Using Wide Decking Planks

(Melissa)

My hubby and and I have decided to finally replace our deck. The previous owners never maintained and powerwashing split the wood terribly.

Anyway, hubby got the idea to replace the existing deck boards with 12 inch wide planks. When I expressed this idea with a potential deck person he stated that it just wouldn't look right.

Have you ever completed a deck with such wide planks and if yes do you have samples of the work?

If not a good idea can you explain why so that I can foward the same to my hubby. Thank you ever so much for a reply Cheers Melissa

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Jun 14, 2008
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Wide Deck Board Planks
by: Editor - Rich Bergman

I tend to think that 12 inch wide deck board planks would look a bit odd - more like old pine flooring rather than an outdoor builing material. But that is more or less an aesthetic observation. From a practical point of view, using really wide deck boards like that would pose some other concerns.

The wider the boards are the greater the risk that they might start to cup and warp or split given the weather extremes.

Narrower boards don't have as much surface area nor as much pulling power if they do start to move a bit. So this is just my thoughts.

I would stick to a narrower deck board as it is likely to be more stable in an outdoor application.

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