Badly bowed decking boards

G'day folks,

I'm in the process of laying a deck at home using 90mm x 19mm Merbau decking onto an F7 pine frame and I'm a little unsure whether I should try to straighten some of the boards or buy some more.

Most of the boards were very good; 70+ lengths had less that 20mm of bow across a 4.8m length when compared against a straight edge. I have about 15 boards left which I'd hoped I could avoid using, but I still need about 8 more to finish the main deck area.

Bowing in the remaining boards varies from 50mm to 100mm across a 4.8m length when compared against a straight edge. Should I attempt to use them and is there a special method I should use to eleviate the stresses on the frame... or do I just bend them straight and hope for the best? Keep them wet for a few days first perhaps?

I know at least two of the boards don't have straight grain and have cracked along the width during attempts to straighten them, but most of the rest seem ok.

Suck it and see?

Thanks for your help people.

Dave.


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