Building a deck is a fantastic way to enhance your outdoor space. However, to ensure your project goes smoothly, accurate material estimation is vital. One of the most important aspects of this procedure is determining how many decking boards (terasová prkna) you’ll need. Here’s a quick guide to help you with that calculation.
1. Measure Your Deck Area
Begin by measuring the total area of your deck. For decks that are rectangular, deck is square, the process is fairly straightforward: simply multiply its length and width. For irregularly shaped decks divide the deck into smaller squares or rectangles and measure each one, and then add up the dimensions.
For instance, if your deck measures 12 feet by 20 feet, your total area is 240 square feet (12 x 20).
2. Determine Deck Board Dimensions
Decking boards come in various sizes however the most commonly used measurements are 5.5 inches wide and one inch thick. The length may vary but let’s consider that a typical length of 12 feet in this case. Convert the dimensions of the board to feet for ease of calculation. The dimensions of a 5.5-inch wide board is approximately 0.46 feet wide.
3. Calculate Coverage per Board
To determine the area each board covers, first determine its width, in inches and then divide by the length. If a board is twelve feet in length and 0.46 feet in width, the total area of coverage for a board is 5.52 square feet (12 5.52 x 0.46).
4. Account for Gaps and Waste
If decking boards are being installed, gaps between boards are necessary to ensure proper drainage and expansion. In general you should consider an area of 1/8 to 1/4 inches. This will decrease the amount of area covered by the boards.
It is also important to account for cut and waste. The best general rule of thumb is to add about 10 percent to the total amount of boards required. This will help be sufficient to cover any cuts, mistakes or warped boards.
5. Perform the Final Calculation
Divide the total area of the deck by the area covered by one board to determine the number of boards needed. In our example in the case where you have a deck space is of 240 square feet, and the board each covers 5.52 acres, then you’ll need around 44 boards (240 / 5.52).
If you add 10% for waste, you’ll need about 49 boards (44 multiplied by 1.10).
6. Purchase Additional Supplies
Apart from the decking board, you’ll also require braces, joists, and possibly additional materials for frames and supports. Be sure to have the required items in your possession prior to beginning your project.
By following these steps, you will be able to precisely estimate the amount of decking boards needed for your project, helping you avoid overestimating and unnecessary trips to the hardware store. Happy building!