Can you get the illusion of a deck board being warped when the board spans a long distance?

Question

I am having a deck built, it approx 16 x 10 feet. The decking is spanning the 16 foot width. A few of the boards appear to be warped along the width of the board, the appear to run in a curve. The boards that appear this way are near the suppport posts that are sticking up for the railing. The boards that are not near posts appear straight. Nonetheless when measuring from the wall to the edge of the boards along the length of the boards the measurement is consistent. The railing and spindles have yet to be put up. I am wondering if the posts are giving an illusion of the boards being warped and if that illusion will go away when the spindles and railing have been put in place.

Answer 1

Believe your measurements. When you get your deck furniture in place, you won't notice. Any remaining illusion will be handled with a stiff cocktail.

Answer 2

I like the cocktail approach, but I think what you are seeing is an optical illusion caused by the grain in the wood, and variations in the slight bevel along the edges, together with the effect of the posts as you mentioned. But there will, in fact, be warping to some degree with TIME (unless you're using those plastic composition type boards that never change.)

And when the warping occurs -TWO martinis, please.

Answer 3

I get that impression when I look at things, too, but it has nothing to do with the boards--you may have a little bit of astigmatism, which will make things appear slightly warped, especially if you're not looking at them straight on.