Calculating Quantity

To determine how many total feet of 2x6 planking you need, take your total deck area including stair treads and multiply by 2.2.  Then multiply again by 1.05 to cover leftover scrap.  If you are going to lay the plank diagonally multiply again by 1.05 to cover end-wastage.  Don’t forget to add footage for stair risers, seats, perimeter borders and railing caps.

Next, complement your plank with 2x4, 4x4, and 2x2 for the railings.

Next, add up all your exposed perimeter dimensions.  Multiply by 1.2. This is the total footage of 2x10 for side facia.  Then go back and figure the minimally sufficient lengths for placing between railing posts and covering exposed borders.

To minimize the possibility of enroute damage, give consideration, as much as practical, to ordering materials of the same length.  This may mean combining different lengths into a longer common length.

Don’t forget to allow for making mistakes while building the deck. Adding 2% for each dimension should cover for this contingency.

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