| Building a deck is a home improvement project | | | | steps. Once these decisions have been made, |
| that the average homeowner is more than | | | | your design checked and your permit approved, |
| capable of doing. It generally involves a series of | | | | it's simply a matter of developing a materials list |
| simple sequential steps and involves basic | | | | and ordering the materials to be delivered. |
| carpentry skills. Deck building has become much | | | | Site preparation is the next step. Outdoor |
| simpler with the advent of home improvement | | | | furniture, stone slabs and other items need to be |
| retail outlets that offer how-to-do-it clinics, a wide | | | | removed from the site prior to construction. Using |
| variety of deck related building materials, tool and | | | | the 3,4,5 layout process the locations of the |
| equipment rentals and even free deck design | | | | footings can be clearly marked. Then it's hole |
| consultations. Because the construction process of | | | | digging time. Usually it's a choice between hand |
| deck building takes place outdoors, normal family | | | | digging the postholes below the frost line or |
| home life is not really affected as it would be for | | | | having a posthole machine do the work. Once the |
| some interior renovation. All of the mess is | | | | holes are dug, they are filled with concrete and |
| completely outdoors and the deck building process | | | | support hardware is fixed in place. |
| can extend from weekend to weekend without | | | | While the concrete is hardening the ledge board |
| any real problems. | | | | can be attached to the house. Next, the support |
| Most deck construction projects have 6 building | | | | posts are connected to the support post |
| elements: concrete footings, wood or concrete | | | | hardware. Double beams are connected to the |
| posts, a ledger support board, beams, joists and | | | | ledger board and the support posts. Joists are |
| decking. There are also 3 popular options: railings, | | | | then installed at either 16 or 24 inch centers. |
| benches and stair steps. | | | | Railing support posts are added as is the |
| The actual deck building process involves 13 | | | | framework for any skirting to be added enclosing |
| procedures: | | | | the deck perimeter. |
| 1. Designing the deck | | | | At this point, the decking can be installed either |
| 2. Obtaining the required building permits | | | | with nails or screws. Then it's simply a matter of |
| 3. Buying the materials | | | | trimming the outer edges of the deck boards and |
| 4. Preparing the site | | | | installing a facing board to hide the cut ends of |
| 5. Laying out the footing locations | | | | the deck boards. |
| 6. Setting the footings | | | | Steps whether on the outside of the deck or |
| 7. Installing the ledger board | | | | inset can then be constructed. The same goes |
| 8. Installing the support posts | | | | for the railing system that has been chosen. |
| 9. Attaching the beams | | | | Finally, the skirting can be installed to prevent |
| 10.Installing the joists | | | | small animals from creating problems in the future. |
| 11.Nailing or screwing on the decking boards | | | | All that is left to do is apply a sealant and/or stain |
| 12. Trimming the decking | | | | to the deck to complete the project. Then it's |
| 13. Installing any options such as railings, benches | | | | time for the family to add outdoor furniture, the |
| and stair steps. | | | | good old barbecue and a couple of container |
| It's a wise decision to consult with the municipal | | | | plants to create a very special outdoor living area |
| building department so that your proposed deck | | | | the whole family can enjoy. |
| conforms to local construction bylaws. The real | | | | All it took was a couple of weekends of work |
| fun starts in making choices regarding deck | | | | and 13 simple steps and some basic carpentry |
| materials, possibilities for decking patterns, railing | | | | skills to create that deck of your dreams. |
| styles as well as the type and placement of | | | | |