Spotted Gum decking: Narrow vs Wide boards

Wide Board Pros/Cons

• Con: I have read that wide spotted gum boards may end u cupping slightly...

This all depends on the thickness of the boards rather than the width, with 86mm boards 19mm is fine, but with 130+mm boards 25mm would be recommended

• Con: Water doesn't drain as easily from the wider boards

Much of a muchness, water doesent drain on any size as the boards are flat

• Pros: The wide ones look quite good.

Agree for a larger area, but a small area the thinner boards look more proportioned.

Narrow Boards

• Pros One screw per piece of board, meaning less screws overall and perhaps more board/screw ratio

AHH I dont think so, all boards irresperctive of their width require two screws per joist, wide boards three screws is normal, put one screw per joist and your just wasting your time fixing it down, the boards will guarantee to cup.

I also have a couple of little rug rats (2 1/2 and 1) and I'm wondering if the wider boards might mean less chance of them dropping stuff between the boards (as there will be less boards and therefore less gaps when compared tot he narrow boards

Cant see this making any difference, they will drop things irrespective

Originally Posted by METRIX

I also have a couple of little rug rats (2 1/2 and 1) and I'm wondering if the wider boards might mean less chance of them dropping stuff between the boards (as there will be less boards and therefore less gaps when compared tot he narrow boards

Cant see this making any difference, they will drop things irrespective

If they're anything like mine they'll be making a positive effort to get stuff through the cracks because that's what you're not meant to do! Ha ha ...

You could look at it the other way around too ... slimmer boards means added drainage for all the drinks they spill!