Installation Guide
Getting Started
Follow local approved building codes. Careful planning of
the nished deck layout will result in better looking nished
projects. Failure to follow installation guidelines could void
warranty.
• Joist location plays an important role in the safety of the
deck itself but may also affect the ease, method and price
of your railing system.
• Before starting, read the instructions of both the decking
and railing systems planned for the project.
• Dark colors will absorb more heat than lighter colors
and as such, will experience greater ranges in
expansion/contraction.
• Thoroughly reading all instructions rst will make for more
protable projects. Failure to do so may result in more
difcult installation and may void warranty.
• For decks using metal joisting, specialized surface
fasteners are required. Do not use ArmorGuard Hidden
Fasteners. Fasteners for metal that install at a 90 degree
angle only are required.
Joist Spacing
Joists used in deck frame construction should be 2"x 8"
(5 cm x 20 cm) or larger (Figure 3).
Joist/Stringer Spacing
Residential Commercial
Brand
Perpendicular Diagonal Stairs Perpendicular Diagonal Stairs
Veranda
ArmorGuard
16 12 9 12 8 9
Veranda 16 12 9 12 8 9
Horizon 16 12 12 12 8 9
* Secure stair treads over and in contact with a treated
pine 2x6, installed at, not on edge, as under support, and
secured with Simpson A23 approved connectors and 10d x
1-1/2" hot galvanized nails.
When installing heavy loads on top of your decking project,
a hot tub, for example, it is important to also understand
the requirements of the manufacturer as they may have
specic framing and support requirements for their warranty
coverage.
When installing
blocking for more
intricate decking
patterns, remember
that solid blocking
(blocking laid on
the at) will inhibit
water ow and
result in buildup of
organic materials
over time, which
will make cleaning
more difcult. For
best results when blocking is required, it should be installed
ladder style (Figure 3).
Board Spacing
All decking materials, whether wood, composite or metal,
undergo some degree of linear expansion with the changes
of weather and the season. To compensate for the effects
of contraction and expansion, the following installation
standards must be maintained:
Note: Special consideration should be taken when working
with dark colors as they will experience larger temperature
swings during normal use. To help control end-to-end
spacing, dark color decking should be kept at ambient
temperature and shaded from direct sun prior to cutting and
immediate securing.
The following procedures will result in less visible gapping:
• Keep boards out of direct sun during storage and cutting
processes, and through to installation if possible. Never
cut and install boards in direct sun assuming them to be
at ambient temperature.
• Use lighter colored boards in the eld of the deck with
darker colored boards as design accents.
• Use short boards where possible.
• Use splitter/divider boards between each continuous run
of boards.
• Surface fasten using heavy gauge (#9 or #10) quality
composite deck screws.
Joists
16" o.c. (41 cm)
Deck Boards
12" o.c. (31 cm)
Joists Deck Boards
Residential Joist Spacing
21
For the most up-to-date instructions, visit VerandaDeck.com.
5
Side-To-Side SpacingEnd Gapping
Determined by
Temperature
Determined by
Temperature
JOISTS/BlOCKING
LEDGER
WALL
4
Stringers or Joists
Blocking
3
3
Decking Installation
HORIZON
®