Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Pressure-treated wood shrinkage

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Gas
07-03-05, 01:20 PM
I bought some 2"x8" lumber to use as face boards on a deck. After I cut everything to length and marked location of posts I noticed that all boards were 7-1/4" wide except for one which was 7-1/2". Since I'll be aligning the bottom of the posts & ballusters with the bottom edge of the face boards, will I need to cut 1/4" off the length of the board or should I just move the posts & ballusters up 1/4"? Is this 7-1/2" board just a fluke, or would there be a reason it is a different size?

lefty
07-03-05, 05:24 PM
Rip the 7-1/2" wide board to 7-1/4" and continue -- you'll be fine.

most mills plane their 2X8's to 7-1/4", but there are a few that still use 7-1/2".