Dovetail Decking is a type of metal roof and floor deck that blends structural metal decking and an architectural ceiling. It’s the perfect product to carry the load requirements of your structure, while still providing a sleek, modern, and finished looking ceiling.
Dovetail decking is new to Verco and Vulcraft, but this type of decking system has been manufactured by other companies such as New Millennium and Epic Metals for many years. When made by these manufacturers, these types of decking are referred to as Epicore MSR® or Versa-Dek®.At Western Metal Deck we’ve been answering our customer’s questions about steel decking for over thirty years. Now that Dovetail deck is being specified on more and more plans, we’re here to answer all of your questions.
Our goal in this article is to let you know which types of dovetail roof and floor deck are available and the features and benefits of each product.
By the end of this article you will know:
- Types Of Dovetail Roof Deck
- Types Of Dovetail Floor Deck
- Acoustical Dovetail Deck
If you would like to learn more about Dovetail Decking we suggest:
What Is Dovetail Deck? [Definition, Pricing, And Uses]
What Are The Types Of Dovetail Roof Decking?
Dovetail roof deck is available in two different types: Dovetail 2.0D and Dovetail 3.5D. Both types have a similar profile, are available in acoustical and non-acoustical, and are available in similar gauges. The main difference is the depth of the panel and the engineering values.
Dovetail 2.0D
Dovetail 2.0D roof deck will cost less than the 3.5D decking and it should be used when you have shorter spans. It’s manufactured in the Southeast and has a lead time of 6 to 16 weeks
- 2” Deep
- Gauge: A maximum of 16 gauge thickness and as light as 22 gauge.
- Finish: Galvanized, 2 coat polyester, and white primer paint.
- Sheet Lengths: The sheets will be made to whatever sheet lengths that you need and have a maximum sheet length of about 40’. If you have sheet lengths that are longer than 40’, check with your material supplier to verify availability.
Dovetail 3.5D
Dovetail 3.5D roof deck is more expensive than 2.0D, but is capable of longer spans. It’s manufactured in the Southeast and comes with lead times of 6 to 16 weeks.
- 3.5” Deep
- Gauge: A maximum of 14 gauge thickness and as light as 20 gauge.
- Finish: Galvanized, 2 coat polyester, and white primer paint.
- Sheet Lengths: The sheets will be made to whatever sheet lengths that you need and have a maximum sheet length of about 40’. If you have sheet lengths that are longer than 40’ check with your material supplier to verify availability.
What Are The Types Of Dovetail Floor Decking?
The sizes of the Dovetail floor deck are the same as the roof deck. There are two different products to choose from: Dovetail 2.0D Formlok® and Dovetail 3.5D Formlok®. Both of types of Dovetail decking are available in acoustical and non-acoustical.
Dovetail 2.0D Formlok®
Dovetail 2.0D Formlok® floor deck is designed to have structural concrete poured on top of it. It will cost less than the 3.5D Formlok®, but cannot span as far. This composite floor deck is also manufactured in the Southeast. It’s costly to ship and is subject to lead times of 6 to 16 weeks
- 2” Deep
- Gauge: A maximum of 16 gauge thickness and as light as 22 gauge.
- Finish: Galvanized, 2 coat polyester, and white primer paint.
- Sheet Lengths: The sheets will be made to whatever sheet lengths that you need and have a maximum sheet length of about 40’. If you have sheet lengths that are longer than 40’ check with your material supplier to verify availability.
Dovetail 3.5D Formlok®
Dovetail 3.5D Formlok® floor deck is designed to be used when you have longer spans. It will cost more than 2.0D Formlok® and it’s a composite floor deck that’s intended to have structural concrete poured on top of it. It’s manufactured in the Southeast and it’s expensive to ship. The lead time on this metal decking is 6 to 16 weeks
- 3.5” Deep
- Gauge: A maximum of 14 gauge thickness and as light as 20 gauge.
- Finish: Galvanized, 2 coat polyester, and white primer paint.
- Sheet Lengths: The sheets will be made to whatever sheet lengths that you need and have a maximum sheet length of about 40’. If you have sheet lengths that are longer than 40’ check with your material supplier to verify availability.
What Are The Types Of Acoustical Dovetail Decking?
Acoustical Dovetail decking is available in both roof and floor decking. The same panel types as listed above are available in the same gauges and finishes. They include:
- 2.0DA Acoustical Dovetail Deck - 2” deep acoustical roof deck.
- 3.5DA Acoustical Dovetail Deck - 3.5” deep acoustical roof deck.
- 2.0DA Formlok® Acoustical Dovetail Deck - 2” deep acoustical floor deck.
- 3.5DA Formlok® Acoustical Dovetail Deck - 3.5” deep acoustical floor deck.
Get A Quote On Dovetail Decking
Dovetail decking is a great option if you need a structural metal deck that has a finished looking ceiling. If you think Dovetail Decking is right for you, we invite you to learn more about your options by exploring each type more deeply.
Once you’ve figured out which type of dovetail deck that’s right for your job, you might find that it’s not a simple product to source. It’s a niche product and there are only a few companies in each region that sell it.
Western Metal Deck can help you with such a unique metal decking product. We have the expertise and shipping networks to transport Dovetail Decking from the Southeast to the West Coast or anywhere else within the USA at a substantially discounted rate. We can also save you the time of hunting for Dovetail Decking online as it’s a difficult product to find and should be purchased from someone that’s an expert.
If you have not already purchased your metal decking let us give you a free quote.
If you would like to learn more about metal decking, check out our learning center or YouTube channel.
