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Deck planning guides

Short, specific and sourced. Each guide explains the math one of our calculators does, so you can check it yourself.

Why area ÷ board size undercounts, and how to plan boards by stock length.

Butt-joint rules, common patterns, and a row-by-row cut plan for a 24 ft deck.

What the IRC tables allow, what decking manufacturers require, and diagonal layouts.

Gapping wood and composite boards, side to side and end to end, and why it changes your board count.

Tributary area, soil bearing and frost depth: how the IRC footing table works.

Risers, treads, width, handrails, guards and stringers, with the numbers.

All guides