Perfect Decking Gaps - Every Time!

Are you building your own deck?

Achieving the perfect gap between boards has never been easier with this deck tool!

We created this simple, but effective deck tool (including the inscription from my youngest daughter) when we built our deck a few years ago. It worked a treat and only took a couple of minutes to make.

1 nail - the thickness of the nail will determine the width of the gap between your boards.

1 stick of wood - don't make this too small, something around 1'6" x 2" x 3" (450mm x 50mm x 75mm) is ideal.

Hammer the nail in about halfway so that won't come out while you are using it.

You want to grind, cut or file off the head of the nail to form a V-shape.

The "V" acts like a wedge to slip between decking boards if they spring too tightly together. There is no need to make the "V" too sharp (you don't want to cut yourself). If you look at the close-up photo, you can see the wedge is fairly rounded at the top.

Use a string line to fix your first run of boards in place. After that, snug up each new board to the last with the deck tool (or two deck tools) in between.

Because the tool has a large base, it will sit upright on its own. After each new board is screwed down, simply swivel the deck tool and it will lever itself out of the gap.

Congratulations, you have finished.

Now go and enjoy your new creation with family and friends...