DIY Deck Installation Tips #2 – Proper Ventilation & Gap Spacing

Deck Ventilation & Gap Spacing
Don't follow Doug's advice. Your deck will need proper gap spacing.

Doug Tales – Give Your Decking Room to Breathe

Building a deck is not as simple as laying out some boards and using a hammer, glue, and nails. You can’t avoid the physical properties and nature of ALL decking materials.

With that in mind, it’s important to realize that even though decking materials are not living things, they still do “breathe.”

All decking materials expand and contract during the course of the year. When it’s hot and dry, wood contracts. When it’s humid and/or rainy, wood expands. The way decking materials behave should not be lost on anyone. However, even seasoned deck builders can sometimes forget, or be altogether unaware of just how important proper air ventilation is. Proper deck planning will ensure that air can flow freely through the deck and under the joists. Allowing for proper air ventilation will ensure that moisture can evaporate evenly and consistently. Why should you even bother planning for how air moves under a deck?

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DIY Deck Installation Tips #1 – How Not to Handle New Decking

Deck Installation Tips
Poor Doug. He has no idea that covering your decking is a very, very bad idea...

Doug Tales – Cover The Decking, Ruin the Wood

The story you are about to read is true and, unfortunately, all too common…

Doug’s order of wood decking has just arrived. Needless to say, he’s very excited. Even though the sky is clear, Doug knows that it’s going to rain overnight. So he covers it with a tarp so that the wood can be protected prior to installation.

The next day, it’s sunny and clear again. Doug says, “Time to get building!”

He removes the tarp from the pile, “So far, so good.”

As Doug starts prepping the wood, he notices that some boards are a little warped. He thinks to himself,  “What gives? I thought this stuff was supposed to be strong!? Oh well, I bought a deck wrench, I’ll just straighten up out. No worries.”

A couple of hours later, Doug’s wife comes out to see how things are going, “Um, honey. What did you do?”

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DIY Deck Installation Guide – Introducing Doug the DIY Deck Builder

At Advantage Trim & Lumber, we’ve heard it all. For close to 20 years, we’ve gathered stories from people across the country who’ve shared their deck building experiences. 95% of these stories have happy endings, but those remaining 5%? YIKES! Sometimes, what seems like an innocent decision can turn anyone’s deck building plans upside down. …

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How to Interview a Deck Builder – Questions to Ask

How to Interview a Deck Builder
Find a professional deck builder that can work on time, and with attention to detail.

So, you’re ready to start building a deck. You’ve decided on the decking material, general design, and even the spindles that match your choice of hardwood decking. One problem…

Whenever you open a tool box it’s like reading Latin. It’s dead to you. So, if hiring a deck builder is a no-brainer, how do you find one that will get the job done right?. After all, you could try your hand at this massive home improvement project, but if you’re uncomfortable around table saws, it’s probably best to hire a professional. But what do you look for in a deck builder? What questions must you ask before hiring a deck builder?

Here are the questions you to ask while interviewing local deck builders (Also available as a .pdf download: Deck Builder Interview Checklist):

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Deck Maintenance – 7 Tips for DIY Deck Inspection

Building your deck to code and not cutting corners will ensure optimal structural integrity and save you a lot of money in the long run.

How to Inspect Your Deck

According to the North American Deck & Railing Association (NADRA), the majority of the decks were installed over 20 years ago. Unfortunately, the large majority of those deck owners fail to adequately assess the structural health of their deck. It makes perfect sense to make sure that the structure under your feet was built properly and is maintaining its structural integrity. If you have never inspected your deck, then now is the best time to take a look “under the hood.” By measuring the health of your outdoor living area, you’ll give yourself peace of mind in knowing that your deck is safe and sound. NOTE: It doesn’t matter what deck you have, these deck inspection tips apply to all decking material.

With the recent string of bad weather in the United States (hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding and even dust storms!), the following deck inspection tips are a great way to ensure that you can not just enjoy your deck, but be safe on it as well.

Deck Inspection Checklist

1. How are the fasteners that run through the ledger holding up?

If your deck was installed with at least 1/2″ diameter lag screws your deck should be in good shape. If you or your deck builder ran nails through the ledger to the rim joist, you should, one by one, replace them with the stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized lag screws and be sure to use washers for a more secure fit. Using nails to fasten your deck to the home is a disaster waiting to happen.

If you, after a recent storm with heavy winds and/or flooding, you notice the screws and ledger starting to loosen up, reinforce them immediately with 1/2″ diameter lag screws.

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Decking Reviews – Compare Composite & Wood Deck Materials

If you found this blog post searching for “Decking Reviews”, congratulations! You’re right to do your research. You might have even read some negative feedback or heard a lot of marketing hype from both hardwood and composite decking companies. Hopefully, this post clears the confusion about which direction to go in and what material to …

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Proper Installation will Prevent Decking Problems

The best way to prevent decking problems is to ensure that your deck was installed correctly in the first place. Here are five crucial steps that will prolong the life of your deck: 1) Buy decking that is premium grade. When shopping for exotic hardwoods like ipe, it’s important to know the difference between premium/clear …

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