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| Getting
started: |
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| Careful
planning of the finished deck layout
will result in better looking finished
projects. |
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| 1. |
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Joist
location plays an important role
in the safety of the deck itself
but may also affect the ease,
method and price of your railing
system. |
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| 2. |
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Before
starting, read the instructions
of both the decking and railing
systems planned for the project. |
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| 3. |
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Remember
that prefabricated rail systems
often assemble faster than wood
railing but they are less flexible
and do not assemble in the same
way as wood rail systems. To enjoy
the maximum benefit of prefabricated
rail systems, it is important
to construct the deck framing
with the specific rail system
in mind. |
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| 4. |
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Thoroughly
reading all instructions first
will make for more profitable
projects; failure to do so may
result in more difficult installations. |
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| Joists: |
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Joists
used in deck frame construction should
be 2”x 8” or larger.
When using a Portico™ joist mount
brackets, a 2”x 8” joist
is required. |
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| When
installing deck boards perpendicular
to the joists in residential applications,
spacing is 16 inches “on center”
(figure a).
Commercial applications should be no
more than 12 inches “on center”.
When the decking is to be laid diagonally,
reduce the “on center” joist
spacing by 4" (figure
b). For special situations, or
when in doubt, consult your local building
inspection department. |
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| When
installing heavy loads atop your decking
project, a hot tub, for example, it
is important to also understand the
requirements of the manufacturer as
they may have specific framing and support
requirements for their warranty purposes. |
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| When
installing blocking for more intricate
decking patterns, remember that solid
blocking (blocking laid on “the
flat”) will inhibit water flow
and result in buildup of organic materials
over time, which will make cleaning
more difficult. For best results when
blocking is required, it should be installed
“ladder” style (figure
c). |
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| Board spacing: |
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| All decking
materials, whether wood, composite or metal,
undergoes some degree of linear expansion
with the changes of weather and the season.
To compensate for the effects of contraction
and expansion, the following installation
standards must be maintained: |
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3/16"side
to side spacing between the boards (figure
d). |
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1/4”
gap between the deck board and any solid
structure such as a wall or post (figure
d). |
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1/8”
gap between board ends (figure
e). |
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| Adhering
to these spacing parameters will: |
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promote
proper drainage and entilation. |
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aid
in the removal of organic debris. |
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meet
the requirements of the Portico™
warranty. |
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| Fasteners: |
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The use
of stainless steel fasteners is strongly recommended.
Approved coated fasteners may also be used
but their performance may not be as good as
stainless steel. Plain galvanized surface
fasteners are not recommended. |
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| Requirements: |
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| Do
not fasten within 1-1/2” of the end of a board.
It is necessary to pre-drill end of board screw
holes to prevent immediate or eventual end splitting
(figure f). Pre-drilling
all holes, which will add time to the project, is
not necessary, but it will result in better looking
finished projects. |
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| Fasteners
should always be driven in at a 90 degree angle to the
decking surface. Toe nailing/screwing is not recommended
(figure g). Instead, the
placement of an additional joist, when needed, is recommended
to allow perpendicular installation of fasteners (figure
h). |
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| Clean,
perfectly straight lines of fasteners look better than
wobbly lines. Use white chalk, straight boards or string
lines as templates for straight lines. DO NOT USE COLORED
CHALK. Colored chalk is designed to be permanent and will
stain the decking surface. There is no known way to remove
colored chalk from decking. All brands of Portico™
decking may be face fastened. Annual thread, ring shank
and spiral shank nails, of sufficient length, have excellent
holding power and produce good results. Gun nails may
be used but, depending on the gun, the temperature of
the decking and other factors such as head type, head
size and shank nail geometry, guns may not produce optimal
results. Test first. |
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| Screws
have superior holding power. Conventional bugle head decking
screws produce solid connections but have a tendency to
cause mushrooming. The mushrooms may be left as is, flattened
or removed (pat down with a rubber mallet), as desired. |
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| Screws
have superior holding power. Conventional
bugle head decking screws produce solid connections
but have a tendency to cause “mushrooming”,
as the bugle head countersinks into the decking.
The mushrooms may be left “as is”,
flattened or removed, as desired. |
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| For a cleaner
look, stainless steel screws with small “casing”
or “finish” style heads can produce
nearly invisible results. Achieving this look
is possible with screws designed specifically
for composite decks. Available commercially,
in home centers and hardware stores, these
screws are engineered specifically to work
with composite decking and prevent mushrooming,
resulting in better looking finished projects
(figure i). |
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| Wood Grain Patterns: |
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| Note that the
graining on Portico™ Decking is
directional. Different looks can be achieved by
laying the decking in the same or alternating directions
(figure j). |
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| The
Graining Pattern repeats approximately every three feet
along the board length. To ensure you orient the boards
to achieve the desired effect, a directional label is
affixed to each board showing the direction of the graining.
Should this label be misplaced or discarded, you can use
a key feature of the graining pattern as a reference.
During the planning phase of any deck project, notations
about grain direction should be made to achieve the desired
effect (figure k). |
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| Fastening
Boards: |
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| Portico™
requires two fasteners at each end but
only one fastener per joist (figure
m). |
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| Designed
for the professional deck builder, this
installation efficiency results in a
40% reduction in fasteners and a 30%
reduction in labor. Since Portico™
is grained identically on both sides,
two usable faces are available. This
reversibility may reduce waste by 15%.
While face fastening is allowed on all
Portico™ decking products, the
use of hidden fasteners is highly recommended
with Portico™ Eclipse to create
a smooth, unblemished, surface. |
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| Scarf Cuts: |
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Scarf cuts
(figure n) make
the end gapping less
visible. An angle of 22.5 degrees is recommended;
sharper angles leave a "feather edge"
that may
round off over time. Remember to maintain
proper end gapping. |
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| Fascia: |
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Portico™
decking is complimented by a color matched
fascia board. Available where
Portico™ decking products are sold,
the fascia
board should be fully supported by a sub-fascia
made of lumber and fastened with 3 fasteners
every 16" on center (figure
o). |
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Fascia
may also be used for risers in the
construction of stairs and completes the look.
Ripped to width, Portico™ fascia may
be used to
wrap posts or stringers but is NOT intended
for
structural applications. |
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