These step-by-step directions on how to build a raised deck will help you build the deck of your dreams. ball (soon to be 4-in. Do they feel solidly connected to the framework when you push on them? Make timber profiles to help you set out the deck sub-frame accurately. If you space joists 16 in. On this point, redwood and cedar usually have the edge on pressure-treated wood. You can also look to several free apps and online programs to help you design your deck according to your exact specifications and ideas you have in mind. Continual moisture from ground contact rusts steel and rots wood posts faster, so avoid that situation if you can. Although it’s acceptable, setting the posts directly into the ground (Fig. Homeowners can no longer buy powerful commercial preservatives, so this method won’t make your wood as rot resistant as pressure-treated wood. The metal post/beam cap shown in Fig. But beware of some situations and then start your work. And it might if you put it together right. Count every board and bolt. Click to explore images of raised and elevated decks. above the ground to help them dry off faster after rain. But it can delay rot for several additional years. 5B and 5C are okay, but will weaken sooner. All other material should be at least 2x2 or stronger. Rails that pass over the tops of the posts are strongest and easiest to fasten. The surface fungus that causes the color change is a mold that really does no significant damage. Once you gather your materials, it will be time to start the building process. Where they butt directly into a beam or ledger, fasten them with metal joist hangers, and where they rest on top of the beam, toenail them with three 16d galvanized nails (Fig. Start gathering inspiration by looking at websites or Pinterest boards to see what may work for your personal aesthetic and backyard layout. Plan for a 12-inch width for each footing and 48 inches deep to get below frost lines. With materials list and plan in hand, visit your favorite lumberyard to get an estimate for the cost of materials. 3 from two 2x10s spiked together with 16d galvanized nails. Predrill your holes for lead lag shields or expansion bolts with a hammer drill and special carbide drilling bit to make this job easy. You’ll need to recoat your deck as soon as you notice water drops soaking into the wood rather than “beading” and remaining on the surface. A third post shortens the distance the beam must span, so the beam doesn’t have to be as large. In other cases, such as stuccoed houses, many builders prefer to build a freestanding deck to avoid the mess and difficulty of cutting and flashing stucco. Then slip aluminum flashing up under the siding and against the sheathing later you’ll bend the flashing over the top of the ledger to keep water from collecting against the house and causing rot. Pergolas are quickly becoming the in-demand outdoor living structure, and as a result, you can find pergolas for sale at more places than … With a little bit of know-how and some hard work, you'll be sitting out on a deck that you built yourself. Both should be galvanized. Reinforce with wood blocks cut from the same size wood material as the joists (called blocking) between the joists to prevent the joists from twisting. This can be tricky, especially on sloped sites. Ask another person to help lift and hold it in place.) By clicking GO!, you acknowledge that you have read Trex's Privacy Policy. Finally, give yourself plenty of time to complete the dock. Allow the concrete to set. Use 2x4s or larger lumber for guardrail. But having footings on the ground, and then joists, followed by your deck boards work just fine. Plumb your posts, keeping them straight and then install the landing framing. Keep it at your side as you plan, design, and complete your own. from board edge. To correctly size a beam, consider these three factors: For most decks, two 2x10s nailed together will be strong enough if you support them with posts every 6 ft. Deck surfaces exposed to direct sun and rain take a terrific beating. C, simply because they make the deck feel a bit stiffer underfoot and fit better atop 4x4 posts. If your design calls for a bottom rail, make sure it is at least 2x4. deck screws; 26" x 10' corrugated metal panel (2) 2x2 x 8' treated lumber (2) 2x4 x 8' treated lumber (4) 2x6 x 10' treated lumber (5) 3/4" x 4' x 8' treated plywood; 6-mil plastic; Cheap Raised Garden Beds You Can DIY. New Deck Installation Cost. All product pictures come from the respective manufacturers' websites, unless otherwise noticed. lower than the door’s sill, so you won’t have an awkward step as you go out the door. Be sure the ledger board is attached properly, using bolts -- not