The most popular thickness for decking boards in North America is a 5/4 thickness which
is an actual 1” thick
. Use the table below to understand the most common board thicknesses: Decking Thickness Definition Table. Nominal Thickness.
What is the actual thickness of a 5 4 board?
5/4ths is a common pre-cut of lumber, but the actual thickness of the board is
1.25 inches
.
What are the dimensions of a 5 4 deck board?
If you use 5/4 decking, you are getting two-thirds of the board of a 2×6.
What is the standard size for deck boards?
What Is the Standard Deck Board Size? Common deck board widths are
4”, 6” and 8”
. The widths are readily available in most lumber or building supply stores, and the number of pieces easily calculated into deck dimensions. Other widths may be used for aesthetics and effect.
How far can a 5 4 deck board overhang?
The edge of decking should never overhang
more than one-third of the decking material
. For your standard 5.5” decking, that is 1 3⁄4” overhang.
Why is it called 5 4?
It simply refers to
how many 1/4-inches thick the rough stock is
. For example, 4/4 (read out loud as four-quarters) is 1-in. thick in the rough. 5/4 is 1-1/4-in.
Should I use deck boards or 2×6?
2×6 is thicker and is stronger
, but is also more expensive. Spacing between deck boards provide a few critical functions. The primary function is to drain water from the deck. Gaps that are narrow (1/8”), can catch debris, specifically on top of the joists, and can be difficult to clean out.
Is it better to use 2×6 or 5 4 decking?
For those looking for a distinct wood decking look,
5/4 decking is
a good choice at an economical price. For those looking for a more robust, bulkier looking decking, 2×6 decking is a good pick with a square profile.
How far can a 2×6 span without support?
A 2×6 can support up to 50 pounds per square foot of weight without sagging with a maximum span of
about 12 feet when spanning a distance horizontally
, with the 2×6 standing in a vertical position. This number includes both live and dead weight.
How many square feet does a 16 foot deck board cover?
EXAMPLE: Say you've chosen the 16-foot standard width deck board. First, take the width (5.5 inches) and convert it into feet by dividing it by 12 inches, which gives you 0.45 feet. Then multiply 0.45 by 16 to get the board's area:
7.33 square feet
.
What size boards are best for decking?
Width:
Six-inch wide boards
are ideal in most cases. Four inch wide material takes longer to install, creates more gaps and requires a lot more fasteners—but you can use it. Eight inch wide boards, because of their greater width, have more of a tendency to crack and cup; avoid using them.
How far can a deck board overhang a joist?
The American Wood Council states that cantilevers are limited to
1/4 the span of the joists
. Joist Spacing (o.c.) Maximum allowable overhang cannot exceed 1/4 of the actual main span.
Do you need space between deck boards?
Proper wood deck board spacing should have
at least a 1/8 inch gap after the decking has dried out
. If you install your wood or treated deck boards while they are still wet boards, then they should be attached without a gap between them.
How far can you overhang a 2×6?
So the question is, “How much can we cantilever the far ends of the joists?” Looking at the table below, we see that 2×6 floor joists can be cantilevered up to
2 feet and 6 inches
(2′-6′′) when the joists are spaced 16′′ apart.
Why are 2x4s not actually 2×4?
DIMENSIONAL LUMBER:
In the past, when a timber was called a 2×4 [or “two-by-four”], it actually measured 2 inches by 4 inches. … Because of this extra milling, a
2×4 no longer measures a full 2 inches by four inches
. Instead, a 2×4 is really only 1 1/2′′ by 3 1/2′′.
What does the time signature 5 4 mean?
5/4 is the
most used “irregular” time signature
. 5/4 can be very attention-grabbing because it doesn't fit neatly into an easy to understand rhythm as if feels “off-kilter”. It's usually counted in a group of three quarter notes followed by a group of two, but sometimes you'll find it counted in the reverse: 2 then 3.
