Guides
How the shopping list is built
Six practical notes that match the calculators. They use the same formulas and the same refusal to pretend a count is a permit.
Last updated October 25, 2026
Boards
Common deck sizes
Board counts for a 10×12, a 12×16, and a 14×20, both directions, with waste.
Money
Pressure-treated vs composite
How to price the same deck two ways without pretending a catalog price is a national average.
Gap
Board gap and spacing
Why 1/8 inch changes the row count, and why composite gaps are the manufacturer’s number.
Frame
Joist spacing basics
How 12, 16, and 24 inches on center change the joist count. Check the span locally.
Store
Lumberyard order and cut list
What to hand the counter, what the cut plan means, and what the calculator does not buy.
Fasteners
Screws vs hidden fasteners
Two screws per joist crossing, and why a clip system is a different line on the list.