Following these guidelines will prevent long-term maintenance and short-term problems, and will help you professionally produce and install the deck.

Inspection:
It is up to the installer or homeowner to inspect the material for defects before installing the decking material.  Wane or lack of wood, and sapwood are considered a defect and should be pulled from the order.  Notify your Travis Creek Wood Products salesman right away.  Variation in color and an occasional worm (1/8” or smaller) is not considered a defect.

Storage and Handling:
While storing hardwood decking material at a job site or storage facility, the material needs to be placed on 2x4s and kept off the ground.  Direct sunlight is its worst enemy.  As with most hardwoods, ultraviolet rays from the sun will start to change the color to silver gray and can cause some minor checking.  Keeping the decking covered will keep each piece uniform in color until it is ready for installation.  For better performance, we recommend you finish all four sides before installing your deck.  Ask your Travis Creek Wood Products representative today for information on Cabot’s Australian Timber Oil.

Spacing and Ventilation:
Hardwood decking material is the planking being applied on top of the deck. 1x4, 1x6 and 5/4x6s are kiln dried to 12%-14% moisture content.  Keep this in mind when spacing each board.  The narrower material (1x4) should have 1/8” spacing between.  Anything 5 ½ and wider should have 3/16” spacing.  In the case of commercial or handrail application, and you choose to use 2x4 through 2x10 for a deck area, remember these materials are kiln dried, but are intended for the framework underneath the deck, not decking or handrails.  Proper installation and spacing is required.  Hardwood decking is a lot denser and since its kiln dried, it won’t expand and contract as much as pine or other decking material.  Proper spacing and ventilation below the deck are important.  Avoid settling water under the deck by placing downspouts from gutters away from your deck.  Try to have as much clearance under the deck as possible and at least 2 sides opposite of one another open for cross ventilation.  Ventilation under, around and through the deck is important.  If hardwood decking is installed without at least 8 inches of ventilation underneath the deck, including spacing between each decking plank, the liability falls back on the distributor or installer and not on Travis Creek Wood Products.  Incorrect installation voids your warranty.  All hardwoods have pigment.  If your deck is installed unfinished, pigment can be washed away from it every time it rains.  This is a natural characteristic of hardwoods and hardwood decking, along with checking due to direct sunlight on unfinished surfaces.

Span:
Even though hardwood decking is used in applications such as stands, bridges, heavy equipment decking, railroad ties and decks for elephants, spans are still determined by your local building code.  Contact your local city or county office for this information. 

If hardwood decking is going to be used for something other than a decking type application, please contact your Travis Creek Wood Products sales representative before selling or installing the material.

Fastener manufacturers recommend impact screw guns instead of the old-style constant pressure used in the cabinet industry.  Follow your fastener recommendations listed on the packaging or online.  There are screws manufactured to install a deck without pre-drilling and will counter sink as well.  Stainless steel is a must on decking applications.  Again, contact your sales agent for more information.