Best practices for storing and handling decking

hBcrrNc PRoDUcrs are made to l-lwithstand the risors of the outdoors. But no matterihe material, it's still important to handle decking planks with care-from the lumberyard to the delivery truck to the jobsite.

Follow these storage and handling strategies to ensure decking planks look their best when it comes time to install:

. Follow guidelines. As with any product, be sure to follow the manufacturer's specific recommendations for proper storage and handling of your decking materials. Especially when it comes to composites and other non-wood products. requirements mav varv from brand to brand.

. Keep it covered. All decking will fade over time with exposure to the sun. Keep planks covered in the yard and on the jobsite to avoid premature fading or, worse, uneven weathering across multiple planks.

For example, when TAMKO ships its planks, the pieces are stacked face down, except for the bottom piece, says Bill Koll, TAMKO's territory manager in Portland, Or. This way, if the stack loses its protective bonnet, the underside is the side exposed.

Keep it clean. Decking that's dry and debris-free will stay looking newer, longer. When storing, keep planks covered and off the ground so that they stay clean and free of moisture.

Don't abuse it. Exterior product or no, decking is still a finished product and should be treated as such, Koll notes. In other words, don't drag the top side along the driveway or run the forklift into it. Like any other building material, mishandling can lead to chips, gouges or damage if impacted hard enough.

. Support long planks. To avoid flexing, particularly when the weather is warm, decking stored on racks needs to be supported. Check with the manufacturer for recommendations.

. Practice good forklift techniques. Avoid carrying materials against the very back of the lift; a few inches off of the back should help prevent damage. Use caution when maneuvering around stacks to avoid striking the material.

. Monitor temperature. Like most building materials, composite decking will expand and contract with temperature fluctuations.

If your company does installed sales, make sure your contractors are keeping an eye on temperature. They should measure the temperature where the planks are being stored and then consult installation instructions for the proper gap to ensure there is room for movement.

Handle with help. Long boards are heavy and may flex more in warmer temperatures. so carrying planks should be a two-person job.

When planning your inventory, be sure to add on complementary products such as coordinating accessories. matching railings, matching face fasteners, and the manufacturer's approved hidden fastening system. This will ensure products are compatible and coordinated and that they can be installed per manufacturer recommendations.

Overall, common sense prevailsdecking doesn't require you to tiptoe, but just be conscious not to abuse it. And, as with any product, always follow manufacturer instructions and guidelines from storage to handling to installation to ensure optimal performance and intact warranties.

- Jacqueline Palauolo is dealer sales representative for Weyerhaeuser, based in Eugene, Or. For more decking how-to articles, download Weyerhaeuser's Decking Sales Kit at www .woodbywy.coml decktools.

New Deck Safety Video

After seven years of promoting May as Deck Safety Month, the North American Deck & Railing Association has produced a video that it hopes will reach more of those involved with deck building and maintenance.

The video can be found on NADRA's website at www.nadra.org, on the association's YouTube channel, and various social media networks. lt was produced using images and text about the association's 10point checklist and its Check Your Deck evaluation forms.

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