Need deck board layout help

[rfuerst911sc]

Cleaned off the car trailer today in anticipation of picking up new 5/4 pressure treated deck boards . Basically I have two rectangular decks that are 18'3" and 18'4" x 16' . The boards run in the 18 foot direction . The current deck boards are a variety of 16' and smaller in random pattern . The joists are 16" on center .

I " think " I want to use 16' for all of it with every other board alternating left to right with just a short filler board . That way the majority of the seams are near the ends where there is less foot traffic. Is this the right way to go ? Or should the end pattern be more random ?

I figured I will need 80 sixteen footers and 40 eight footers , the connecting walkway between these two decks is ten boards wide by 20' so some will go there. Advice greatly appreciated as I will be purchasing soon.

[Bugsinrugs]

Looks like how you have planned it is the most efficient way. My deck was the same goofy layout. Why 18’3”? Why not 18’? Waste of expensive decking for sure.

[ltusler]

The butt seems are where it will begin to rot first, so if you can eliminate them by using longer boards I would consider it.

[look 171]

Random is best looking, IMO

[dad911]

Picture frame. No ends, no butt joints.

[BK911]

Picture frame gets my vote too.

[rfuerst911sc]

Had not considered picture frame , so I would take the 18'3" and 18'4" decks and divide in half and that is where the center divider would go ?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by dad911

Picture frame. No ends, no butt joints.

My deck doesn't have butt joints, but I sure like that look better than butts....well...most butts

[BK911]

You don't necessarily need a center divider.
Just a frame around the perimeter.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by BK911

You don't necessarily need a center divider.
Just a frame around the perimeter.

Help me understand are you saying in my case make a picture frame around the perimeter so a 16' long board fits within it ? My picture frame border would have to be 14" wide on both ends .

[dad911]

Don't need a center. We don't usually do that. You will need to add blocking(shown below), between the last two joists at each end.

Also, believe it or not, sometimes there is less waste running the boards diagonally.

[Bugsinrugs]

Are you using redwood? Cover your joists with this https://www.energyconscious.com/grace-vycor-deck-protector-4-x-75-roll-45639.html?fee=5&fep=3512&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi9qTzb_b5AIVXR-tBh2BAgsjEAQYAyABEgJ5YPD_BwE
Your deck will last a long time.

[rfuerst911sc]

Dad911 appreciate the pic that is helpful . Diagonal is beyond my skill set ! But if I do picture frame and get the frame dimensions correct I might be able to have almost no waste .

[URY914]

Rick, this is the deck and stairs I built last year. Picture framing is a great way to layout a finish off a deck. You just need to frame the sides correctly.

[rfuerst911sc]

Paul that looks great ! But I believe your skill set is superior to mine when it comes to layout . But mine is basically a straight border so even I can't screw up too badly . Tomorrow I am going to take some dimensions and make some marks/lines on the existing deck to see how a 14 " border will look , maybe even make it 16 1/2 " ( 3 board widths ) to minimize waste . I can easily see how in my case using all 16 ' boards with no butt seams would look much better . When you originally installed the deck boards up to the border did you cut them tight to allow for shrinkage or did you hold them back an 1/8 or a 1/4 ? And the edges of each board , tight to each other or leave a measured gap ? Appreciate the help

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by dad911

Picture frame. No ends, no butt joints.

Nice!

[Crowbob]

What is the purpose of the blocking between the last two joists?

[john70t]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Had not considered picture frame , so I would take the 18'3" and 18'4" decks and divide in half and that is where the center divider would go ?

Consider the lengths of the runs:
More blocking every 4-6' (with hangers) on posts is not a bad thing when you are having 20 people over.
It's an extra pain.
Do it once.

Joist protection tape is a good idea.
Island mentioned using copper flashing and copper nails to shed the water.
(Copper-sulfate spray is also used for controlling mildew/mold in areas around gardening as well.)

Spend a little more on the right materials, and it will never be an issue to deal with again.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Had not considered picture frame , so I would take the 18'3" and 18'4" decks and divide in half and that is where the center divider would go ?

Consider the lengths of the runs:
More blocking every 4-6' (with hangers) sitting on posts is not a bad thing when you are having 20 people over.
It's an extra pain.
Do it once.

Joist protection tape is a good idea.
Island mentioned using copper flashing and copper nails to shed the water.
That sounds solid.
(Copper-sulfate spray is also used for controlling mildew/mold in areas around gardening as well.)

I have spent many hours with a brush trying to to push oil stain into the T-joint crevices with much waste.

Spend a little more on the right materials...and it will hopefully never be an issue to deal with again.
Drive yer truck on it. Heck. I'd be jelly.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

What is the purpose of the blocking between the last two joists?

The end boards when you 'picture frame' are running parallel to the joists, so they need support.

We also always use solid blocking mid span, as seen in framing pic I posted. It stiffens the deck.

Full disclosure pics above copied online, not ours.