From the category archives:

Deck

Re-staining Your Deck

by Tom on June 7, 2009

Exposed to weather, and usage, your new deck will one day look worn and tired. You will need to maintain it by regularly making sure that the area is clean, as well as stain it to upkeep the luster of the wood . Below list some steps on how to re-stain your deck. Prepping the [...]

Related posts:

  1. Staining your deck
  2. Waterproofing Your Deck
  3. Deck – Railings
  4. Building a deck for your house
  5. Building A Deck Table

Installing Deck Stairs

by Tom on June 7, 2009

Steps can be built in a number of different ways depending on aesthetic preference, but most municipalities have specific codes that must be taken into consideration. Some terminology that you may encounter when planning and building your deck stairs are as follows: Vertical Rise : Distance between 2 steps which is usually 6 – 7 [...]

Related posts:

  1. Building Steps for your Deck
  2. Building a wood patio deck
  3. Building A Deck Table
  4. Installing the Deck Boards
  5. Deck – Installing a Ledger

Waterproofing Your Deck

by Tom on June 7, 2009

There is one final step that many builders take before completing the deck. To protect the wood and extend the life of the deck, you will need to coat the deck with water-repellent sealer. This will prevent rotting due to exposure to moisture, AND prevent the costly effect of needing to repair your deck. Also [...]

Related posts:

  1. Building A Deck Table
  2. Staining your deck
  3. Installing the Deck Boards
  4. Re-staining Your Deck
  5. Deck – Railings

Deck – Railings

by Tom on June 7, 2009

There are several types of railings that you can choose from when building a deck. Just remember that there are certain local codes that you may have to adhere to, and this applies to railings. Check with the local building authority about the types that you can and can not use when you are planning [...]

Related posts:

  1. Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints
  2. Deck – Tools, Material and Terminology
  3. Deck – Installing a Ledger
  4. Installing the Deck Boards
  5. Deck – Post and Girders

Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints

by Tom on June 7, 2009

Making sure the outer edge are flushed As you apply the last few deck boards, you will need to make sure that the outer edges of the deck boards are exactly flush with the ends of the joists. After the second to last course is in place, measure to the ends of the joists. This [...]

Related posts:

  1. Installing the Deck Boards
  2. Deck – Layout Joist
  3. Deck – Railings
  4. Deck – Tools, Material and Terminology
  5. Deck – Installing a Ledger

Installing the Deck Boards

by Tom on June 7, 2009

This part is where you will start seeing all your hard work and preparation come to fruition. Before you install the deck boards, make sure you plan and layout the boards properly. Look at each piece and try to put the most attractive pieces in the high-visibility areas. Also, look at each side of each [...]

Related posts:

  1. Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints
  2. Deck – Layout Joist
  3. Deck – Installing a Ledger
  4. Deck – Tools, Material and Terminology
  5. Deck Installing the Outer Joists

Deck – Layout Joist

by Tom on June 7, 2009

You need to layout your joist, by marking layout marks on the ledger and girders that show which joist will be located. Joists are located “on-center” distance, where their centers occur exactly every 16”, 24”, or 32”. The distance between joists depends on several important factors: 1. Size of the joists 2. Spacing of the [...]

Related posts:

  1. Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints
  2. Deck – Post and Girders
  3. Installing the Deck Boards
  4. Deck Installing the Outer Joists
  5. Deck – Tools, Material and Terminology

Deck – Post and Girders

by Tom on June 7, 2009

Post and Girders You can install the girders in two ways: If the posts and girders are not too long or heavy, you can pre-build the girders/post system, bolt or nail the entire thing together, and then move it as one large piece into place. The other way is to build it piece by piece [...]

Related posts:

  1. Deck Installing the Outer Joists
  2. Deck – Layout Joist
  3. Deck – Tools, Material and Terminology
  4. Installing the Deck Boards
  5. Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints

Deck Installing the Outer Joists

by Tom on June 7, 2009

Once you’ve installed the ledger, you can now install the outermost joists at the either end of the ledger. The outer joists should cover the exposed end of the ledger. Have someone support the furthest end of the joist in a more of less level position and nail the joist into the ledger using 3 [...]

Related posts:

  1. Deck – Post and Girders
  2. Deck – Layout Joist
  3. Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints
  4. Deck – Installing a Ledger
  5. Deck – Tools, Material and Terminology

Deck – Installing a Ledger

by Tom on June 7, 2009

A ledger is used when you are attaching a deck to your existing home. This board is bolted to the house, and the deck is hung on it. If a freestanding deck (not attached to the house) is being constructed, then you do not use a ledger. What you need is to add more bracing [...]

Related posts:

  1. Deck – Tools, Material and Terminology
  2. Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints
  3. Building a deck for your house
  4. Deck – Layout Joist
  5. Deck Installing the Outer Joists

Materials: • 2 x 6 boards (pressure-treated pine) • 2 x 2 boards (pressure-treated pine) • 2 x 8 boards (pressure-treated pine) • 2 x 12 boards (pressure-treated pine) • 2 x 8 boards (pressure-treated pine) • 4 x 4 posts (pressure-treated pine) • 6 x 6 posts (pressure-treated pine) • Carriage bolts and nuts [...]

Related posts:

  1. Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints
  2. Deck – Installing a Ledger
  3. Installing the Deck Boards
  4. Deck – Railings
  5. Building A Deck Table

Before installing a deck

by Tom on June 7, 2009

Deck building can seem to be a complex do-it-yourself project. It is however, well within the scope of most novice builders. It is definitely a demanding job both physically and mentally, but is ultimately very rewarding. Before you start this project, be sure you have used all the proper materials and construction techniques, and make [...]

Related posts:

  1. Deck – Installing a Ledger
  2. Installing the Deck Boards
  3. Installing Deck Stairs
  4. Deck Installing the Outer Joists
  5. Deck – Tools, Material and Terminology

Building A Deck Table

by Tom on June 7, 2009

Each A-frame support for the table consists of: 1 piece of 2×6 seat support 1 piece of 2×4 tabletop support 2 pieces of 2×6 legs Assembling the A-frame support 1. The above image shows the side view of one of the A-frame of the deck table and its individual parts on right. There should be [...]

Related posts:

  1. Building A Deck Table
  2. Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints
  3. Installing Deck Stairs
  4. Deck – Layout Joist
  5. Installing the Deck Boards

Building A Deck Table

by Tom on June 7, 2009

Like entertaining guests at garden parties and barbeques? Having deck tables will be a great addition to provide seating space for your guests. This article deals with the construction of a kid’s table, and you can also make adjustments to measurements to build an adult deck table. An A-frame table is a good choice for [...]

Related posts:

  1. Building A Deck Table
  2. Waterproofing Your Deck
  3. Re-staining Your Deck
  4. Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints
  5. Installing Deck Stairs