What’s One Of The Best Ways To Build A Deck?
This Is A Basic Process For How Contractors Build Decks For Clients
It’s always nice to know what exactly is happening in your home, especially when it’s a home improvement project.
In this post, you can find out how to build a basic deck. You can also discover what mainly changes this process.
How To Build A Deck
*not all steps will need to be followed depending on your deck design. This is for a basic lower-level deck.
1. Design your deck
Some things to consider:
- Do you want it at ground level or raised? Raised decks need railings and stairs. Ground-level decks aren’t as expensive because they take less time, labor, and materials.
- What kind of material do you want to use? Wood or composite material are what most people choose between.
- How big do you need it to be? This comes down to what you want to do with your deck. It mainly comes down to what you want to put on it and how many people you want to fit on it at once.
- Local building codes may require certain designs, permits, and inspections.
2. Call 811
This needs to happen if you’ll be doing any digging. Accidentally cutting a gas, power, or water line is messy and expensive.
3. Dig post holes if necessary
Figure out where the footings or piers need to be and dig using a posthole digger or power auger.
4. Pour the concrete and place the post anchors
This helps create a strong base for the deck that can support more weight.
5. Attach the posts to the anchors
These posts help support the deck.
6. Attach the rim joists and angle brackets
These will help support your deck so it stays upright. The rim joists go along the edge of the deck.
7. Attach the inner joists to the beam faces
These will help hold everything together.
8. Install the deck boards and add fasteners to the joists
Now comes the actual deck floor! The fasteners help hold the boards in place.
9. Trim the deck boards even
Circular saws and chalk are great for this.
What Mainly Changes This Process?
Style of the deck. If you want a more raised deck the process will change. You may need stairs and a railing.
Additions/upgrades. You may want to add things like a drink railing, built-in benches, lighting, and more.
The work site. Flat, even ground is way easier to work with than uneven ground. Additional work needs to be done for uneven ground, like planning post heights.