{"id":263,"date":"2013-10-29T16:08:20","date_gmt":"2013-10-29T20:08:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ipedepot.com\/deckblog\/?p=263"},"modified":"2013-10-29T16:08:20","modified_gmt":"2013-10-29T20:08:20","slug":"tongue-groove-decking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ipedepot.com\/deckblog\/tongue-groove-decking","title":{"rendered":"Can I Use Tongue and Groove Boards for Decking?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can you build a deck with tongue and groove boards?<\/p>\n

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The answer is yes. Creating a deck with tongue and groove lumber is as easy as creating a deck with traditional boards. First, cut all of your pieces into appropriate lengths.<\/p>\n

Next, coat any fresh cuts with an end sealer. This will ensure the end cuts don’t release moisture too fast (which reduces the changes of cracking or splitting.<\/p>\n

Once your first board is in place, the rest of the job will go smoothly as you just need the other boards to fit snug into one another. If you need help fitting the boards into one another, use a grab clamp or two to help keep the boards in place. For installation, we suggest that you pre-drill a hole on a 45-degree angle where the tongue and the face meet. You will see a slight v-groove in this corner. Then, on that same 45-degree angle, drive a trim head screw through the pre-drilled hole, through the deck board into the floor joist.\u00a0 The trim head screws are required because the head will sink into the corner where the v-groove is. This sinking action will allow the next deck board to slide into place and will perfectly conceal the previously installed screw head.<\/p>\n

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Some helpful tips to remember when using tongue and groove lumber for decking:<\/p>\n