[6fthook]

I'm ready to install decking on our covered front porch, and we're having a tough time deciding what to go with. We narrowed it down to Timbertech silver maple or ashwood. The silver maple is about $1500 cheaper since it has the scalloped profile to reduce materials cost, and the cost savings is a huge benefit.

Problem is, I can't get the idea out of my head that the scalloped profile reduces strength of the deck boards even though Timbertech says it doesn't. In the long run I don't want to regret going with this deck board if it's constantly in the back of my mind that the strength of the decking is comprimised.

The deck is about 2' off the ground, I framed the joists 12" oc, and will be using grooved edge boards with hidden fasteners.

Any words of wisdom to ease my mind about the strength of the decking or to steer us towards the ashwood color for an extra $1500? Thanks!

 

[Mingledtrash]

I am not an engineer but i think they are essential creating a channel beam so its likely strong enough.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_channel

thats if this is what you are referring to.

By creating channels on the bottom of the board, less material is used, resulting in a lower cost for you. When the board is installed, the scallops are not visible from the top. By taking some material out, it is actually lighter in weight than the other boards.

for some reason it irritates my brain that they call them scallops and not channels.

found their ccrr
http://timbertech.com/files/files/CCRR-0128.pdf

check out table 3 it looks like the channels dont affect the load rating but they significantly reduce the wind uplift rating. also note you can not use the channeled material for stairs.

this quote applies to table 3

1Span/Load rating is the maximum span in inches and the maximum allowable live load in pounds per square feet(psf).

2 Stair tread span is based on a continuous deck board over two or more equal spans (3 supports).
3 Wind uplift resistance is based on two fasteners at each support (woodjoist) except Grooved Planks which use one hidden fastener located at each joist. Values have been adjusted for wind load duration and end use. No further adjustments shall be made.
4 Grooved Deck Planks are not used as stair treads.
5 Mono-Extruded and Co-Extruded values are the same.
6 Alternatively, grooved deck boards may be face fastened with the fasteners recognized for the relevant solid deck board

 

[6fthook]

Thank you for that info! Wind uplift didn't cross our minds prior