A deck is a place to enjoy the outdoors, an extra living and entertaining area. It enhances your house and lifestyle. A place to BBQ and watch the kids play in the yard. It’s a retreat you can build yourself. You don’t have to hire the professionals; you can plan, design and b...
If you choose the composite decking material, you can use the hidden fasteners and add a step to the floating deck. This may still take a couple of hours to complete. Most decks are attached to the house, but floating decks don’t need to be. Sometimes you can set up a deck chair a...
The Ledger Board is the critical attachment of the deck to the house. For a freestanding deck, skip this step. Remove siding and install a waterproof membrane above, behind, and below the ledger board area. Attach the ledger board to the house with structural fasteners in the pattern and fr...
The stringers must be spaced properly to support the size of the board selected for the treads. A stringer is a wide board, often a 2x12, that runs at an angle from the landing pad to the deck framing and supports the treads. An “open” stringer has notches that you can see, ...
Learn how to build a long-lasting, resilient deck frame starting with post-base connections, posts, and beams.
Attach the stringers to the porch and landing with galvanized deck screws or nails. (Recommend attaching a ledger to the front of the landing or deck for added support). Treads We recommend using 2x6 inch treated lumber for your treads. You can also purchase pre-made treads. Overlap the st...
Attach the stringers to the header with metal hangers, or bolt to the sides of a joist. Anchor the bottom of the stringers in place to the concrete with angle irons or lag screws in expansion bolts. Fasten the treads in place, with the “bark” side of the wood facing up. If the ...
How to Convert a Pergola Into a Roof How to Use Pre-Cut Stair Stringers for Decks How to Support a Roof Deck No matter the situation, either attaching to an existing deck or building onto a deck that is being built in progress, the weight of the roof needs to be considered in relation...
When you’re ready to build, here’s how to start: Mark the perimeter of the proposed deck using small stakes; Call or make an online request to have the building’s utilities marked for you. It’s usually a free service for homeowners; ...
Pictorial: How to Build a Deck Let's begin with the first step: Attach the Ledger Board The ledger provides strength for the deck; it attaches the structure to the house and supports one end of the joists. So the first step is attaching the ledger board to the home. ...