screws. Contact us with any questions you may have! BestLife52 is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.ca. Measure diagonally from post to post or use a set square to check the area is square. Next, tack the ledger in place temporarily with 16d nails, then level and lag bolt it permanently, spacing the bolts about every 16 in. They’ll tell you if you need a permit. Decide the shape and the height of the handrails. From the line you just marked, measure down the thickness of the deck boards (usually 1 to 1 1/2 inches, or 2.5 to 3.75 centimeters), plus the height of the ledger board. Dunk the critical ends of posts and other lumber into a bucket of wood preservative (formulated to resist fungus) for an hour or even a day to let as much preservative as possible soak into the wood. With your ledger in place, you can use it as a height reference for the other beam. In addition, for posts use rot-resistant wood like pressure-treated (a .40-lb. 5B and 5C also show two kinds of bolts —— smooth-head carriage bolts and hexagonal-head machine bolts. Cut guardrail accurately, then nail and screw it to the post. Inspect the boards to make sure they’re dry. Drive nails 3/4 in. from region to region. One of the pleasures of building a good, solid deck is believing that it’ll last forever. Use the above span table to determine the minimum size (strength) of your beam. Once your beams or rim joists have been placed, add joist hangers to the inner sections. Second, the concrete foundation widens toward the top, inviting frost to catch its sides and heave it upward. Step 2. Paint is the best repellent because it forms a protective skin over the wood. Simply nail them into the posts with 16d galvanized box nails. If this is your first DIY project, you might not be attempting an ambitious patterned inlay. You have to clean the surface of the concrete slab. Burning the scraps can release the toxic chemical as fumes. Be sure to buy the proper size joist hangers and nail through all the holes with galvanized joist hanger nails (sometimes called galvanized truss nails). Your budget will also play a role in the type of materials to choose, the size of your deck, and what types of add-ons you may want to consider. Your first step is to attach a ledger board. Installing these anchors will keep the stairs steady and safe. Building a raised patio is easy and can add more usable living space and lasting value to your landscape. You will sense it every time you step out on your deck listen. Four footings are common for a typical deck. Cut three 600mm lengths of 22mm x 100mm timber for each profile. I would class myself as a useful do it yourself person. Don’t panic here; your building inspector’s job is to make sure you build a solid, safe deck. Then consider how long it will take to mix your own. If they find enough moisture, the spores that settle on your freshly built deck will root and grow, slowly dissolving the wood fiber. If your 4x4 deck support posts extend above the beams (as in Figs 5B and 5C). The functional parts are done. Building a Raised Deck Over Concrete Patio. Place the dowels between adjacent deck boards and fasten the boards in place. Install the ledger first, especially if you have a door opening onto the deck. 9 below). Penetrating sealers and stains contain resins that partially fill the wood pores and repel water. For additional support, bolt blocks under both ends. The size you need will depend on the size of your deck. First, nail on the joists. Read more: best concrete stain. This article will explain how to build an elevated deck with common tools, on a budget, in female speak. These free deck plans will help you build the deck of your dreams. One big advantage of bolts over nails here is that you can easily retighten them should they loosen. However, starting with a good foundation will prepare your deck for years of hard use. 4). Above-ground pool decks are often built freestanding in this fashion. D). You’ve already put in a lot of hard work on your deck, so it’s important to be sure it looks its best to give you a return on your investment! Using bags of concrete you’d purchased when you were gathering your materials, you can premix the concrete using a small cement mixer (that you can rent) or mix the appropriate amount in a wheelbarrow. Predrill holes to mid splitting ends. But when you recoat the deck, you don’t have to scrape off the old finish, so sealers and stains are much easier to reapply than paint. Get the seams of the decking board to be centered over the joists. Deck Board Spacer: It’s easy to space deck boards evenly. Below are all the tools i use and a link to free drawings and material lists of two decks. (Wear rubber gloves when you work with preservative to keep it off your skin.). In fact, in most regions the local building inspector will insist on this, and a few other structural guide lines, too. All work well. Make clean joints by cutting boards off perfectly square and butting them together over the center of a joist. 