The Home Depot 4 Sides Thermal Wood Decking Instruction Manual

The Home Depot 4 Sides Thermal Wood Decking

Installation Instruction

Thermal Wood Decking

Notes

• ThermA Decking must be installed over level joists no more than 16″ apart in the center. Decking installed as stair treads or in any commercial application must be installed over level joists no more than 12″ apart in the center. In any case, ThermA Decking must be installed over joists spanning the preceding distances or to the local building code, whichever is lesser.

• Decking boards should span at least three joists when possible, and terminating board ends should lie on joist centers. When installing ThermA Decking boards end to end, the board ends should lie on separate joists to ensure sufficient space for the respective board ends’ fasteners to be fastened to a joist without fastening too close to the board edge. This is to prevent cracking or splitting due to a fastener location near the edge of a board.

• We recommend that ThermA Decking be installed at least 4″ above the ground to allow for sufficient airflow and moisture elimination. The ground surface below your deck should allow for efficient moisture drainage and prevent pooling. All sides of your deck should be left open to promote airflow underneath the entire surface of the deck. If installing your deck against a structure, you should maintain a gap of at least ¾” between the structure and the deck and/or its substructure.
  Use deck joist flashing tape between joists and ThermA Decking boards to prevent moisture transfer from wood surfaces and prevent substructure rot.

• Adjacent ThermA Decking boards should be installed at least ¼” apart to promote moisture drainage, and airflow, and allow for expansion in changing weather conditions.

To fasten ThermA Decking, we recommend one of the following options.

For a hidden fastener look:

• Use the CAMO Edge Deck Fastening system which is available for purchase at most home improvement retailers and may be added to your ThermA Decking purchase upon request.
• Use a biscuit joiner tool to cut notches in the sides of your boards to install them using your choice of decking clips. Thermally modified wood is more brittle than some untreated wood alternatives, and grooving down the entire length of your boards may significantly weaken the structural integrity of the boards. Selected grooving using a biscuit joiner allows for maximum structural integrity retention while using common deck clip systems.

To face fasten your product

• Use exterior rated (stainless steel works best) 2.5-3.0″, #8 or #10 self-tapping (type 17 or similar) screws to fasten ThermA Decking to the underlying joists. The screw head must be flush with the surface of the wood to prevent water intrusion.
• Pre-drill holes if you intend to fasten your ThermA Decking with nails. Use 12D or 16D, exterior-rated, spiral shank nails, and ensure the nail heads are flush with the surface of the wood.

NOTE: When face fastening your ThermA Decking, don’t use fasteners within ¾” of the board edge, or within 1″ of the end of the board to prevent cracking and splitting.
NOTE: When cutting ThermA Decking, higher-powered saws will generally improve the quality of your cuts. A miter saw will work well. For a 7 ¼” circular saw blade, use a new 36-40 tooth carbide tipped blade for best results. Fewer teeth may result in a course cut.

Maintenance & Care

Color Consistency

• The thermal modification process results in a richer, darker color than untreated wood. One benefit of thermal treatment is that the wood has the same rich color throughout the entire thickness of the board.
• Color and grain variation between boards, and sometimes within the same board, are normal for natural wood products. Some species are notorious for a wide range of potential colors (for example: poplar), while others have more consistent colors from board to board. Some color variation is to be expected with any natural wood product, but Westwood separates its finished products based on a range of color tones so you can choose a general color tone range that best suits your preference. Natural wood products aren’t the best fit for a project that requires a perfectly uniform appearance.
• Unless otherwise specified, all ThermA products come four-sided factory-oiled. The factory oil and color tone will begin to gradually fade immediately after installation but will last anywhere from a few months to multiple years depending on the duration, angle, and intensity of exposure to UV light, water, and debris. Regular maintenance is required to keep the original color of your ThermA product.

NOTE: Following installation of your ThermA product, it is important to keep the surface clear of leaves, needles, pollen, and other debris. These may deteriorate the factory oil coating more quickly and result in a shorter maintenance interval than you may otherwise experience, and debris may retain moisture, causing the development of mold.

• Most ThermA products directly exposed to the sun’s harmful UV rays will need to be re-oiled/sealed approximately once each year but may be required more or less often to maintain their original color. If you miss a maintenance interval, you may find your ThermA product has silvered or greyed under the sun. Many choose to leave the products unsealed to promote silvering which can quickly resemble reclaimed barn wood. But don’t worry, this silvering doesn’t impact the wood’s resistance to rot and decay.

• If your products have turned silver or grey, and
  If you prefer the original, rich color tones that your products had when you purchased them, have no fear. Your ThermA product has the same, original rich color throughout the full thickness of the board. If you wish to restore your wood’s original color, lightly sand the top layer of your boards, and refinish them with a UV-protective oil-based sealant of your choice. If you want to match the original factory-oiled look, please contact us so we can help you choose a matching oil based on your product and date of manufacture. 2+ coats of sealant will absorb into the wood best and will result in better protection from the elements and a longer maintenance interval.

• To clean dirt or debris from your ThermA product, you may wash the surface with a gentle wood cleaner and a soft shower of water from a garden hose. Before using a cleaner on your entire ThermA product’s surface, test it on a small, unnoticeable area to ensure the wood cleaner and water stream do not remove oil orcolorr your ThermA product before cleaning larger, noticeable surface areas.

Checking & Distortion

• “Checking” is the natural process in which cracks or splits may occur on or within a board of wood as a result of the wood’s expansion and contraction in different weather conditions. Most checking that occurs in ThermA products takes place during the thermal modification process when the wood’s moisture content is reduced to almost zero, and we eliminate any significantly cracked boards during our extensive quality control process.
• Despite our post-treatment re-acclimation period and quality control process, you may still experience some minor checking after installation. If this occurs, it should only be some minor hairline cracks which are no cause for concern or a warranty claim. Please contact us immediately if you experience any significant cracking so we can work together to resolve your concern.
• One major benefit of the thermal modification process is that resulting products are significantly more resistant to warping, cupping, and bending than untreated alternatives. While significantly improved, ThermA products are not impervious to warping, particularly in exterior environments with large fluctuations in temperature and humidity. To minimize the effects of changing conditions on your ThermA products, it’s imperative to follow this installation guide, providing for good airflow on the reverse side of your ThermA products whenever installed outside. If you followed this guide and provided sufficient airflow but still experience minor dimensional distortion, please contact us so we may consult on how to resolve this distortion.

Specifications

• Four-side factory oiled
• Recommended maintenance: approximately once a year
• UV protection : re-oiling/sealing is required to maintain the original color

FAQ

Q: How often should I re-oil/seal the decking?
A: It is recommended to re-oil/seal the decking approximately once a year to maintain its original color and protect it from UV rays.

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