How Far Should Deck Boards Be From Siding

Now i realize that i need to leave a 2 minimum gap between decking and hardiplank siding which means 2 of gray siding to deck gap general discussion contractor talk.

How far should deck boards be from siding. The last board won t look good if it s skinny or cut at an angle. If the deck is enclosed or has a roof that doesn t allow water to get inside you need not worry. Tools and tips for proper deck board spacing. Divide this distance by the width of the decking boards plus 1 8.

I have flashed my deck ledger board with that 2 sided copper vinyl stuff. The first board you install should be about 1 8 3 5mm away from the siding to account for drainage expansion and contraction. There should be at least a 4 inch step down to the deck itself. Unless a deck is covered it shouldn t be at the same level as the door to your home.

Adjust the spacing between deck boards gradually over the next 10 rows of decking until the distance to the house is equal. Predrilling is typically necessary when fastening any type of hardwood decking. However if it s open to the elements read on. Many jurisdictions following the international building code which requires a minimum 1 8 inch spacing between boards.

The top of the ledger board should be lower than the desired top of the finished deck by one decking board s thickness plus the thickness of the flashing usually 1 8 inch. Wet wood if your wood is damp during installation place the boards closer together since they ll shrink once they dry. Face nails may or may not clear the siding beneath. Before deciding on how much space to leave between deck boards check with your local building code to see if it covers deck board spacing.

The finished deck height is 1 inch below the bottom of the sill. Gaps are not necessary at the butt joints where the end of two boards come together when installing hardwoods. Carefully determine the height for the ledger which will also be the height for all the joist framing. Cumaru deck board gapping allow a minimum of 1 8 gap between board widths on 4 wide decking and 3 16 gap between board widths on 6 wide decking for drainage airflow and expansion.

You extract the face nails from any piece and pull it down and out. Both sizes have their pros and cons. When you are about 6 10 feet from the end of the deck check the remaining distances from the edge. Plan accordingly based on how dry your decking is.

If wood is completely dry when you nail or screw it down it s likely to stay that way. Generally an acceptable gap between deck boards is between 1 8 inch and 1 4 inch. Adjust spacing between deck boards measure to the house at both ends and in the center when you get within about 5 ft. The course overlaps are generally between 1 2 inch and 2 inches.

You should try to end the decking with a full width board if possible.