Deck flooring installation can be done in a number of designs and patterns. Before you tackle this project, consider that some designs require reinforcement of the support frame.
Simple Deck Flooring Ideas
The easiest flooring design for your deck is to have all planks running parallel to one another. This method requires the least amount of material and the least time to to complete. It is also aesthetically pleasing.
To add some zest to this design, use different dimensions of flooring material, like planks that are 2-by-6 inches and 2-by-4 inches. You can do this without changing anything on the deck frame.
You can also install the deck flooring at an angle perpendicular to your house. This can facilitate easy leaf and snow removal, though it requires that you have deck joists that run parallel to the house.
Another option is to floor the deck diagonally from the house and cut the ends of the planks at an angle. Installing diagonal deck flooring can take a long time and may prove quite expensive due to the wasted flooring material. However, this design appears to lengthen the deck.
Complex Deck Flooring Ideas
For more complicated designs, remember that the deck and flooring board dimensions vary quite a lot depending on the design itself. There are 2 tenets that you must abide by.
- For every piece of deck floor material, there is an underlying support.
- No piece should take more than its allotted space on the supports below.
For complex decks, you can choose from:
- Herringbone, at which two diagonals meet at a perpendicular angle in the center
- V-shape
- Mitered borders, which seem to frame the deck
- Diamond designs
The V-shaped designs will require good craftsmanship on your part since board symmetry is required to form the perfect V. Both the Herringbone and Diamond patterns will require precision in terms of cutting.
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