Composite decking should not be staggered on a deck. Staggered decking requires butt joints

, but composite decking expands and contracts with temperature changes making butt joints unsightly. It is better to design a composite deck with intentional design elements to avoid staggering boards for a wider composite deck.

Should deck boards be butted together?

We recommend butting treated deck boards together because as the moisture dries from the wood, the boards will shrink and naturally form gaps to allow water drainage. (Depending on moisture content, cedar, cypress and especially hardwood decking may require deliberate spacing for consistent joint sizes.)

How do you stagger deck boards?

A common method for staggering a deck is to start the first row with a full plank, then cut one-third of the next row's first board off the end. The row after that has an additional one-third cut off and then repeat when you get back to a full board.