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Build a Deck that Resists Rot:

Your about to spend a considerable amount of money to build your deck or even to rebuild some areas or all areas of your deck;  Spend all that money and still some years later, the wood begins to rot...? 

Also poor deck design and  building habits can contribute to the presence of wood rot. Bottom Line:  Keep your deck maximized to resist wood rot.

Here are some things you can do that will take a little more time but well worth it.  It will help avoid rotting wood problems.  The trick is to recognize places where 2 pieces of wood meet, then determine what can reduce the chances of attracting wood rot.

First let's consider Why wood rots?  It is caused by a fungus, which is a living organism with spores that are everywhere to begin with.  So the trick is to not provide a breeding ground for these spores.  Even though rot requires a warm area, moisture and food to feed on, you have to eliminate these factors in connection with you deck to minimize wood rot  potential growth.

Remember that fungus can feed on wood, so we need to keep the fungus from the wood.  One way that helps is to use lumber such as pressure-treated or rot-resistant such as cedar, redwood or ipe that is considered rot resistant lumber.  Still there is a danger that some of these woods will rot in time too, you may have seen cedar or redwood railings at times induce some rot.  Even pressure treated wood may rot in time since the chemicals on it do not penetrate completely leaving some areas unprotected.

Keep in mind that around 15-17 percent moisture content on wood makes wood potential for rot.  At higher levels of moisture content, around 20 to 21 percent and higher wood begins the rotting process, which takes some time.

Pressure treated wood after a time when is is being soaked, can swell and then dry out and shrink back, causing checking.  A spore then can get into the inner part of the pressure treated wood causing rot inside.  Again to prevent this is to increase the chance for dry wood  under and on top of the deck.

How to do just that; We will look at different areas of construction to allow air flow in and around these areas to reduce the potential for wood rot.  Ledgers;  The usual practice is to use flashing to keep out moisture between the ledger and the house.  All good, however it allows rot to attach to the bottom of the siding in the space between the side of the house and deck.  Rain can be wind driven to the siding and run down under.  The siding must be up off the deck.  So to help with this problem, purchase a bigger ledger board than the joists boards.  Get a 2x10 ledger if your using 2x8 joists.

Deck Fascia Can Collect Water

Yes, it can collect right where the deck attaches to the fascia board on the outside of your deck.  Because there is no gap or air allowed to flow between the fascia and frame.  Guess what?  That means your deck is accumulating moisture content, most likely 20 percent and higher over stretched out periods of time- rot is on the way. 

Now the Solution:  Just cantilever your deck board approximately one inch over the existing fascia you now have limited the number of areas where moisture, dirt and debris can get into.

Your Deck Boards

A lot of people and deck installers will use 16 penny nails for the spacing or gap  between the deck boards.  This is initially good, except the gaps will plug up with debris thereby creating moisture between the boards and eventually wood rot. This gap also creates a very difficult task  for a person to clean out debris due to the small gap.

The problem that goes with this, is the fear a women's high heel will get caught in the gaps if they are bigger than a 16 penny nail. Yet after reasoning on the subject, how many times will a women wear high heels to a deck barbacue? Keep in mind a wider gap such as 3/8 will allow for better control over the elements, create constant airflow, and most organic matter will drop through the gaps allow your boards to be dry.  Again this will increase the life of your deck, that's the advantage.