Here's my take on decking board placement and the grain as it relates to potential cupping.
Yes, absolutely, the experts and recommended standard procedure is to put the board down so the end grain looks like a rainbow (as opposed to a smile). Occassionally, the board is the exact center of the tree and one end is a smile and the other end is the rainbow....whatever....flip a coin.
Now...the practical results over time. I have had MANY of the boards placed per recommendations cup in the exact opposite intended and expected direction. I have seen it so many times that I often wonder whether is really is going to make a difference. Regardless, I continue to follow the SOP.
