Alaskan Yellow Cedar Decking
Most people would agree that Alaskan yellow cedar decking is an awesome addition to any home, or business!
Alaskan yellow cedar is one of our favorite decking materials for quite a few reasons and one of the most compelling is that it won’t splinter! It is also quite weather resistant and will last for many, many years…
The most common alaskan yellow cedar (AYC) decking sizes are going to be nominally sized 5/4×4, 5/4×6, 2×4 and 2×6. We can provide wider or thinner AYC decking planks as well upon request. The most common pattern for yellow cedar decking is going to be material that is Surfaced Four Sides (S4S) and has radius edges.
Our yellow cedar decking products are available in both clear and knotty grades and whether you need clear or knotty fiber is often a personal preference based on the look you are going for and taking into consideration the budget you have set out for your decking project. As a general ballpark factor, you can expect clear material is going to be roughly twice the cost of knotty material.
Alaskan yellow cedar decking materials can come in both green and kiln dried. If you plan to stain your materials prior to installation, you will want to ordered kiln dried material or order it soon enough that you can have some time for drying at your jobsite prior to installation.
For technical information on Alaskan Yellow Cedar see this page, or the Yellow cedar species page for more general info.
Alaskan Yellow Cedar Decking and Railing Detail
Yellow Cedar Deck with Red Cedar Posts & Railings
AYC Decking, Posts, Railings, and Painted Siding
| COMMON CEDAR DECKING SIZES (NOMINAL): | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/4X4 | 5/4X6 | 5/4X8 | 5/4X10 | 5/4X12 |
| 2x4 | 2x6 | 2x8 | 2x10 | 2x12 |
Alaskan Yellow Cedar decking is available in a range of sizes. We can help you choose which works best for you will often be based on which look you like best and which one works with the deck joist layout that is designed so the deck boards have the proper support.
When ordering your decking it is important to understand that we sell material based on their nominal size rather than a net size. 5/4" nominal thick material is going to have a net thickness of 1". 2" nominally thick material is going to have 1-1/2" net thickness. Widths are a bit trickier, with decking material that is 6" and narrower are going to have the net widths being 1/2" under the nominal width callout and decking that is 8" and wider will have the net widths being 3/4" under the nominal width callout.
DECKING SPANS OF ALASKAN YELLOW CEDAR:
Alaskan Yellow Cedar decking is available in a selection of thickness, widths and lengths. Maximum spans for decking need to be taken into account when designing a decking that is specified to use Yellow Cedar. Maximum spans for decking shown below are based on a continuous beam with two equal spans and a concentrated load of 220 lb at the center of one span.
The true span of the decking board is used, taking into account the thickness of the supporting joist underneath it. Wet end use conditions and unseasoned (green) lumber sizes are assumed.
| THICKNESS | WIDTH | GRADE | SPAN | TO COVER 100 SQ. FT. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/4" | 4" | ALL CLEAR GRADES | 16" | 332 LINEAL FEET |
| 5/4" | 4" | ALL KNOTTY GRADES | 12" | 332 LINEAL FEET |
| 5/4" | 6" | CLEAR AND KNOTTY GRADES | 16" | 214 LINEAL FEET |
| 2" | 4" | CLEAR AND KNOTTY GRADES | 24" | 332 LINEAL FEET |
| 2" | 6" | CLEAR AND KNOTTY GRADES | 24" | 214 LINEAL FEET |
Alaskan Yellow Cedar Decking Grades
Cedar grading can be a bit confusing at times as there are multiple grading agencies and each has their own terminology.
These grades are what Bear Creek Lumber can offer from what we obtain from our mills.
If you are not sure of what the grade you are purchasing entails, feel free to ask your sales representative for further explanation and pictures.
A & BETTER CLEAR
B & BETTER CLEAR
C & BETTER CLEAR
D & BETTER CLEAR
PATIO CLEAR
SELECT TIGHT KNOT / ARCHITECT KNOTTY
#2 COMMON / QUALITY KNOTTY
STANDARD & BETTER
UTILITY
Fasteners
Hot-dipped galvanized, aluminum and stainless steel nails are all corrosion-resistant and all can be used to nail Alaskan Yellow Cedar. Other types of nails, such as electro-plated, are not recommended. They can rust and disintegrate and react adversely with the natural preservative oils present in Cedar, resulting in stains and streaks. Copper nails also react with Cedar and should not be used. Stainless steel is the best choice but hot-dipped galvanized is the most widely used and economical.
Use 3″ (10d) nails to fasten decking with nominal thickness of 2″ and 2 1/2″ (8d) nails on decking with nominal thickness of 1 1/4″. This will allow for nail penetration of approximately 1 1/2″ into deck joists for secure, trouble free construction. Deck boards 2″ wide need one nail per joist while 4″ and wider decking requires two per joist. To prevent wood from splitting, use thin shanked nails with blunt points.
Screws can also be used to fasten decks. Double hot-dipped galvanized screws can be used, however, stainless steel screws are recommended. For most applications a 304 (18-8) grade provides adequate corrosion resistance. For decks exposed to salt air, use 316 grade. Screws must be long enough to penetrate 1″ into support members. Penetration of 1 1/2″ is required for structural components.
Finishing
Although Cedar is naturally durable, a surface coat is recommended to protect the wood and extend its service life. Cedar accepts a wide range of stains and other coatings and whichever is selected should be a good quality product recommended by a paint or building supply dealer. When selecting a finish coat, make sure it contains the following: Water Repellent, Fungicide/mildewcide & Protection against ultra violet light.
Penetrating oil-based products, particularly those containing pigments, are recommended for cedar. Pigments provide increased UV protection. Note that decks require products specifically formulated to withstand the abrasive effects of foot traffic. Use of varnishes or toher types of film forming coatings are not recommended for cedar decks. These coatings can crack and peel and once applied are difficult to remove. Also, avoid non-drying coats as these often feel sticky underfoot and can result in stains on interior floor coverings.