Can you explain why when I buy decking timber from places from ITM, the docket states that the decking is graded by the manufacturer to have the grooves up? Why would they state that if it's a requirement that the grooves must ALWAYS face down according to you? How are you more qualified to comment than the companies who mill the stuff? Is it just because a bunch of architects (who only care about the look) tell you to do it? People can lay the boards any way they want, despite you trying to dictate otherwise.
apollo11,
Apr 25, 8:34pm
Don't be a cheap arse and buy the merchant quality decking - pay a bit more for premium. Mine was rubbish, not so much for the qreater number of knots, but for the twisting and bowing that makes it hard to fix the stuff down.
krames,
Apr 25, 8:40pm
yes they can. there has always been confusion about which way to place the decking boards, basically if its a consented job that states a non slip rating of x% per m2 then you lay the boards groove up or groove down any apply a non slip coating . There will always be people/T A inspectors that have a differing opinion or recommendations . I personally find it safer to fix reeds down long term
ang_ck,
Apr 25, 9:25pm
would you guys ever use composite like permadeck?
wendalls,
Apr 25, 9:46pm
grooves down, stainless screws, and the better quality pine. our deck stressed me out for years, rusted nails then bowing, an what a batsard to clean alright. blisters and hours, different methods, sold now and I'm going renting.
brightlights60,
Apr 25, 11:01pm
I was pregnant at the time, we had been married 10 years so it was a very much longed for baby. My feet went out from under me and I nearly died from fear! Everything was fine, but we never did another deck like that.
golfdiver,
Apr 26, 11:31am
I quite like the look, but several of my builder friends reckon it's utter crap and not to touch it. I know of a place built with composite decks about 8-10 years ago, I must go take a look and see how it has fared.
jh34,
Apr 26, 1:15pm
Building a deck you need to think about Ambience: What is between you and the neighbours(is there enough gap or wall or plants so you feel private?) Positioning of sunshades Keeping cold wind off Airflow when it is really hot. . I put polycarb sheet on one end and have a shade structure on wires. It gets too hot. A louvred shade sail would fix that but they are as much as a car. When I built it I thought cool air would rush in and hot air would escape but so much hot air arrives in a nor-wester that the heat is like a thermonuclear bomb (slight exaggeration).
ebygum1,
Apr 26, 1:56pm
As it happens I do know better, I no longer manufacture decking, but I can assure you it is graded with the grooves as the face side, this enables it to meet the N.Z. Standard required by the building act, which states that a deck that provides access to dwelling has to meet a slip resistance. As Krames has said, you can lay it smooth side up if you apply an anti slip coating of some sort. But the face side will always be the reeded side.
sooby,
Apr 26, 10:23pm
^ agree with ebygum about grooves up for code compliance.
No way uncoated smooth decking meets requirements of New Zealand Building Code clause D1: slip resistance.
Would love to hear how others have got code compliance laid smooth side up at main entranceway.
Back on topic for OP: I have decks with groove side up AND down and I'm sick of maintaining them both ways - if I could I'd replace with composite I would in a heartbeat.
ang_ck,
Apr 26, 10:43pm
@sooby, I am tired of spraying chemicals to kill the mould/moss or whatever. It becomes so slippery when their is a colony of mould on the timber. That is the reason I asked about composite. - no chemicals, no paint or satin every year.
lakeview3,
Apr 26, 11:31pm
you have to use screws or nails with a larger head to avoid that and must predrill every hole. Hard work but worth it. We used copper nails on one kwila deck and stainless flat heads for this one.
pauldw,
Apr 27, 6:59am
Many decks probably never get inspected. New house next door had its low level decking added after sign off.
