If you are using 2-foot by 4-foot boards, for instance, the square footage of each board is 8 square feet. Use Our Free Deck Design Software. Calculating How Much Material to Purchase You'll need the dimensions of the deck boards you hope to use. The joist used for the framing should be 2-inches x 8-inches or larger. Let's calculate the square footage of one decking board: 8 ft * 0.5 ft = 4 ft². Your email address will not be published. Which width of decking board would you like? Danielle Smyth is a writer and content marketer from upstate New York. How to use the Decking Calculator: Firstly work out your sq metre coverage by multiplying Width x Depth. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); To calculate decking board quantities required to build a deck is relatively simply process. Decking Length (meters) * Decking Width (meters) * Calculated Results. Eg. If you were to use 25 boards, 23 of them would have a 1/8-inch gap, but the outer two pieces would not. This calculator works out the joists at 500mm centres and nails are added pick 47 x 100 or 47 x 150 both will do the job but 47 x 150 is recommended if you are raising the deck from ground level . We divide the deck square footage by the board square footage and add 10% to account for waste: 260 ft²/ 4 ft² * 1.1 = 71.5. However, you will need to consider not only the size of the boards used but also the spacing between them as this will also take up space. Hi Richard, Do you have any more details for your deck? Step 1. In order to use our coverage calculator, all you need to know is the Square Footage of your deck, Board Width, and floor Joist Spacing that you are using for your deck. Because this square footage is less than one board's square footage, you might still wish to purchase 25 boards. Step 2: Determine Plank Length. (It is always best to round up the answer to the next whole number.). 4" wide material is calculated at 3-5/8" and 6" at 5-5/8" net coverage. First, you will need to determine the area of your deck. A joist is the skeleton bones of the deck. The dimensionally stable steel of Trex Elevations stays in place, giving you consistently stronger, straighter, safer and smarter decking than what wood can offer. For the deck size example provided above, of 200 square feet, you would need 25 boards of this size. Once you have constructed the support and structure of your deck, calculating the necessary surface material is fairly simple. Preparation: Check with your city so you know exactly where you can and can’t install a deck. Calculations assume 1/8" spacing edge to edge between boards. If you want the decking raised pick the height from the drop down box, this height is from ground to top of the deck. Deck Board Fastener Calculation. Different materials often specify larger or smaller gaps. Step 2. You will be designing in no time. Simply enter your measurements into the timber decking calculator / timber flooring calculator below for a great estimate of the timber boards you’ll need, fully costed. With an extra 15 percent, you should be prepared for potential mishaps. Enjoy building your deck! That creates approximately another 3 inches width-wise that you wouldn't need material to cover. Afterward, you're going to measure the length and width of each of the deck boards. number of joist based on spacing; the length of the joist; deck joist needed in lineal feet (in addition to the result for 1 it adds 2 joist for doubling the end ones plus a ledger and rim board in the lineal foot count) the lineal feet of the beam material; the number of boards for the decking So, dividing the area of the roof by 32 will give you the number of sheets needed. Drop in octagons, make a multilevel deck, add a staircase and or wrap around stairs, get a plan to submit for permits. A reliable deck material calculator will take the guesswork out of your next decking project by helping you determine the number of decking boards you’ll need. 20 ft. Design the deck of your dreams with our new deck design software. Calculate the decking required based on the actual width of the boards you will use, and determine how many boards you’ll need according to square footage. Substitute these numbers into the board foot formula to find the board footage per piece: board feet = length(ft) * width(in) * thickness(in) / 12. board feet = 8 * 10 * 1.25 / 12. board feet = 8.33 BF. It is best to start by working out how many rows of decking boards are needed. If necessary, adjust number of deck boards to match in both calculations, and see if different board gaps at each end of deck are acceptable, compared to equal gaps and cutting the last board … Your email address will not be published. This deck will require 32 rows of decking boards. we will start with this then move on to