Once you purchase the composite decking boards, the next obvious step is their installation. Installing decks in cold weather should be avoided, because composite decking is generally considered to be less stable than wood. Therefore, it can grow and shrink according to weather fluctuations, and you need to read the installation guidelines properly before you start the decking process. You can do the composite decking board installation using woodworking tools like the wooden saw, which cuts and sizes the boards.
This is a kind of construction work and therefore one needs to take proper safety precautions, the person needs to use protective clothing which includes safety goggles, gloves, and the dust mask.
Vital Steps Involved in the Installation
#1 Prepare a Supporting Substructure
According to the guides for composite decking installation, to continue the decking installation, one needs to ensure that the decking boards have a flat and stable base.
The boards must be laid on the ground; they should be fixed to the joists of supporting sub-structures. The choice of the substructures varies.
It can be a concrete base for a domestic patio deck.
However, better gradient allows drainage of water and get collected under the deck.
The joists are usually fastened to the concrete base properly using screws. For additional details about deck installation and to know about the manner in which the joists need to be fixed, there are online articles, blogs for interested readers.
#2 Fix Decking Boards to Joists
The next thing that one needs to do is to fasten the decking boards to the joists. There are different types of decking boards including the composite decking board which can be conveniently fastened to the joists of a substructure (meant for supporting the deck). For fastening, use stainless steel screws, you can use the plastic T-Clip system. The fastening of the joists involves a procedure that is available online in relevant contents. One can make a notion about the entire fastening process, use of screws, the T-clips, fitting them into the grooves.
Why many People Avoid using the T-clips?
Many avoid using the T-clips; they directly screw the boards to the supporting joists. There are different types of decking installations.
There is the timber, composite decking installation. However, in this context, it is important to say that the guides for composite decking installation say that one screw is required at the centre of each board. It is important to properly support the decking board, the board ends fully supported.
It is recommended to keep a small gap of at least 7mm between the sides of adjacent boards. This is to allow drainage of water and also keep a space for the expansion of the boards.
The plastic T-clips help to ensure that these gaps are maintained.
#3 Finish your Deck
After fastening the boards, if you are doing it DIY then use WPC skirting, corner trims to clean the sides of the new deck that is created. The significance of the trimming or using WPC skirting is to hide unfinished board ends.
The guides for composite decking installation say that the finishing of such installation starts from outside the area to be decked. Finishing works incorporate placing the boards; screwing them to the relevant joists, fit T-clips into the grooves along the board sides, screwing them to the supporting joists.
It is recommended to not close to the deck fully but to allow free circulation of air and options for proper drainage. You should consult with professionals before you go for composite decking. At the same time, since composite decking is expensive, you should make it a point not to waste materials. Lastly you can notch your composite decking material around posts and leave some space for thermal expansion.
Comments