1/16'' gap for 1x6 IPE decking boards ok?

mrmichaeljmoore

16 years ago

Is a 1/16" gap for my 1x6 IPE decking boards ok?

Starting to lay the floor tomorrow and just want to be sure.

thanks.

mike

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Comments (7)

brooklyndecks
16 years ago
Mike,

1/16" will expand to 1/8" after shrinkage...on a sunny deck. If you have shade/trees above you might want a slightly bigger gap. Trees drop trash, which can clog a small gap, and then you'll have drainage problems.

steve
deckman22
16 years ago
1/16 with dry wood will turn to no gap at all when rainy season hits your area, then water will just sit on top of the deck. Go 1/8" unless your wood is all ready saturated with water.

Al
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mrmichaeljmoore
Original Author
16 years ago
I did some searches on the forum.....some recommend 1/16," some recommend 1/8" gap for IPE.

Hmmmmmm.......

Don't have a lot of trees.....
At least not that much that would cause the grooves to become clogged regularly. Not a big deal for me to sweep it clean either....

But it is the Northeast after all, so the weather is rather unpredictable. We can gets lots of rain....or no rain....

Hmmmmmm......

I got the 1x6 IPE boards from Rings End in CT. They are a local reputable supplier. I think they get the Ironwwods brand of IPE. At least that's what their sales booklet says (it has the Ironwoods logo in the booklet). Ironwwods on their website suggests a 1/8" gap because 1x6 boards will shrink about 1/8."

So if I set the gap at 1/8" and they shrink another 1/8" that makes the gaps about 1/4." Is 1/4" a desirable result? Or is that too large of a final gap?

Thanks for the help folks.
mike
alb1k
16 years ago
I think kiln dried = 1/8
air dried = 1/16
mrmichaeljmoore
Original Author
16 years ago
I'll call my supplier tomorrow (Rings End) and find out, hopefully, how my IPE boards were dried.

Thanks.
mrmichaeljmoore
Original Author
16 years ago
Just checked with Rings End.....They said that the boards are Air Dried.....

So based on that, would 1/16" still be a good gap, as steve from Brooklyn suggested?
After shrinkage, that would leave a total gap of about 1/8" or so. OK?

Anybody else have any insight/advice/suggestions?

I just don't want to end up with too large of a gap......little kids catching their toes in between boards....people with flip-flops.....
or too small of a gap and then have drainage problems.

ugh.

thanks.
dooer
16 years ago
We use large metal straps to gap our boards (Simpson MSTI48 or longer). This leaves probably somewhere between 1/16 and 1/8" gap.

Mark

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1/16'' gap for 1x6 IPE decking boards ok?

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brooklyndecks

deckman22

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1/16'' gap for 1x6 IPE decking boards ok?

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