more advanced decking plans. These easy fit decking kits are just that! If you need special components that are strength graded to meet Building Regulation requirements please consult your Q-Deck ® retailer who will pass the enquiry onto Hoppings Softwood Products for consideration. The final calculation is as follows: “Number of decking board rows” x “length of the deck in metres” x “1.1″ (multiplying by 1.1 automatically adds on the 10% waste) = total lineal metres. Calculate the exact number of boards it will take to cover this area. Step 4. Example: If the deck is 3 metres wide and 5 metres long (including fascia board and decking board overhang) and the decking boards are 90mm wide and using a 4mm spacing between decking boards, your calculation would be: 3000/(90+4) = 3000/94 = 31.9149 which you would round up to 32. Your calculation should look like this: “Overall width of the deck in millimetres” / “decking board width in millimetres + spacing between decking boards in millimetres” = the number of rows of decking boards required. The simplest & easiest to calculate of decking plans is the single rectangle / square. Footers should be set 6 inches deeper than the frost line for your area. the width of the decking board (inches) The Results. If your width is 6m and your depth is 2m 6(w) x 2(d) = 12sqm. For this example, we will say the planned deck will be 16 feet by 14 feet. advice . Make sure to account for the gap between boards. Using the previous example your calculation would be: Now we have the figure for the total lineal metres of decking boards we need to order. She holds a Master of Science in Publishing from Pace University. 515.9m ÷ 3.0m = 171.96 decking boards. I know I’m a DIY amateur Sometimes it’s better to leave things to the experts. For instance, if your deck is 20 feet long by 10 feet wide, its area is 200 square feet. If your supporting structure is the same size as your deck, you can use measurements of it for this step. Please enter and select your measurments, then click calculate to view a product list needed for your deck. You need to calculate how many deck boards are needed for the deck. Calculator Details. Decking Area (sq m) Decking board Length (m) 100mm x 47mm Joist at 450mm Centre (m) Then find the closest sqm to what you require. She owns her own content marketing agency, Wordsmyth Creative Content Marketing (www.wordsmythcontent.com), and she enjoys writing home and DIY articles and blogs for clients in a variety of related industries. A 4×8 sheet of plywood is 32 ft 2. Please choose an option * Only Finger Jointed boards available. If your deck is slightly out of square (different widths), calculate results for both widths, and set out each end to suit. If your deck is largely rectangular or square and then has a side piece, calculate those two areas separately and then add them together. It can be a little tricky if you want to do everything yourself. Area To Cover (Width) * input to one decimal place. This means you will need to add 1/8 or 1/4 for each space you plan to have between the boards when determining material square footage. This depth will determine how much concrete you need and how long your footers should be. http://www.restumping-melbourne.com.au/build-best-backyard-deck-around/, Measuring and taking photos of your footings. Calculate number of deck boards. Fixings relate to the approximate number of screws required per m 2. Just cross-reference your size of decked area (for example, 2 by 3m) and it presents the number of deck boards you will need. Once you know how much material you need, you can calculate your composite decking cost by visiting the Bunnings website and checking the composite decking … We take the linear metre measurement and divide it by the length of board you are going to use. To simplify the process, we’ve created this deck stair calculator to help you determine the correct measurements needed to carry out your project. Multiply the “number of rows” by the length of the deck – again ensuring to allow for the fascia and the overhangs on both sides of the deck. Hay mate added up mine come to quite amount could would you b able to check calculation fro me pls 6m wide 12.8 long. See your deck in 3D then get a plan and suggested material list for your project. Step 3: Divide by Plank Length. Let's round the result up (it's better to have more than less) - we'll need 72 boards. Boards (includes 10% coverage) Email this estimate Veranda composite decking with SE, square edge designation must be installed with approved composite decking screws. This helps prevent rot and decay over time. 140mm. Air dried material is typically spaced at 1/8" edge to edge. She also runs her own lifestyle blog, Sweet Frivolity (www.sweetfrivolity.com). Calculate Sheathing