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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Alphonso Sirtle.. | Posted under Landscaping Gardening
8 Steps To Deck Building
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1. Your PlanCommonly the step with the least amount of thought put into it yet it is the most important step. First you need to decide where the deck is going to go. Then you need to decide what type of deck it will, what type of railing youll use, and of course what size the deck will be. 2. LayoutOnce you know where your deck will be you just need to stake a line parallel to the house wall. You will need to run three lines which will connect to form the shape of your square deck. Remember the 4th side is your house. 3. Set The PostsDetermine the position of your posts and mark them with wood stakes. Your footing holes have to be a minimum of 3 feet deep and 12 inches wide. In some areas they will need to be a lot deeper. Tamp at least 2 inches of gravel at the base of each hole and then insert your form which should be 8 inches in diameter. Place your 4x4 saddle in the center then fill the form with ready mix concrete and let sit over night to cure. A special note - You should consult your local building department for rules and regulations in your area relating to footings and constructing a deck. Your deck posts need to be treated. The height of these posts will depend on the deck height. 4. Attach The BeamsOnce the deck posts are in place its time to start to attach your beams. The size of the beams will depend on the deck size. You might use anywhere from 2x6s to 2x10s and the intervals will range from 12 inches to 16 inches. 5. JoistsThe joists need to be installed on 16 inch centers. Run a chalk line so you can easily find the center. Cut your joists to the right length then attach to the beams. 6. Install Decking MaterialFinally you are at the step that gets the most attention both during the build process and by guests after. Take extra care to ensure that the decking goes down nicely and looks good. Reduce the amount of splitting by pre-drilling holes 7. Just Add StairsGreat the decks in place no all you need is a set of stairs so you can access it. Decide whether it will be 3, 4, or 5 steps. More than three steps could require you to add additional posts. Check with local building code. 8. The RailingAnd probably the most important safety factor is the railing. It not only adds the finishing touches and makes your deck look great it stops people from accidentally walking off the edge. Thats it 8 steps to deck building and youll be enjoying your new deck in no time at all. About The Author: Alphonso has been working in the home remodeling industry for last 5 years. Take advantage of his experience and written material on deck ideas at his website at http://www.improve-home.com |
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