Decking which way to lay

Knots sometimes show up on the pith side of the board, but not on the bark-side surface. In fact, you are less likely to have exposed knots on the surface of a deck if all boards are laid bark-side up.

Have you ever noticed that some boards are missing wood along an edge or at a corner? Sometimes you see bark still clinging to an edge. This defect is called wane. And you can install a board only one way to expose wane: bark-side up. And the lumber used in wooden decks is no exception. The underside of a deck built close to the ground experiences higher relative humidity than the upper, exposed surface. Wind and sun dry the top, while the earth works effortlessly to keep the underside moist.

The differential in relative humidity causes the bottom dimension of the boards to be larger than the top dimension. The result is cupping. The ridges, they say, were designed to let air circulate underneath the boards. This, according to them, prevents the buildup of moisture and, consequently, of mould. The ridges are not there to keep you from slipping and sliding around your deck. Nor are they intended to make your deck look nice. They are there as a structural feature to improve its longevity.

Besides, they point out, with the ridges facing up, the boards tend to collect moisture between the grooves; a situation that can spiral dangerously downward when mould start to multiply or when the timber starts to rot. By all means… install the decking timber with the grooves facing down. Now that you know decking boards run in the same direction as the joists, let us explore this topic further.

So, if you are ready to learn more about decking boards and how to run them properly, then please read onward…. Yes, it matters which way you lay decking boards as you must run the boards perpendicular to the joists. Otherwise, the deck will not be structurally sound. You should also install decking boards ridge side down. This allows air to circulate underneath the boards and helps with water drainage. The boards should also be fitted with a slight tilt in the same direction as the grooves.

The direction in which decking boards are laid is significant. It is not a matter of aesthetics but rather stability. The deck must be built in such a way that is both functional and safe. For a deck to meet building code requirements, the joists should:. The best way to lay decking boards is in accordance with your local building code requirements. Improperly built decks are dangerous and can collapse under heavy weight, whether that be from people or snow load!

The materials you use for decking boards will dictate how they are installed, though there are some similarities regardless. Alternatively, rubber matting is available that can accomplish the same task while being portable, allowing you to remove it when it's not needed so as to protect the look of the boards.

Likewise, textured adhesive strips can also be used to give some more grip. Search form Search. Should decking grooves face up or down?