
>
> Thanks!
You need some gap , air venting of moist air. there is expansion, and
for you, dirt and rain removal . Also an ease of cleaning.
On Apr 25, 9:43 am, "Thomas G. Marshall"
<tgm2tothe10thpo...@replacetextwithnumber.hotmail . com > wrote:
> 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 shrin=
k
> 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 t=
he
> boards a nail width apart....they will dry and shrink on their own". Th=
e
> 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 advic=
e
> that never really applies.
>
> For example, has anyone seen trouble with compostite decking boards placed=
> flush (say, in the summer)?
>
> Thanks!
You need some gap , air venting of moist air. there is expansion, and
for you, dirt and rain removal . Also an ease of cleaning.
