Deck components
To give you some idea about how a deck is constructed, let's take a look at the parts that make up a deck:
- Posts: vertical framing support for beams and joists.
- Beam: the horizontal support structure for the deck frame, placed on the posts beneath the joists.
- Joist: the horizontal supporting boards beneath the decking.
- Decking (deck flooring): the surface of the layer of decks on the joists.
- Fasteners: nails, screws, or hidden clips to attach decking boards.
Here we will focus only on the decking materials, but if you want to know the total cost to build a deck, you'll need to take into account the price of the substructure (posts, beams, and joists).
Additional costs
Some costs are not included in the deck material calculator. You may need the following:
- Substructure – The price depends on the type of wood you choose and the size of your deck.
- Permit – building a deck may require a license from your city.
- Stairs and railings or balusters – you'll need those if you want a raised deck.
- Paint – if you'd like to change the color of your deck.
- Labor – the cost of hiring a professional if you don't want to build a deck yourself.
Example
Calculating Decking Area
The area of a decking can be calculated by multiplying its length and width. The general formula to calculate the area is:
\[ \text{Area} = \text{Length} \times \text{Width} \]Decking area is the total space that will be covered by decking boards. This is a crucial calculation for determining the amount of material required for a decking project.
Calculating the Area of a Rectangular Deck
If you have a rectangular deck, you can calculate its area by multiplying its length and width. The formula for the area of a rectangular deck is:
\[ A = \text{Length} \times \text{Width} \]Example:
If the deck has the following dimensions: Length = 10 m, Width = 5 m, the area can be calculated as follows:
- Step 1: Calculate the area: \( A = 10 \, \text{m} \times 5 \, \text{m} = 50 \, \text{m}^2 \).
Calculating the Area of a Deck with Angled Cuts
If you have a deck with angled cuts, you can calculate the area by dividing the deck into smaller sections, finding their areas, and then summing them up. The formula for the area of a triangle is:
\[ A = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{Base} \times \text{Height} \]Example:
If the deck has one rectangular section of 5 m by 5 m, and a triangular section with a base of 5 m and a height of 3 m, the area can be calculated as follows:
- Step 1: Calculate the area of the rectangle: \( A_{\text{rect}} = 5 \, \text{m} \times 5 \, \text{m} = 25 \, \text{m}^2 \).
- Step 2: Calculate the area of the triangle: \( A_{\text{tri}} = \frac{1}{2} \times 5 \, \text{m} \times 3 \, \text{m} = 7.5 \, \text{m}^2 \).
- Step 3: Add the areas: \( A_{\text{total}} = 25 \, \text{m}^2 + 7.5 \, \text{m}^2 = 32.5 \, \text{m}^2 \).
Calculating the Number of Decking Boards
To calculate the number of decking boards required, you need to divide the total area of the deck by the area of a single decking board. The formula is:
\[ \text{Number of Boards} = \frac{\text{Total Area}}{\text{Area of One Board}} \]Example:
If the deck is 50 m² and each decking board covers 1 m², you can calculate the number of boards required as:
- Step 1: Calculate the number of boards: \( \text{Number of Boards} = \frac{50 \, \text{m}^2}{1 \, \text{m}^2} = 50 \, \text{boards} \).
Real-life Applications of Decking Calculation
Calculating decking area and the number of boards required has many practical applications, such as:
- Estimating the total amount of material needed for a decking project.
- Determining the cost of materials based on the total area.
- Ensuring that you have enough boards to cover the entire deck.
Common Operations with Decking Calculation
Rectangular Deck: \( \text{Area} = \text{Length} \times \text{Width} \)
Deck with Angled Cuts: \( \text{Area} = \text{Area of Rectangular Sections} + \text{Area of Triangular Sections} \)
Multi-Level Deck: For multi-level decks, calculate the area of each level separately and sum the areas for the total area.
| Decking Type | Description | Steps to Calculate Decking Area | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rectangular Deck | Calculating the area of a rectangular deck by multiplying its length and width. |
|
If the deck dimensions are Length = 10 m, Width = 5 m, the area is \( 10 \times 5 = 50 \, \text{m}^2 \). |
| Deck with Angled Cuts | Calculating the area of a deck with angled cuts by dividing it into smaller sections and summing their areas. |
|
If the deck has one rectangle of 5 m by 5 m and one triangle with a base of 5 m and a height of 3 m, the total area is \( 25 \, \text{m}^2 + \frac{1}{2} \times 5 \times 3 = 25 \, \text{m}^2 + 7.5 \, \text{m}^2 = 32.5 \, \text{m}^2 \). |
| Deck with Multiple Levels | Calculating the total area of a multi-level deck by summing the areas of each level. |
|
If the upper level is 10 m by 5 m and the lower level is 8 m by 5 m, the total area is \( 10 \times 5 = 50 \, \text{m}^2 \) for the upper level, and \( 8 \times 5 = 40 \, \text{m}^2 \) for the lower level. The total area is \( 50 + 40 = 90 \, \text{m}^2 \). |
| Decking Materials | Calculating the number of decking boards required based on area and board size. |
|
If the deck is 50 m² and each decking board is 1 m², you will need \( 50 \, \text{m}^2 \div 1 \, \text{m}^2 = 50 \) decking boards. |
