How to Build a Deck

Learning how to build a deck is little trickier than that tree house you built as a kid-but not much! Most of the construction involves basic carpentry skills. Whether it's a sprawling, multi-level monster or a modest rectangle building a deck is the perfect way to increase your outdoor living space.

How To Build A Deck That Will Last

Although building a deck is simple, designing one is not. There are many things to consider when designing a deck including materials, load distribution and local building codes. Luckily, there are many resources for deck designs including books, the Internet and your home center. Once you have an approved design (you'll probably need a building permit) you're ready to begin. Here's how:

• Anatomy of a deck. Your deck will be built in two parts: the substructure and the decking. The substructure consists of all the support pieces of your deck and will include posts that support the substructure above the ground, beams that Tie the substructure to the posts and joists that tie the beams together and support the decking. The decking covers the surface of the substructure and includes the railing.
• Site preparation. To begin, remove the sod from the area of the yard that will be covered by the deck. Check the grade of the soil to make sure that is slopes away from the house by at least 1" per 15'. When the deck is complete, you'll want to cover this area with weed blocking cloth or heavy black plastic.
• Install the ledger. The ledger is the joist that connects the deck to your house. The ledger should be level and the top should sit 1" below the bottom of the door plus the thickness of your decking material. Fix the ledger to the side of the house using ½" lag bolts that penetrate at least 3" into the studs of the house.
• Layout the deck. Using stakes and string, establish the corners of the deck by measuring out from the ends of the ledger. Take time to make sure the layout is square.
• Dig the postholes. Following your deck layout, dig the postholes. Make each hole 6" deeper than the frost line and back fill with 6" of gravel.
• Install posts. The postholes should be filled with concrete to create a pier for the posts to rest on. Once the concrete is dry, attach a post base to each pier using a masonry bit equipped drill and a concrete anchor bolt. Install the posts, following the post base manufacturer's instructions.
• Install the beams. Install galvanized post-to-beam connecters to the posts and connect the beams using nails and ½" hex bolts. During construction, make sure all elements are plumb and square.
• Install the joists. Mark the ledger and beams for the locations of the joists and install galvanized joist hangers as appropriate. After the joists are installed, nail a rim joist to the outside ends of the joists.
• Add the stairs. Build stairs as directed by your deck plans, attaching them to the rim joists.
• Add decking. Deck boards should be laid across the joists with any cupping of the wood facing down. 2" thick decking should be spaced 1/8" apart, but 5/4" thick decking pieces should be butted against each other, as they will shrink over time. For best results, decking should be attached using galvanized or stainless steel screws.
• Add railing. Add railing as directed by your deck plans, Typically, railing posts are attached to joists by ½" hex or lag bolts.