Replacing decking boards with treated pine

Have decided to replace all the timber decking with treated pine.

The decks 4.6x3.7 (3.7 is the joist so the timber pieces would be 4.6 wide)

Would it be recommended to use 1 piece all the way along? Bunnings does sell 4.8m long planks

Also at bunnings i found the 2.4m planks to be great but the 4.8 had holes in them (is it just a bad batch or is this usual and what should i do?

Thanks

 

What length is currently on there?
I would expect that 4.6m long boards would have more issues with bowing etc if there wasn't a support beam at 2.3m underneath.
Why go to treated pine?

 

Use the appropriate grade of decking material - it is a natural product so may contain some knots.

If you can get the right length of timber, use it. You will have a joint right down the middle which will open up if yoy select the 2.4m lengths.

 

I personally would use the 4.8, lengths as it requires less cutting and looks better with no joins. The holes in the timber are called knots and it is normal in treated pine timber.

 

also if you use the 2.m lengths you have to stagger the joints otherwise they will open up as scott has said.

 

im definitely more keen on 4.8 and cutting the leftovers off once its done

So what do you recommend to do with the knots? leave them there?

Also anyone know where i can get better grade treated pine (ive only been bunnings)

Reason i chose treated pine was due to the price and softness (i will be drilling and hammering the nails in, no other tools than a drill and a hammer) and its my first time installing ( did replace 2-3 boards on another deck and am confident in doing the whole deck)

 

I'd go to a few other Bunnings or a timber yard.

 

you can try abbey timber in Milperra or my mate paul is the sales rep at midcoast timbers 0434644030. they are at northmead I think.

beware that treated pine expands and contracts a lot more than hardwood. when I lay hardwood decking I usually leave a min gap, sometimes no gap if its out in the weather and it still ends up with big gaps, that's how much they can shrink.

I would recommend screwing the boards rather than nailing.

 

Cheers might try a few other bunnings and timber yards

Brian unfortunately cant to do your mate as its for a IP in brissy

was planning on leaving a 5mm gap

 

any reason behind the screwing over nailing

Im considering it too but only because I was hoping i could use the drill to drive the screws in (less man power) and im pretty new to nailing

 

All good no problem. I usually use a 3mm gap as we use a nail for the spacing

 

Nails tend to come loose pretty easy on a deck that gets a fair bit of use. Even if you use a nail you need to ore drill anyway to prevent the boards from splitting.

 

Get yourself one of these. It pre drills a hole and countersink for the screws so they finish flush or just below the surface.

Powers No.10 Smart-Bit Flat Head Countersink Drill Bit

 

sweet will look into it

yea might give screwing a chance too (end up going whichevers easier)

 

I'm with @Brian84, screw it! And 4.8m, I used 6m lengths to avoid joins get it delivered a local supplier might be free or around 20 bucks

Go to other timber yards or hardwares. The decking timber at bunnings,the El cheapo $10/m stuff is rubbish!! I found another hardware had much superior timber for similar price and significantly less knots! I did use some of the El cheapo stuff for a small job and it went to **** very quick.

 

cheers for the replies

funny story bunnings is pretty bad in 4.8m lenght but the local timber yard was rubbish and there price was double bunnings
but i guess i gotta keep searching

Wont be starting till mid next week so time to go shopping/hunting

 

Stainless Steel screws - chalk or string a line to get your screws nice and straight and it will look great Pine has got a tendency to try and twist in longer lengths- can make short work of nails!

 

cheers

went to masters today

they had some other pine (iti clear pine losp) which is around 50% pricier than bunnings but the pine was good grade

also had merbau decking which is double the price of pine but now considering that as well

 

Clear! That's the one you want! The stuff I used had about 20% the amount of knots vs bunnings

 

You will need to stipulate 4.8m lengths otherwise you'll end up with mixed lengths and off cuts.

For the small amount of timber you might be better off using merbau but hunt around on price from a few timber millers.