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If you’re an architect, contractor or do-it-yourselfer, you probably already know how difficult and time-consuming it can be to research and select the building products that are right for your next project. Luckily, Architizer is here to help. We’ve written a collection of “spec guides” on everything from marble to surface-mounted lighting. These will help you understand what factors to consider before making your next specification. Think of them as the ultimate specifier cheat sheet.
Today, we look at one of the most essential outdoor additions to any home: decking.
Decking
Categorization
Architizer: Building Products > Decking
MasterFormat: 06150
Introduction + Tips
Your main concern in specifying a deck should be choosing what material you want to use, which depends on your aesthetic vision, the location of the deck, and how much traffic it will see. From there, think about certain performance features of the deck, like timber treatment, fade and corrosion resistance, or sustainable forestry options.
When using Source to specify decking, the key is to provide the manufacturer with as much information as possible. Use normal words and photographs to describe what you are after, and be sure to describe how the deck is going to be used — the manufacturers will do the rest!
Kebony Character Decking
Application
- Common Elements: Decking is normally an exterior elevated floor connected to a building. Specify which elements you want, which can include:
- Flooring surfaces
- Stairs
- Balustrades
- Benches and seating
- Fencing
- Use: Decks are commonly used in residential applications, but they are also used in hotels, boardwalks, pavilions, observation decks and elsewhere. Be sure to mention whether or not your deck will experience heavy traffic.
- Location: Inside or outside? What is the climate like? Will the deck stand in water?
- Placement: Is the deck attached to a building? If so, how? Is it on the roof?
Materials
Different materials impart different aesthetic and performance features. Common materials include:
- Softwood Lumber: Most common wood used for general construction and light framing; should be treated
- Hardwood Lumber: Generally more expensive and cut from broad-leaved flowering trees; normally does not need to be treated
- Pressure-Treated Softwood: Ideal for places with high moisture or for installations that are in contact with the ground
- Wood and Plastic Composite: Has the look and style of real wood, but doesn’t rot, shrink or splinter
- Vinyl: Low maintenance; can come in slip-resistant designs
- Rubber Composite: Often used in commercial projects, a hardy mix of polyethylene resins and recycled tires that can withstand extreme heat and cold
- Plastic: Long-lasting material; recycled plastics available
- Metal: Interlocking planks form a watertight surface; recommended for upper-level decks/balconies.
Dimensions
Decking is commonly sold in dimensioned boards, which are specified by nominal and actual cross-sectional dimensions.
- Common nominal widths are: 2, 4, 6 or 8 inches.
- Thicknesses generally range from ¾ to 2 inches, in quarter-inch increments.
- Lengths ranging from 3 to 18 feet, in 1-, 2- or 4-foot increments depending on the material.
- Special orders can be placed for decking of unusual sizes.
- For synthetic decking, edges and molding are generally available in many dimensions.
TerraMai Reclaimed Woods: Reclaimed Teak Decking
Aesthetics
- Wood Species: Appearance and texture varies greatly between different species of timber. Common species used for decking include exotic hardwoods such as ipê, mahogany and teak, and untreated softwoods such as redwood and cedar. Pressure-treated pine is common, as well. The Wood Database website has more information on different species and their appearances.
- Wood Stains: Different stains can give wood decking different colors or emphasize grain-body contrast.
- Synthetic Decking: Synthetic decking manufacturers offer a range of colors and finishes for any given decking product. Often these finishes will approximate the appearance of actual wood. Varying surface textures are also available that may mimic grain patterns or abstract motifs. Manufacturers and suppliers can provide finish samples.
- Profiles: Both natural and synthetic decking can be specified in a variety of cross-sectional profiles. The profile of a board can affect how it joins to its neighbor or how it connects to an underlying structure. Common profiles include:
- Planed edges – edges are left sharp
- Eased edges – edges are rounded
- Tongue and groove – boards are fitted together with an interlocking tongue and groove system for tight joints
- Concealed-fastening systems – hide screws or nails so the visible surface of the decking is unmarred. Certain synthetic products may have this option.
Performance
- Timber Treatments: Most softwoods should be pressure treated with preservatives, especially if they’re in contact with the ground. It may be possible to specify chemical treatments with low toxicity or natural treatments, depending on your project requirements.
- Lifespan: Decks generally last upward of 25 years. Some products come with warranties that can last from as little as one year to as long as a lifetime. Natural woods require more washing and maintenance than synthetic products.
- Sun Fading: Woods and synthetic materials fade in the sun; if this presents an issue with your project, specify this.
- Sustainable Forestry: When using timber decking, it is possible to specify sustainably harvested lumber from managed forests if that is desired. Specifiable certification programs include FSC, PEFC, ATFS and SFI. Each of these programs are different in how they handle forests and some contribute to LEED credits. You can find out more at the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification or the Forest Stewardship Council.
- Recycled Content: Certain synthetic decking materials can be made with recycled content such as wood-plastic composites and rubber composites. This eco-friendly practice can contribute to LEED credits. Check with suppliers to see if the product you are interested in can be made with recycled materials.
One of the industry's biggest votes on design innovation is officially underway — help select the winners of the 2024 A+Product Awards! VOTE NOW >
