Subject: Redwood Decking Board Question

From: "Michael Werstlein" <[email-masked]>
Date: 30 Mar 1997 19:59:28 GMT

Hello,

I am about to put 2X6 redwood decking boards on my deck.  I went to the
local lumber yard and they told me that because of all the moisture content
in the wood that I should put the decking boards on without any space
between
them because the will shrink as they dry out.  I was looking at some of
their
16' 2X6 and they did seem fairly wet, but I ended up getting their 18' 2X6
and
they seemed to be pretty dry.  

So my question is.......should I lay the boards without any space between
them or should I leave a little gap between them?

Also, the type of redwood that I bought was con heart with the code S-DRY
on the end of them.  I am not sure what all of the codes mean.  Also, they
are kiln dried.

Thanks for any help,
Mike Werstlein
[email-masked]

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From: Martin Eastburn <[email-masked]>
Date: 30 Mar 1997 20:08:10 GMT

Depends on where you are, and what sunlight is hitting them (also).

In anycase I would leave 1 nail width between boards.
(if they are dry and really dry, the rain will swell them -
 you don't want to have them buckle.)

I have a large deck - most in the sun - and it dries in the summer.
My lower deck, always in the shade, never dried out; and expanded
the nail width - boards touch.  These are on the edge of risk due
to tension.

Martin

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From: "J. Cliff Elam" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 16:51:47 -0500

I had a similar problem once - the guy that was 'helping' me build his
deck used a 4 penny #6 nail to space his boards. Groan.

I just took my (PC) circular saw, set the depth so I wouldn't notch the
joists, and widened the boards by the saw kerf.  Years later and it
seems to have worked well.

- Cliff