Decking Calculator - Calculate Boards and Costs

Deck Length:

Deck Width:

Board Length:

Board Width:

Price per Board ($):

Fastener Type:

Fastener Pack Size:

Price per Fastener Pack ($):

Number of Boards Needed:

Number of Fasteners Needed:

Number of Fastener Packs Needed:

Total Cost ($):

1. What is a Decking Calculator?

Definition: A decking calculator estimates the number of boards, fasteners, and total cost for a deck project based on its dimensions and material specifications.

Purpose: This tool helps you plan your deck by calculating material needs and costs, including a 10% waste allowance for boards.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses these formulas:

\[ \text{Deck Area} = \text{Deck Length} \times \text{Deck Width} \] \[ \text{Board Count} = \left\lceil \frac{\text{Deck Area}}{\text{Board Length} \times \text{Board Width}} \times 1.1 \right\rceil \] \[ \text{Fastener Count} = \left\lceil \text{Deck Area} \times \left( \frac{7}{2} \text{ for screws, } \frac{7}{4} \text{ for hidden} \right) \right\rceil \] \[ \text{Fastener Packs} = \left\lceil \frac{\text{Fastener Count}}{\text{Fastener Pack Size}} \right\rceil \] \[ \text{Total Cost} = (\text{Board Count} \times \text{Board Price}) + (\text{Fastener Packs} \times \text{Fastener Pack Price}) \]

Explanation: It computes deck area, adds 10% waste to board count, uses 350 screws or 175 hidden fasteners per 100 ft², and calculates total cost based on pack sizes. All units are converted to feet.

3. Choosing Fasteners

Details: Screws (350 per 100 ft²) are common and visible, while hidden fasteners (175 per 100 ft²) offer a cleaner look but require fewer per area.

4. Preparing for Your Deck Project

Tips: Measure deck dimensions accurately, account for 10% board waste, and choose fastener packs slightly larger than calculated to avoid shortages.

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