The Importance of Strips for Decking in Outdoor Design

When we think about what a beautiful deck should look like, most people think of the wide, beautiful boards themselves, be they rich hardwood, sleek composite, or rustic cedar; these are the stars of the show. 

However, beneath these boards lies an essential part of the deck's performance, longevity, and aesthetic finish that many of us overlook: the Decking Strip is a crucial component of your deck. The use of decking strips is indicative of a well-designed outdoor space and goes beyond the structural strength of your deck by adding style and improving the feeling of the space visually and physically.

Functionality Foundation: The Importance of Decking Strips 

In its most basic sense, a decking strip is a treated wood or composite batten that installers place over the top of the joists supporting the deck, while they fasten the wood or composite boards across them at a right angle.

Make Sure There is Good Drainage and Air Movement

Strips help air circulate, which is needed to drain moisture. The greatest risk to wood deck boards is between the joints of the boards. When water enters these joints and cannot escape, it accumulates and causes moisture retention. Air movement and drainage are improved by using strips to create a gap between the board and the joists. Composite decking also needs air movement and drainage because it suffers from moisture traps and core failure.

Encourage Uniform Drying/Minimize Warp

One of the physical properties of wood is that it expands and contracts according to temperature and humidity changes. Therefore, it is critical to allow air to flow freely on all sides of wood deck board strips for maximum drying speed following rain. If moisture is allowed to dry out unevenly, it creates uneven loading, which can lead to cupping, twisting, or crowning of wood deck boards, hence resulting in an uneven deck surface. If wood deck boards have dried completely, they can be held more securely and create a more solid deck.

Create a Level Surface feat Joists

Even though joists may be placed level, there will always be minor height variations due to installation. Strips allow for adjustment of the height of joists to create level surfaces during the installation process.

Enhancing the Visuals and Experience: The Design Dividends of Strip Decking

Anti Slip Strips For Decking add to the overall aesthetic qualities of a deck, thereby improving the overall visual quality of a deck and providing unique and stunning designs.

Uniform, Consistent Gaps

One of the most obvious benefits is having consistent spacing between each board when laying the decking. The standard spacing between boards when laying a deck should be four (4) to six (6) millimeters apart. This allows for proper drainage of water and thermal expansion of wood. Maintaining that uniformly spaced gap throughout the entire deck is very difficult when you do not have strips at your disposal. By using strips as the spacer while you are installing your boards, you will achieve a very straight and evenly distributed gap between every board on the deck. This creates a visual appearance of total order and skillful craftsmanship, as well as a sense of visual peacefulness.

Establishing Direction and Flow

The way that the decking boards are installed also establishes the visual focal point/the flow using the design. The strips act as a stabilizer for the entirety of the design so that the overall design stays true over time. The result is that the strips provide a stable base for the installation of all the designs, whether they are classic straight runs, diagonals, or intricate herringbone patterns.

Achieve a Solid Silent Deck

When you build a deck on the joists, it may feel bouncy, or worse, you may hear squeaks as the boards rub against the fasteners or joists. Using strip materials for a rigid nailing/screwing system and installing a hidden clip system creates a much firmer and more solid feel under your feet. The use of strips eliminates metal-to-wood contact points that can create noise and results in a completely noise-free deck.

Considerations for Material and Modern Innovations

The material chosen for the strip is essential. Pressure-treated softwood has always been used; however, it should be at least as good of quality as the joists. More recently, plastic or composite materials are being used for strip spacers, particularly because these materials do not deteriorate from moisture or insect infestation, and the uniformity of their width makes them excellent for gapping. Several composite strip brands also provide for full color coordination.

The most current hidden fastener systems include the principles of strips in their construction. This aluminum or plastic rail system is attached directly to the joists, and the boards are secured to the rails via specifically engineered clips.