Square ? Footage

[whiskers]

Hello boys
I am used to figuring out square footage when working on wood projects to buy the right amount of board feet. However I am at a loss trying to figure out how many strips of wood I will need to do the deck of an upcoming project. Is there a way to figure this out so I don’t overbuy or underbuy?
Thanks

 

[Signet]

For a given deck area, I just use the width and length, then calculate accordingly. As you're Canadian (Canadien) and thus familiar with the metric system, it is simplified.

Say you want to cover a deck that is 150mm wide by 300mm long with 5mm wide strips/planks:

Area of deck is 150x300 = 45,000mm2.
Divide that by the plank width of 5mm to obtain total length of 5mm strips required:

Length = 45,000/5 = 9,000mm.

So you would need 9 meters of 5mm wide strips.

I usually figure full length strips even for the sides where they become triangular areas.

You should be able to calculate any size decking and strips required in a similar manner.

 

[whiskers]

For a given deck area, I just use the width and length, then calculate accordingly. As you're Canadian (Canadien) and thus familiar with the metric system, it is simplified.

Say you want to cover a deck that is 150mm wide by 300mm long with 5mm wide strips/planks:

Area of deck is 150x300 = 45,000mm2.
Divide that by the plank width of 5mm to obtain total length of 5mm strips required:

Length = 45,000/5 = 9,000mm.

So you would need 9 meters of 5mm wide strips.

I usually figure full length strips even for the sides where they become triangular areas.

You should be able to calculate any size decking and strips required in a similar manner.

Thanks so much for the advice. You’ve made it seem quite easy now.

John

 

[Signet]

Thanks so much for the advice. You’ve made it seem quite easy now.

John

No problem. It really is easy, the same as you do already for woodworking, just with smaller units.