How to Build a Wooden Deck

The primary requirement for building a deck is wood. An essential prerequisite is approval of the residential building codes. After which you can decide on a budget, work out the deck design plans and assemble supplies and tools. Subsequently you begin the actually site work. Measure out the demarcated area and mark the ground to indicate where the deck will stand. Clear up this measured area to make it your working space. If you are attaching deck beams to wooden posts then you must consider the amount of weight that will be supported by those posts. This is important for deck safety.

You could go in for a free-standing structure that is only one inch from your back door. Herein the house-end of the freestanding deck will rest on piers instead of being connected to the house. House connected decks rest smack up against a house deriving structural support on that end by being attached to the house with through bolts that penetrate completely and are fitted with a washer and a nut on the inside of the house. This method is the strongest possible connection.

Start by building the outer frame of the deck. Create a rectangle by attaching the header board and the joists. Support this frame with temporary posts placed away from the planned vertical support posts. Next attach your vertical posts to the beams. One of the biggest challenges will be encountered when you make the house-end and the opposite end of the deck the same height. Once completed, you simply install the other joists. Use fasteners called seismic ties to attach the joists to the girders. The final major step is cutting the decking boards themselves and screwing them to the tops of the joists. If the deck is high off the ground you have to install a deck railing that provides safety.