Home Services Guidelines and Best Practices
Wood Decking Installation
Wood Decking Installation guidelines, FAQs and unit pricing information
January 2017
Are you looking for independent, trustworthy advice about Wood Decking Installation? Do you need to understand common installation options? If your project calls for Wood Decking Installation work, the following guidelines and best practices will help you understand: Is a subcontractor really necessary for Wood Decking Installation work? Will a permit be required? What are common problem areas? How much will Wood Decking Installation labor cost? What are the important Wood Decking Installation quality checks that should be included in the work requirements?
Wood Decking Installation - Frequently Asked Questions
| What is a fair price for Wood Decking Installation? | Costs vary with project size, job quality and time of year. For typical Wood Decking Installation expect to pay between $0.65 to $0.88 per linear foot. Additional fees are typically charged for small projects or rush jobs. |
| Is a permit needed for Wood Decking Installation work? | Design approval and permits from your local building authority are usually not required for Wood Decking Installation. If your home is subject to homeowner association covenants, you should verify that the Wood Decking Installation complies with association guidelines. |
| Is it worth using a professional to perform Wood Decking Installation work? | The final appearance of the wood decking will depend on the skill, techniques and relevant experience of the professional. Make a hiring commitment only after relevant experience and quality of recent Wood Decking Installation work have been verified. Include the apropriate quality checks (use the list below) when soliciting bids and in a signed contract. |
| Is Wood Decking Installation something that I can do myself? | The typical Wood Decking Installation project involves tasks that are best performed by experienced professionals. Good quality Wood Decking Installation requires considerable experience, skill and attention to detail. Do it yourself mistakes are noticeable, may be difficulty to remedy and may actually reduce the market value of the project and your home. |
| How many days are typically required to complete the Wood Decking Installation work? | This work can be completed in 1 to 3 days. |
Wood Decking Installation - Options, Quality Checks and Important Details
Use the list below to document your expectations for level of detail and finish quality for Wood Decking Installation. Make sure that relevant information is included in any written contracts or work orders on your project. Before any Wood Decking Installation work begins, review the checklist with the service provider. Tie payments to satisfactory completion of this checklist.
- All wood deck from the same manufacturers lot
- The layout, location, style and finish appearance of ALL materials used in Wood Decking Installation will be approved by owner, before any work begins
- All materials, connectors and fasteners used for the Wood Decking Installation will be mechanically and electrochemically (non-corroding) compatible with the Wood Decking Installation
- A detailed wood deck layout - showing material placement and all joints/seams - will be reviewed and approved before work begins
- Horizontal and vertical edges of adjacent wood decking will be aligned to within 1/16 inch
- Stagger wood decking joint ends in adjacent courses in a (choose one): __uniform ___random pattern, with no joint ends in adjacent courses closer than 1/4 the typical wood decking length
- All corner wood deck joints will be cleanly mitered; There will be no visible gap along the joint edge and the wood deck profile will be completely aligned along the joint edge
- All wood deck will be installed flat and smooth - with no buckling, creasing at any point; all wood deck edges will be flat and securely attached, along the entire length of the edge
- Installed wood deck surface variations along a 4 foot straight edge will not exceed 1/8 inch - from any location along any direction
- All wood deck edges at surface edges and trim intersections are sharp and crisp, forming a clean, straight line
- The wood deck surface and surface finish will be free of surface defects, irregularities and any physical damage
Wood Decking Installation - Work Milestones and Project Reminders
The following list summarizes work tasks commonly performed during Wood Decking Installation. These tasks help ensure proper completion of the wood decking work and compliance with common manufacturer and vendor warranty requirements. Make sure that either you or your service provider takes responsibility for each of these tasks. All service provider task responsiblities should be clearly called out in the written contract or work orders.
- Complete written contract, including scope of work, quality checks, warranty, timing and payment terms; ensure that contract is signed before work begins
- Review quantity calculations for wood deck and any associated construction materials; overage /waste should be less than 7.5% of calculated quantities
- Select, specify and order wood decking; verify that type, grade, finish, size, color, any options, and quantity are clearly identified in the order; make sure that delivery date, terms and damage provisions are included in the order
- Manage delivery of wood decking; verify that delivered model #, grade, finish, size, options, and quantity match the order precisely; thoroughly inspect all items for damage and proper operation; make or authorize final payment only after complete order is delivered
- Confirm date (and time) for project start with subcontractor - one week and two days prior to project start
- Obtain a permit for Wood Decking Installation from local building authority; post permit on the jobsite as required
- Prepare area for safe, efficient work; move items that restrict work access or are vulnerable to damage; cover and protect items that cannot be moved
- Arrange for existing wood decking to be recycled after removal (optional)
- Inspect installation quality and verify proper operation for wood decking using the Quality Checklist on this page; create a punch list of final tasks that must be completed prior to final payment
- Remove debris, dirt and dust from all work areas; unless otherwise agreed, all demolition debris and construction waste will be removed from the site within 24 hours
- Inspect Wood Decking Installation and verify that all quality requirements and punch list items are completed correctly
