Installing A Wooden Deck
Building a new wooden deck is in and of itself not too difficult a task. You basically start out by building a wooden box with some cross members for support. You then add some decking or planks on top of that wooden box and you have the basic deck. Most decks are supported above ground by using 4x4 or 6 x 6 posts. To secure your wooden deck framing to the posts or to your house is simple enough. A trip to your local hardware store will present you with various metal clamps, clips, and framing devices that make your job easy. They are usually made of galvanized steel so they won't rust. Then simply nail or screw them to your posts or joists and attach them to the other side. This makes putting up a deck fast and easy.
Typically, you start by attaching a wooden ledger board to the house. The size varies depending on the span of the deck framing. Expect a 2x8 or 2x10 at a minimum for your framing. Next, attach some metal joist hangers to the ledger board and start hanging the joists. Attach the front of the frame by nailing straight through and by using joist hangers. This last step makes your deck framing stronger. If your framing span is long, consider adding some cross-bracing to stiffen the frame. These can be two-by cutoffs or metal cross-braces. If you use metal, be sure to use galvanized braces so they don't rust. The posts can be set in the ground if you use a rot-resistant wood like redwood, cedar, or pressure-treated, as long as they go below the frost line. In the northeastern United States, our codes specify that all posts below grade must go at least thirty six inches below grade to prevent heaving due to freezing. Another option is to dig a concrete footer or use a cardboard tube filled with concrete below the freeze line. You then attach the post to the concrete footer using galvanized hardware. Your planking or decking can be attached either from below using hidden fasteners or from the top using either hidden fasteners or by nailing or screwing through the face of the deck board. If you use nails through the face of the board, use spiral nails so they don't pop out later on. And all screws and nails should be either galvanized or stainless steel. You don't want your fasteners to rust. |
