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• Maximum allowed overhang is 5" for 2"x4" & 2"x6 material and 3" for 1"x6" material.
• When butting two boards of ALTWOOD^®, both ends must be fully supported.
• For a deck installation, attach an auxiliary board (2"x4" is sufficient) to the side of the joist that will be supporting butt ends. Attaching two butt ends to a single joist without an auxiliary board is not recommended. Use of a single fastener on every second joist is allowable.
• Remember to provide a gap when butting two boards of ALTWOOD^®. The rate of expansion and contraction is a percentage of total length. For example, when butting two 12 foot boards, the gap should be at the maximum distance (see ALTWOOD^® expansion chart); with two 6 foot boards, it will be half of the recommended maximum... etc.
• Joist spacing required is 16" for 2"x6" or 2"x4" ALTWOOD^® and 12" for 1"x6" ALTWOOD^®.
• If your project requires more than one lift of ALTWOOD^®, break open all lifts and draw boards from alternate lifts to accommodate slight colour differences between lifts (dye lot variation is the same as in tiles, bricks, carpet etc.).
• If you are pre-cutting all ALTWOOD^® material at once for your installation, make sure it is all at the same temperature.

Fastening

• Fasteners must be installed at 90 degrees - toe-nailing is not recommended. In applications where angle installation of the fastener is absolutely necessary, the ALTWOOD^® material must be pre-drilled.
• Screws:
  • Pre-drill one size larger than the screw you are using. Ideally, use a combination drill/countersink bit.
  • Do not over tighten screws - unlike wood, ALTWOOD^® will never cup, warp or twist, so bring the screw only snug enough to keep the board in place.
  • Only the top board should be pre-drilled - not the joist.
• Nails:
  • Pre-drill slightly smaller than the shank of the nail. For example, 1/8 drill for 2 1/2 inch nail.
  • Only the top board should be pre-drilled - not the joist.
  • Using an air gun with 2 1/2 inch 16 - 15 GA galvanized or stainless steel brad nails is highly recommended for ALTWOOD^®. This technique requires no pre-drilling, is fast and easy with great results. The brad nail should go in 1/16 below the surface of the material. When finished, a light tap with a hammer will fill the hole with "mushroomed" material, making the fastener barely visible.
  • If you want to "hide the fasteners" but do not have an air gun, casing nails may be used but the material must be pre-drilled and a nail setting punch must be used to drive the nail below the surface.
  • Fasteners should not be used closer than 3/4 inch from the edge of the material. However, if necessary to install fasteners 3/4 inch to 1 inch from the edge, the material must be pre-drilled.