Wood Deck Construction

A vast amount of supplies goes into the process of wood deck construction. Logically then the initial step before beginning the assembly of the deck is the gathering of materials. Among the items required are a level, screws or nails, but screws are the preferred of the two, a drill, a circular saw, a hammer, a plumb bob, cinder blocks, and a host of other objects essential to the construction. 

Before delving right into the construction process and measuring the lot above which the deck I to be built, one should check with zoning regulations in the area. These regulations can occasionally be bothersome as they are sometimes limiting. When you can finally ready to proceed with the measuring process you should start by outlining the rectangular deck. Then check the diagonals to ensure a true rectangular shape.

Prepare the area under the deck by ridding it of any weeds or sods and make sure it is as level as possible. Piers must supply the freestanding structure with support on all sides. First start at the end closest to the house and implant the two piers, in the method described a little further down, and connect the header board. Then nail the two outermost joists to the header board, with temporary braces in place to lend support to the joists. You must now determine the length down the joists, from the header board to the desired locations of the piers and mark them. Then mark these positions by spanning the width of the deck with string and utilizing a plumb bob. You can then dig holes for the other piers but be sure to dig below the frost line. To create the footing for the piers pour concrete into a small pre-constructed, square-shaped wooden form. With cardboard forms obtained at the hardware store, make a concrete pier on top of the dried footing. Place a post base on top of this pier before the concrete has had time to cure.

Next you must make sure both ends are the same height. Use cinder blocks here to substitute for the posts and check to ensure levelness. You must remember the height from the pier to the top of the cinder block for reasons explained further down. A girder must now be put in place to support the joists on the end opposite the header board. Here the aforementioned height becomes important. This height minus the height of the joists and the height of the girder is the height of the posts. Then place into the concrete piers the girder assembled to, using post caps, the posts. The outermost joists should lie perfectly on top of the girder. With the difficult part now done, all that remains to do is to put the other joists in place, cap them with a face board, and screw the decking boards in place. 

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