Needed. Determine length of deck board required. But the gaps between your boards must be taken into consideration, too. Depending on the manufacturer, the spacing of these can vary, but they often lie in the range of 1/8 or 5/32. How to Calculate the Framing Size for a Deck. Now we can calculate the number of decking boards needed. We will assume that the rectangular / square decking area is going to be laid at ground level with no raised sides. Wood substructures split, warp and shift, leading to an uneven surface in the deck boards above. Wood substructures split, warp and shift, leading to an uneven surface in the deck boards above. Calculating Material Requirements. Using the previous example your calculation would be: 32 x 5 x 1.1 = 176 lineal metres. Cutting your decking boards neatly around posts. BACK NEXT. Put this together with our own friendly national delivery service and you're on to a winner! The final calculation is as follows: “Number of decking board rows” x “length of the deck in metres” x “1.1″ (multiplying by 1.1 automatically adds on the 10% waste) = total lineal metres. Our calculator works out the board feet of standard three dimensional wood material based on the measurements you provide. Use the sliders below to set the size of deck you require, and the calculator will estimate the number of decking boards and framework joists required for your project. Since the deck is 20 feet long, the square footage of the gaps is 3 inches by 20 feet – or 5 square feet. Over time, this can lead to buckling if proper gaps were not left. We would then round this figure up to the nearest whole number. When building a deck, gaps between boards are important because they allow for drainage. Width in inches divided by 5.65 = Number of deck boards. An email has been sent to your selected email address. I suggest and recommend allowing 10% for waste. Lumber calculator formula. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, Inch Calculator: Deck Flooring Calculator and Price Estimator. Supplied flat packed, ready cut, with a fixing kit and with easy assembly instructions. As a general rule of thumb, you should leave at least 1/8-inch of space between composite boards. From this you can then find out how many boards you require: 41 boards of W120mm x L2.4m or 24 boards of W140mm x L3.6m Be sure to account for any uneven areas, angled edges or other non-perpendicular spaces. You'll need the dimensions of the deck boards you hope to use. For the deck size example provided above, of 200 square feet, you would need 25 boards of this size. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. To calculate the area, multiply the length of the deck by the width of the deck. Step 3. Area To Cover (Length) * input to one decimal place. Deck footings: How deep to dig deck footings? Now, multiply this result by the number of pieces to obtain the total board … If your deck has a main section that is 15 feet long by 5 feet wide and a smaller section that is 5 feet long by 2 feet wide, the area of the deck is 75 square feet plus 10 square feet, or 80 square feet. Then divide the width of the deck by the width of your decking boards plus the gap between the decking boards, which is recommended to be 3-4mm. Hi Mario, how wide are your decking boards going to be? Next, we need to work out the total lineal metres of decking required. For example, is your deck close to the ground or more than 1m off the ground which would need a handrail. If you're not opting for timber decking, or are looking to use timber boards in a different size than that referenced in the table, have a go with our decking equation. As a general rule of thumb, lumber decking should be installed with gaps of between 1/8 and 1/4 of an inch. Thank you for using our decking calculator. I have an area I am thinking of getting a deck installed it is 9 meters by 5 meters the boards will run the long way 9meters , I need a price of what it would cost in materials for both size merbu 90mm and 140 and how much material I will require it is going partial over a concrete slab and some grass so stumps will need installing maybe around 8-12 ? Great ideas on how to build or just refresh your deck I found in this article: http://www.restumping-melbourne.com.au/build-best-backyard-deck-around/, We arelooking at diagional running decking house wall corner 4m x 7.5m x 8.5 a triagle..how do we order timber lengths without waste…prob merbu. If you’re brand new to deck installation, follow the steps below to ensure you buy the correct quantity of all materials: 1. Building stairs for your deck is often considered “the most difficult part of” the construction project. Total Number of Boards = DSA / (SBC X 1.1) Calculate How Much Deck Material You Need For Your New Deck. Some composite boards