I've heard composite gets very hot in sun. That said UV kills any deck, I usually have a shade sail up between Labour Week-end and Easter.
funkydunky,
Apr 27, 8:07am
I ask why is it called 'griptred' then?
funkydunky,
Apr 27, 8:11am
Never use macrocarpa - NEVER!
trade4us2,
Apr 27, 8:50am
My hardwood deck with no grooves is now 25 years old. I waterblast it every 5 years. It looks perfect and is not slippery.
golfdiver,
Apr 27, 2:39pm
We had a large deck built at a previous home. It was 4 metres off the ground and had stairs in two areas. We put the grooves down on the decks and grooves out on the risers . Passed its consent no problem at all. We told the inspector how it was going to be built when the footing for the poles were inspected.
colin433,
Apr 27, 3:51pm
re your reply about kwilla chipping. It was my first big job. I was in my early 50's and on my own, although I had an elderly boarder who knew nothing. We argued about what would be done on every job he helped me with. I talked to the supplier who advised kwilla, probably knew I'd buy it on his advice. He advised me to drill every hole, so we did that, but he also sold me jolt head nails. What a huge mistake that was. I didn't know any better back then I've learnt a lot since that job, and everything has turned out fine. I now have a partner who does as I say. I'm the planner with crook knees, he does the donkey work and we get things done. Unfortunately if I don't keep an eaqle eye on the job I get the usual response if anything is done wrong. (I thought) I thought you wanted this, I thought you wanted that, so I don't stray far from the job, and it usually turns out hunky dory. One deck we built we were asked by a number of people who the builder was who had built it, they wanted to use the same guy. Sorry, we were too busy. By that time we were screwing, not nailing. This site on T/me is excellent for advice. I'm not beyond asking for advice myself. Mrs C.
cameron-albany,
Apr 27, 5:19pm
My house was signed off with decking smooth-side up no problem (last year). Never an issue with the building code. And that's decks front and back. I have had groove-side up decking before and they're a nightmare to maintain. Moisture gets into and then stays in the grooves and has no chance of drying out before it starts to grow mould and slime. Spray-blasting or industrial-strength wet and forget will fix it but what a pain! At least with smooth-side up you can brush it off and take care of any mouldy areas (which are easily seen on flat wood). I don't understand how having flat-side up wood decking is any more dangerous than having smooth tiles in your kitchen or bathroom.
easygoer,
Apr 28, 1:17pm
Why would you bother sweeping an outside deck, mine is grooves up, no problem at all with mould growth and certainly not an issue with sweeping as all it needs is a hose down when the pot plants are watered
kaylin,
Apr 29, 5:07pm
I really don't believe the grooves up or down are related to slipperyness. It's location of the deck. If it's in shade with overhanging trees, it will get dirty and slippery and green. Therefore requiring cleaning. If it's in sun all year round and water doesn't pool on it, then it won't be slippery. I have 3 decks, One is 18 years old, one 14, one 7. Only 1 is slippery in winter, that's the one in the shade.
Oh - edited to add all have grooves up. And new walkway built this week with wide boards, 1.4 wide and 8m long. that's grooves up too. And will be in full sun all year round. Will replace the other decks next year with wide boards. And will do grooves up again. All are high grade pine. No splinters. Newest ones are screwed after being predrilled.
golfdiver,
Apr 29, 5:25pm
1.4 are certainly wide boards
ang_ck,
Apr 29, 7:43pm
@kaylin, where did you get your 1.4m wide and 8m long timber?
spiritofgonzo,
Apr 29, 8:09pm
Grooves down traditionally. However with slip resistance standards it's become popular to use the grooves up to meet standards, which is only for main accesses, not backyard patios. But this is more a trick or tweaking of decking that was designed to go groove down 'If you turn it round that could look cool and also give some slip resistance'. Over the years it's become so engrained marketing has caught on and they even now call it griptread. http://www.build.com.au/should-decking-grooves-face-or-down however it's also worth noting that slime and ice can build up in the grooves making it even more slippery. Hope this helps
trade4us2,
Apr 29, 8:29pm
It's a walkway 1.4m wide and 8m long. Obviously.
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