For a more rigid feel, 12 inches on center. The joist centres for residential decks must be a maximum of 400mm. Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. A few extra hours perfecting your deck frame can mean extra years on the life of your deck, so it pays to take your time. When replacing the existing boards with composite decking on a deck with 24-inch frame spacing, you will only need to add joists 12 inches on center between existing joists. When stacking decking bundles, supports (dunnage) should start approximately 8-in (203 mm) from each end and be spaced approximately 2-ft (0.61m) on center. This finishing touch is now available to match every Trex decking option—so whatever you choose, we’ve got you covered. If you like to go barefoot, consider a lighter color. The possibilities are endless. For a cleaner finish, use hidden fasteners to install your composite deck boards instead of screws. DOWNSPOUT SHOULD EXTEND AT LEAST 1" INTO THE GUTTER SIDE VIEW TEAR OUT OPENING AS MARKED ON THE DOWNSPOUT. Most composite and PVC decking brands, like Trex and Azek, recommend a minimum joist spacing of 16 inches OC. Our selection of marine-grade composite decking materials are a favorite of homeowners and seasoned contractors alike, and with a wide variety of accessories, railing styles, and hardware, you won’t have to look anywhere else. Stair railings are one of the trickiest parts of any deck project. 14 DIY deck add-ons that are seriously cool. (38.1 mm), installed level, in the direction of water runoff and directly to a solid sub-structure. Veranda decking, like all wood and composite decking products, requires proper ventilation and drainage in order to ensure its longevity. A perfect finish with Trex Hideaway ® Secret Fixings. A tell-tale sign of a potential problem with the ledger board attachment is the … Pressure-treated lumber is rot-resistant, not rot-proof. Learn more about deck railing repair here. 1 Box covers 50 square feet and 1 Bucket can cover 500 square feet. You don’t have to stick with one type of product or one look for the entire deck. Trex®decking can be assembled with most traditional fastening methods. 5 Problems When Parking Your Vehicle a Week or Longer (and How To Prevent Them), First-Timer’s Guide to Pouring a Concrete Patio, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. Railing Post Spacing. A splice board will also require extra framing. And most parts of a deck are now available in composite material. Do you know why horse fences are usually white? Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Ten years ago about half their jobs were wood. Creating a tight fit between a composite deck posts and a rail is difficult — even pros struggle with it. Optimal installation method (shownbelow) is using square-edge decking as a border, overlapping the rim joists approx. Your composite decking manufacturer will have a unique joist span table to help you determine the maximum length based on joist size and spacing. Trex Hideaway ® Secret Fixing System. Another mistake to avoid when installing composite decking is spacing the joists too far apart. Screw should be in line with center of joist. Jul 19, 2019 - This Pin was discovered by Michelle Soares. The pre-cut railings are made for 8-foot-on-center and 6-foot-on-center spacing. If the joists are not all the same exact height, the deck’s surface will be uneven. Current building codes require that all decks should be supported with a minimum of 2”x 10” pressure treated pine joists that are spaced 24” apart (although 16” OC is standard building practice). It’s common sense that the less space there is between joists, the sturdier your deck will be. I am getting ready to add 2 new decks to my house using some sort of composite decking. It is important that this board is straight and well secured. In most cases, it’s best to start with a full board on the outside edge of the deck and … For this reason I laid out most of my deck posts for the 8-foot spacing. So, when would you ever need to use 12 inches OC? Just like that, you’re installed—with decking handrails and … When designing a new trex or composite deck, the spacing between floor joists should be 12 inches on center. Because with a Trex deck you can’t sand or refinish the deck. We recommend our users to update the browser. Some aluminum manufacturers offer a preassembled railing that racks to whatever angle you need. Learn how to install decking projects with Trex® so that you can understand how to deck properly to make sure your end results are the built right. Install a splice board to create two 12-ft. x 12-ft. spaces instead. WIDTH-TO-WIDTH GAP 6 mm GAPPING You must gap Trex® decking, both end-to-end and width-to-width. A perfect finish with Trex Hideaway ® Hidden Fasteners. A house is only as strong as its foundation, and a deck is only as strong as its frame. Proper joist spacing is required for proper installation. You’ll need two 1x6s and two 1x8s for each post. Some brands, like WearDeck , let you get away with more – reinforced with a layer of fiberglass on both the top and bottom, WearDeck boards easily allow for spans of 24 inches OC. Staining is a major problem with older model Trex decking and a huge issue with older composite decking products in general. Trex Signature railing and Rod Rail are made to be installed at maximum 6' or 8' CLEAR SPAN BETWEEN POSTS. