How To Build A Deck

A great way to improve an outdoor area, especially around a garden is to add a deck, and if your wondering just how to build a deck, then you have come to the right place. A deck will provide a clean area for entertaining, grilling, or just relaxing in the sun, and once built, it will increase property value and property aesthetics. While the cost of materials is increasing, the cost for the labor of installing a deck has never been better. If you install your deck yourself, the labor cost will be almost zero; perhaps only a steak and beer for whomever you get to assist.

When building your deck, some things should be considered, are you going to build a deck attached to a building or rather a floating deck (a deck that is unattached), and you should consider what materials you will use, wood or synthetic. The major advantage to wood is the price, over half as expensive as the synthetic materials, but upkeep will be more of an issue. Synthetic decking is a build and forget item, it never has to be treated, it will not warp, and it’s almost impossible to crack or chip. Also termites don’t enjoy the synthetic planks.

Here we will be looking at how a floating deck can be built. Start by assembling the supplies: foundation stones, enough to space every four feet, 2x8 pressure treated lumber for the joists, decking planks; railing is not normally used on a floating deck. As with any project, any wood that will be exposed to the elements or worse yet, touching soil must be pressure treated; in the case of a deck, everything will be exposed to the elements.

After assembling the supplies, prepare the ground by leveling where the foundation blocks will be located, and also assuring the foundation blocks will be level in respect to each other.
Assemble the outer frame of the square deck with 2x8s and place it on the foundation blocks. Verify the frame is square by measuring the diagonals, they should be equal, and then recheck that the frame is level.
After this install the remaining joists, spacing twelve inches apart. Galvanized deck hangers can be used on the joists, but three four inch deck screws will suffice equally well.
When the floor of the deck is completed, start laying the planks. Starting at one corner, lay the planks across the joists and screw them into the joists using two deck screws per joist, using the recommended screws for the planking used.
If the deck is longer than the length of planking, cut the planks so the end lies along the center of a joist, and never put the cut end of a plank along the outside edge of the deck. Start the next plank at the end opposite of where you started the last one, and space the planks with either a screw head or a carpenter pencil.
After you secure the second plank with ONE screw on the edge of the deck, verify the spacing with the same method at the other end, and secure the plank. At this point secure the plank to each joist and as you lay each plank, verify spacing and secure in the same method.

This is the basics of building a basic floating deck, but it will be sound and attractive, and it will be ready for a table and chairs, planters, grill, or wherever your outdoor decorative tastes lead. A deck attached to a building is constructed somewhat differently because of the attachments, and it normally requires supporting columns and a railing, this will be covered in a different article on UK Builder.

Dont forget to care for your deck after completition, for the deck to last years, or even decades, you need to take care of it, and this means ensureing it is always protected from the elements that hit your garden, be it sun, rain snow or wind. Apply treatments yearly and you will ensure your deck lasts as long as possible, and you can enjoy your new garden decking for years to come.