Substructure of a wooden deck

Spacing of the substructure rows

The axial dimension (measured from center to center) of the substructure rows should not exceed 50 cm so that the decking boards can be screwed together a sufficient number of times and the risk of warping of the wood is minimized. The substructure should not rest completely on the substrate. A ventilation gap can be created with decking pads or pedestals.

Plan the shearing area

A spacer profile creates a gap between the substructure and the plank, thus ensuring better ventilation and preventing waterlogging. This increases the service life of the decking and reduces the risk of screws breaking off. For a combination of flat aluminum substructure and wooden planks, we strongly recommend using the spacer profile. With a concealed design with clips, better ventilation is already ensured by the system. A spacer profile is not necessary.

Screw the substructure to the floor

The substructure can be screwed to the subfloor. This is not always necessary, as the weight and the crosswise screwing of the boards and substructure make the deck very stable after completion. Many decks are therefore laid floating.

Laying the substructure in a bond

If the length of a single construction timber does not reach the entire depth of the deck, construction timbers must be joined. Here it is recommended to avoid a continuous butt joint between the construction timber rows and to lay the construction timbers in an offset / bond.

Substructure at plank joints

If you are laying your decking boards in a composite system, we recommend laying a double row of substructure where a decking board
ends and a new board begins. This means you don’t have to screw the planks too close to the cut edge later on.