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hillman-Deck-Spacer-Tool-48480/205477904 When it comes to fastening PVC or composite decking, all three of our pros like the. I used the post sleeves that are engineered to slide down over 4x4 posts. Pro tips and tricks to make your deck build or remodel go smooth and efficient. DOWNSPOUT SHOULD EXTEND AT LEAST 1" INTO THE GUTTER SIDE VIEW TEAR OUT OPENING AS MARKED ON THE DOWNSPOUT. • Use corrosion-resistant, coated composite decking fasteners to minimize “mushrooming” and possible decking discoloration. The distance between two deck joists is measured in inches “on center”, commonly abbreviated as “OC”. TREX TRANSCEND® DECKING FASTENER OPTIONS. Your deck will look better and you’ll avoid the frustration of trying to splice the decking over joists. To install composite decking with a hidden fastening system, start at the house by face-screwing the first board. Have the spindles be a different color than the posts and rails. INSTALLING THE TREX RAINESCAPE DOWNSPOUT »Cut downspouts along one 12" or 16" side of score mark based on joist spacing. How Far Apart Should You Place Floor Joists on a Composite Deck? Make sure you plan adequate space for your joists. If some of your joists are higher than others, you might end up with a wavy surface. The joist centres for all commercial decks must be a maximum of 300mm. If you were to draw a line down the center of two joists and then measure the distance between them as 16 inches, that measurement is 16 inches on center. Our pros mix and match all the time: composite posts with aluminum rails, composite rails with aluminum spindles. NOTE: Trex Transcend and Select horizontal railings are made to be installed at maximum of 6' (1.83 m) or 8' (2.44 m) on center (depending upon type of railing you choose). We don’t harvest rainforests to make Trex. We asked our pros for some tips to help DIYers avoid expensive mistakes. Where to Buy. Once all the posts are secured you can install the decking. 2. Adjust the spacing between deck boards gradually over the next 10 rows of decking until the distance to the house is equal. If… Jobsite Etiquette Tips for Subcontractors, How to Build a Deck That will Last as Long as Your House, Why Composite Decking Makes Sense for Deck Rebuilds, How to Build a Solid, Frost-Proof Deck Footing, Attaching a New Deck to a House: The Correct Method, 7 Things You Should Do When Building Your Deck, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer). The smaller the spacing, the longer your joists can span. Every Trex board is unique. Instructional PDFS. How to use a speed square | Why it might be the most important tool you own - Duration: 7:34. It is recommended to install all fasteners perpendicular (at a 90 degree angle) to the boards. Composite deck stairs are typically made from 2 x 12 pressure-treated stringers spaced about 8 to 16 inches apart. Cover the decking edges. In fact, we’ve never cut down a … Install solid wood blocking between each joist, placed in rows at maximum every 4’ - 6’ within the structure using exterior grade screws. INSTALLATION GLOSSARY OF TERMS Carriage Bolt A bolt with a rounded head and a square shoulder under the head to prevent turning during installation. The bottom line? Getting Started. Those railings are not true 6' (72") or 8' (96") in length. Before building a composite deck, always read the installation instructions from the manufacturer, paying special attention to the required joist spacing for composite decking. In pursuit of the perfect deck, all Trex ® decking lines come with a hidden installation option. A: The Trex Hideaway hidden fastener has only one 1 5/8th “ screw to drive in and auto spaces the deck boards. Find a complementary color for your composite deck stairs. Because with a Trex deck you can’t sand or refinish the deck. The innovative Trex Hideaway Secret Fixings are an option with grooved-edge boards for perfectly consistent spacing and no visible screws on top. If screws are not installed at a 90 degree angle, then “dimpling” near the fastener head may result and leave a less than satisfactory appearance. Give one of our expert deck specialists a call at 1-888-824-5316 and check out the helpful baluster guides and videos below!. To ensure the best variety of colour tones, mix and … Don’t know what your deck will look like? Trex was the first to invent the wood-alternative decking category. If you want an unobstructed view, dark spindles are the way to go. If you’re planning to replace old wood decking with PVC or composite, measure the deck joist spacing first. This will allow fascia to be installed UNDER the square-edged decking, adding protection to the fascia/ framing seam and hiding the board ends from view. Where board ends meet a wall, leave a healthy 1/2-inch gap to ensure the material can expand and contract without coming into contact with the wall. Most common is 16 inches on center. See chart at left. 1” in picture framing pattern around decking perimeter. (IN Proper deck board spacing should have a 1/8-inch gap after the decking has dried out. The substructure must be a minimum height of 38mm from the ground. The last board won’t look good if it’s skinny or cut at an angle. Trex® Select Composite Decking Sample in Winchester Grey. 2. What’s really necessary? Sign up for our newsletter! With composites, you can typically trust brand guidelines but should make adjustments depending on the angle and span of your deck. At the same time, local building code requirements have also become stricter. One way to support the perimeter boards is to add an extra joist 5-1/2-in. No Lag Head Screws. Com-pared to traditional installation where two 2 ½” screws and a spacer tool are needed, Trex decking can … If you install your decking using wet boards, pressure-treated decking that has not yet dried out, then you should install them with no gap as a gap will be created as they dry and … Joist spacing. Composite materials have changed drastically over the years, improving in both performance and appearance. In addition, supports (dunnage) should line up vertically/perpendicular to the decking product. Staining Problems With Trex Decking. For a more rigid feel, 12” may be preferred. Trex Select Decking, the TigerClaw pneumatic gun is a terrific option that allows for quicker install time. 5/4 x 6 needs a maximum of 24 inches. Whether you're a homeowner, contractor, marina, or golf course, you can trust that we have the most knowledge, the best products, and the highest level of service in the southeast. 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