3 is strongest, along with the one shown in Fig. What’s more, the chemicals in treated wood tend to attract moisture, causing treated wood to swell more readily than redwood and cedar. They’re also much harder to replace should rot occur. If you’re considering building your own raised deck, it’s best to do your research to formulate a plan to build your deck and get years of enjoyment from it. They also require wider posts, 4x6s or 4x8s, to rest on. Looks, performance and safety are all jeopardized when the crew installing or repairing the deck isn’t skilled or experienced. Also reject wood with chemical residue on its surface; you should see what looks like an even coat of green or brown stain. So attach the posts securely to the joists with bolts (Fig. Technically, we are still working on it, but the remaining work is all cosmetic. UPDATE: I added a span table below referencing minimum beam sizes in the section Avoid Common Deck-Building Mistakes. The deck will have two staircases on either side and will use synthetic decking, railing, and trimming to create a long-lasting deck that’s easy to maintain. How long will it take? The most damaging weapon nature uses to attack your deck is virtually invisible — rot-causing fungus. Start gathering inspiration by looking at websites or Pinterest boards to see what may work for your personal aesthetic and backyard layout. Harsh weathering can crack the wood and weaken its joints. Wear goggles when cutting it to keep sawdust away from your eyes. Check the frame is square by measuring from corner to corner. You can dig the footings by hand or rent a power auger to make the process easier. You can use them to join the joists to the ledger. Example A fails on both counts, but C and D are good. Place steel connectors - the strongest way to attach posts to concrete. Explain your plan, listen for new ideas and techniques, and go out into the yard and chock the wood. Attach the post anchors to the deck footings using a hammer drill designed for heavy-duty work. You’ll find three types of wood readily available to do the job: The “heartwood” of redwood and cedar is the deeper-colored core of a tree as compared to the cream-colored outer wood called “sapwood.”. Building a Wood Raised Garden Bed to Install on Concrete Step 1: Build or Obtain a Raised Garden Bed Frame. If you prefer to use redwood or cedar, you can make them last longer by treating them with a chemical preservative yourself. A well-built deck: an attractive, permanent addition to your home. Examples B and C are okay, but their smaller bearing area mean more strain on the wood fibers. Did you bolt your rail posts to the joists or beam? Don’t skimp in your rail design. Building inspectors have found that many homeowners, designing by “rules of thumb,” make beams too small. Fortunately, the path from the deck of your imagination to a real one isn’t hard, because there’s nothing complicated about building a quality deck. Gather your decking boards and start laying them (temporarily) in the middle of the deck. Decking can look amazing in your garden, and gives you and your family the perfect space to dine, relax and play. It is an easy part of the process. The yard personnel can be very helpful. You can choose from either of the two beam sizes shown there, either three 2x8s or two 2x10s nailed together. Again, always confirm your joist size with your building inspector. The heartwood contains natural chemicals that are toxic to fungus. Wear goggles to protect your eyes, a dust mask, and gloves. We can help you find the balance you’re looking for, an experienced elevated deck builder at a reasonable price. Most treated wood doesn’t contain a water repellent, but you can brush one on to accomplish the same thing. You can review images online to choose a design and talk with specialists at a building supply store for input. This Home Depot guide explains how to build a single level raised deck for outdoor entertaining and outdoor relaxing. How to paint, stain or oil your decking. Pull your tape measure across the rim joist and mark the joist location which will be every 12, 16, or 24 inches - per your drawings. Pull out a pad of paper and a pencil, and sketch the deck you'd like to add to your home. Depending on building codes in your jurisdiction, you may be required to get a permit to build a raised deck of a certain height. 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