If you’re in the throws of planning a decking project, there are probably lots of questions going through your mind. You’ll have decisions to make about whether you choose a composite board or whether you’ll plump for hardwood. Either way, apart from choosing the right material, it’s also important to choose the right decking board size. So how do you go about making sure that you make the right choice on this front?
When it comes to decking board size there really are no rules, but here are a few basic questions you need to ask yourself.
How long is my deck going to be?
If your deck is going to be long, the temptation is to say that you need long boards, but that needn’t necessarily be the case. Quite often, ‘thinking outside of the box’ can produce some stunning results and save you money in the process. With a long narrow deck for example, you can use short boards and run them across the width of the deck to give an illusion of reducing the length and increasing the width. Another alternative is to create a ‘pattern’ on your deck so that the length of your deck seems to be reduced. It may be that you decide to use different coloured decking boards to do this or you could choose to run the boards in a different direction at each end of your deck in order to bring in the length and emphasise the width. You can also use wide boards to bring in the length of a long deck.
How wide is it going to be?
In the same way that you can create an illusion of reduced length by cleverly planning your board layout, you can also create an illusion of width by using wide boards to create an illusion of increased width. What’s more, you can choose to run your boards along the width of your deck, rather than along the length, again to give an illusion of increased width.
What shape will my deck be?
If your deck is going to be octagonal or hexagonal, you’ll be able to take advantage of being able to buy a mixture of short and long boards in order to make your desired shape if you plan your project carefully. No matter whether you plan to lay your boards from the inside of your desired shape outwards or if you prefer to lay them across the full width of the shape, you’ll be able to use a mix of longer and shorter boards, which will help reduce the cost of your project and will increase the options you can choose from.
Do I want a traditional or modern look?
There’s no getting away from the fact that you can completely change the look of a deck by changing the width of board you choose. You can create a highly modern look by choosing extra-wide boards or indeed by choosing extra-narrow boards. It really is up to you what sort of image you want to create as well as the furnishings you plan to include in your finished project.
What fixing method should I use?
There are two ways of fixing your decking boards: hidden and screw. Needless to say, with screw fixing, you can see the screws, even if they’re sunken. With hidden fixing, all you see are the ends of the boards; there are new screw holes to put up with or to try to camouflage. What this means is that there is less ‘noise’ on the surface of your deck to detract from its good looks if you choose a hidden fixing. Because of this, with hidden fixing, there’s no reason why you can’t opt for a shorter board, which will normally increase your choice and reduce your cost.
What’s the footfall on my deck likely to be?
If your deck is going to take on a high amount of traffic during its lifetime or is going to be asked to support heavy weights, such as furnishings etc., then you’d be best to opt for a thicker board. The reasons for this are twofold. First, to ensure stability for heavy weights, you need to make sure your decking boards are sufficiently thick and strong to provide the support you need. Thereafter, if your footfall is going to be high, you need to have the capacity to re-sand and re-finish your deck a number of times in its life. As you can imagine, the thicker the board, the more times you can avail of sanding and refinishing.
How big is my budget?
If you are on a tight budget, then the more flexible you can be about the board size you choose, the wider your choice will be. If it’s the case that you are completely open-minded, then you’ll be able to avail of special offers, choose shorter, cheaper boards or even use a mix of board lengths and widths inventively in order to reduce costs. In effect, the more flexible you can be, the more money you stand to save.
If you’d like to chat through your decking project with an expert, all you need to do is get in touch. We’re here to help.
FAQ
1. What strategies can I use for a long deck?
For a long deck, you can use short boards and run them across the width of the deck to give an illusion of reducing the length and increasing the width. Another alternative is to create a pattern on your deck, so the length of your deck appears reduced. You may choose different coloured decking boards or run the boards in a different direction at each end of your deck to emphasize width.
2. How can I manipulate the perceived width of my deck?
You can create an illusion of increased width by using wide boards. Additionally, you can choose to run your boards along the width of your deck, rather than along the length, again to give an illusion of increased width.
3. How does the shape of my deck affect board selection?
If your deck is going to be octagonal or hexagonal, you can buy a mixture of short and long boards to create your desired shape. Depending on how you plan to lay your boards, you’ll be able to use a mix of longer and shorter boards, reducing the cost of your project and increasing your options.
4. Can I alter the look of my deck by changing the board width?
Yes, you can completely change the look of a deck by changing the width of the board. You can create a modern look by choosing extra-wide boards or extra-narrow boards. The board width you choose should align with the aesthetic you aim to create.
5. How does footfall affect the thickness of the board I should choose?
If your deck is going to experience high footfall or support heavy weights, you should opt for a thicker board. Thicker boards ensure stability for heavy weights and allow for re-sanding and refinishing multiple times throughout their life.