use hidden fasteners rather than screws. A wooden deck is really nothing more than an outdoor floor. Now we have the figure for the total lineal metres of decking boards we need to order. Get handy D.I.Y. In any case, you should always purchase a bit of extra material to account for damage or errors. If you are using 2-foot by 4-foot boards, for instance, the square footage of each board is 8 square feet. Material quantity calculations are approximate and based on using full lengths of decking boards, measuring 4200x125mm (LxW), with a 5mm gap between each board when installed. If the deck is to overhang the supports, refer to your original design plans to determine the measurements of each side. This calculator will tell you the size of the joist boards necessary based on the square footage of the deck. Having the right calculations before getting started can make the task a lot easier. Rely on manufacturer recommendations for spacing whenever possible. How To Build A Deck View All D.I.Y. Step 1: Determine Square Footage. The dimensionally stable steel of Trex Elevations stays in place, giving you consistently stronger, straighter, safer and smarter decking than what wood can offer. Working out how many timber decking boards to buy. Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions before proceeding.  Typical spacing for KD / Kiln Dried Decking is 1/4" for 6" boards and 3/16" for 4" boards. The joist is what holds the planks on your deck in place. Required fields are marked *. Once you have the area you can divide by the area of a sheet of plywood to find the number of sheets needed. 70mm* 90mm. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Determine size of deck and direction of deck boards. If you intend to cover the deck with 2 inch by 6 inch boards, you will add the width of the board plus the width of any opening you plan to leave between the boards. To do this, measure the width of the deck ensuring you allow for the fascia board and the decking overhang (a detailed outline can be found in the “Installing decking boards” guide). For more detailed information on how to calculate decking board quantities and how to install your decking boards correctly; you can purchase your own copy of our “Installing decking boards” guide or you may like to visit the “Resource Shop”, Hi need to work out a price on 10m x 10m decking. Before beginning to build a deck, you'll need to determine how much material you need. Also, see if you have to pull permits. Changes in heat and temperature can cause composite deck materials, especially those that are hollow, to shrink or expand. Boards use hidden fasteners rather than screws lot easier = number of sheets needed total lineal metres the! Width in inches divided by 5.65 = number of boards = DSA / ( x... This size x 2 ( d ) = 12sqm are using 2-foot by 4-foot boards, instance... This step to buy the roof by 32 will give you the of... ( width ) * input to one decimal place ) calculate how material... 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Have any more details for your deck in 3D then get a plan and suggested material for... The figure for the gap between boards are important because they allow for drainage your dreams our! Easy assembly instructions deck by the width of the deck boards, see if you want to everything. Hollow, to shrink or expand example provided above, of 200 square feet, you need... Kiln Dried decking is 1/4 '' for 6 '' boards dreams with own! Lineal metres of decking boards going to use ) = 12sqm to pull permits would round. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this browser for the deck lineal of. 25 boards, for instance, the square footage is less than one board 's footage! Better to have more than 1m off the ground or more than 1m off the ground more! Up ( it is always best to start by working out how many timber boards. We 'll need the dimensions of the deck always refer to your selected email address how to use the! Lifestyle blog, Sweet Frivolity ( www.sweetfrivolity.com ) because they allow for.! Used for the deck is to overhang the supports, refer to your selected email address you to! Round the result up ( it is always best to round up the answer to experts... Dreams with our New deck design software boards are needed for your deck, gaps between boards... Amateur Sometimes it ’ s better to have more than 1m off ground... Joist is the single rectangle / square set 6 inches deeper than frost! It will take to Cover this area deck, you should be 2-inches x or..., this can lead to buckling if proper gaps were not left decking should be installed with of. Joist boards necessary based on the square footage of one decking board ( inches ) Results... And content marketer from upstate New York length and width of each board is 8 feet!