Construction Notes – Because you're dealing with an extremely dense wood, it's important to follow the manufacturers' suggestions for proper installation of their products. Keep in mind that you're still dealing with wood, so be sure to leave ¹/₈ or ³/₁₆ inch between decking materials. Here are some other things to consider:

• Use carbide-tipped saw blades and high-quality drill bits. Predrill ends when using any type of fasteners to avoid splitting. Screws, including self-tapping, need pilot holes and countersinking.

• Immediately after cutting, seal all ends with a clear aqueous wax end sealer such as Anchorseal to help reduce end checking.

• Stainless steel fasteners eliminate the potential for chemical reactions or staining around the fastener head. You can use coated or galvanized steel fasteners, but they generally have shorter service lives than stainless steel fasteners. Some installers use stainless steel #7 trim head screws with a ⁹/₆₄-inch pilot hole to eliminate pre-drilling of countersink holes. The nailing pattern for 1 x 4s, 5/4 x 6s, 1 x 6s, and 2 x 4s is two per board (either nails or screws).

• At 100 psf and nominal dimensional sizes, 1 x 4 or 1 x 6 can span 24 inches, 5/4 x 6 can span 32 inches, and 2 x 4 can span 48 inches (Figure 11-16). This boardwalk project is at Avon By The Sea, New Jersey. Even with the large timbers used for the joist, blocking is used throughout the framework.

Photo Courtesy of: Timber Holdings, Ltd.

Figure 11-16 Boardwalk project using Iron Woods

• It's best to seal Iron Woods products after installation to assist in adjustment to the environment and to help reduce the potential of surface checking. Their natural density and alkaline content can cause reactions with certain finishes and affect their drying and adhesion. Many oil- and water-based coatings have caused a color change in the wood, so the manufacturer recommends using penetration oil-based finishes. Do a sample check with several boards to determine the compatibility. Before applying sealer, make certain the wood is dry, then brush and wash the surface to remove dirt, dust and sticker residue.

Manhours -- Based on installing 200 square feet of 1 x 4s, 1 x 6 or 5/4 (only) on joists 24 inches on center with a crew of two, you could use 0.014 as your manhour figure per square foot. If you're predrilling, bump this figure up at least 25 percent, to 0.0175 manhour per square foot. Timber Holdings Ltd. wants to point out that because the product is clear and straight, you spend less time sorting and straightening, plus there are no callbacks and no yard returns.

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