Make a rough drawing of what you want to do showing location of your new deck. You may have to wait for city or your home owners approval before starting your project . many time sits only a day or two before most cities issue you a permit
Materials are so important.
3/4 inch X 8 ft 12 ft or 16 ft are our favorites ACQ or MCQ 40 year treated wood
5/8 Inch regular decking boards are widely used as well
Composite man made decking boards are an upcoming and new way to build your deck as well (Trex)
Use a approved fastener for your project ACQ or MCQ nails or screws on the coast we use stainless steel ring shank nails
You must decide if you want to use concrete deck pads or wood footings such as 4 inch X 4 inch posts etc.
First thing is preparation
Make sure your deck has proper drainage Using a line level see where the water will drain too from under your new deck ( Line levels and string can be purchase from your local Lowes Home Depot or ACE hardware store.
Stake off your deck area with wood stakes and string . stand back and imagine how the finished deck will look and see if its exactly where you want it.
Install a weed and grass barrier blanket I recommend a commercial or heavy duty one . pin your weed and grass blocker down using wire pins or rocks or even bricks or dirt will work.
We recommend on most of our deck projects digging your 4 inch X 4 inch pier holes down a least 2 feet we also recommend using a maximizer concrete mix 4000 psi or more. Let your posts set up for 24 hours or follow recommended set up time on the concrete bag.
You are now ready to install your framing. On a small deck usually 2 inch X 6 Inch ACQ or MCQ 40 year treated wood is adequate for your frame. Metal brackets are always recommended especially in your outer bands of your deck frame. More heavy duty frames require lag bolts or bolts with washers and nuts such as double decks .
Make sure your frame has a small drop to drain off water after a rain. You can achieve this with a 3 foot level or string line level ( a one inch drop for a 12 foot span will do the trip not much but enough)
Now you are ready to install your decking boards. Check your boards for straightness and bows discard bad boards. Start from left to right nailing or screwing your boards down. Use something as a spacer to keep your deck boards aligned and square at the last board attached. If you want a narrow or tight fit you may use nails as your spacers. We recommend a 1/4 inch or more, using 1/4 inch spacers. Keep checking your squareness as you install your new deck. If you get off a little you can adjust the remaining boards a little at a time to make it square and right.
You are now ready to put your rails or deck furniture on your new deck. You may want to stain your new deck We use Behr stains on The coast I recommend solid colors.
Lets start planning and building your new deck
Draw your rough deck plan and make adjustments as you lay your new deck out. Stand back and try to imagine what the final deck will look out. Have your wife /husband or good friend help you its fun and you will be surprised how good you are at it. The above is hand drawn like most homeowners will do 12 foot X 16 foot. Your in charge do your best and have a good time doing it.
Check your water drainage from your new deck. Sometimes its to either side of your deck or to the back of your yard /deck. If you have low spots fill in with sand or a good top soil. If you need to dig out a high spot do so carefully and make sure you don't break a sprinkler line etc.
Fill in your newly dug out drain with new sod /grass or sand . You may need to put in a 4inch or 6 inch drain line if you do allow at least 2inches above your PVC 4 inch or 6 inch line to lay new grass over it etc.
A lot of people have a good eye for drainage . I still like to know that I have a good drainage grade on my projects. A good way to see if your yard is draining is look at after a good rain.
Make sure your posts are straight (plumb) when you install them. After you dig your 2 foot holes using a post hole digger, using a 3 foot level make sure your posts are plumb ( level on all 4 sides. Using the dirt ,clay you have dug up scotch the post in place or you may use small wood stakes. After you have your posts level pour a 1/2 sack of ready made concrete around your posts. You may use the cheaper sack crete it will need to set up for 8 to 24 hours before you attach your framing. We use maximizer 5500 psi concrete its the best or quick set at 4200 psi ( after a couple hours you can begin framing out your deck. Remember to use ACQ or MCQ approved screws oe nails on your deck. We use stainless steel ring shank 3inch nails on our decks.
I recommend as few seam breaks as possible in your deck or decks, continuous boards look good and last longer
Coming recommended sealants, colors and a cool seal deck for your comfort and enjoyment.
9/2/2009 This web site is under construction look day by day for your complete deck building plans on how to build your own deck. God Bless Carl and Suzie