Planning Your Deck
Adding a deck to your house is like adding an outdoor room - you need to decide what you want to do with that room before you build it. In other words, your new deck will take some planning and well thought-out deck building ideas.
Ask questions like:
What will the deck be used for?
Where should it be in relation to the house?
How big should it be?
The answers to these questions will play a large role in determining the design of your deck, what materials should be used, etc.
Designing Your Deck
Your local Carter Lumber store can help you with deck building ideas. Using computerized deck design software, a sales associate can help you choose decking material
and designs to best suit your home, customize a layout, compile a materials list, and print out a full estimate.
Tools To Build Your Deck
A Carter Lumber associate can help you assemble all of the materials you will need for your deck project. You will need these tools:
Shovel
Post Hole Digger
Chalk Line
String
Tape Measure
Level
Pencil or other marker
Hammer
Power Saw
Drill
Saw Horses
Now you are ready to build your deck!
Building And Zoning Requirements
Before you start building your deck, be sure to check local building and zoning requirements. This will help avoid possible legal problems in the future.
Which Deck Are You?
Carter Lumber can make even complicated decks easy to build. We have pre-engineered drawings for 100's of decks, in two framing methods.
Our minimum height framing is for decks under 15" high, and our standard height framing is for decks over 15" high.
Minimum Height Deck
Standard Height
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Deck Building Guide Minimum Height
Before Beginning, Remember:
All fasteners and hardware, such as nails and screws, must be approved for ACQ, CA or selected treated material.
When determining the height of your deck, remember to allow for the thickness of the joist and the decking
When determining the length and width of your deck, add 1-1/2 inches to account for the beams and fascia
Visit your local Carter Lumber store for help with estimates, material lists and plans
Step 1 – Layout
Stretch & level a string across the corners of your deck to mark the top of the beams. Square your deck by making the diagonal measurements equal.
Step 2 – Mark The Post Locations
Mark your post locations with a shovel & use a post hole digger to dig the 3 feet deep holes. Pour concrete footers in the bottom of each hole and allow to set overnight.
Step 3 – Set The Post
Use a level & a string to set your posts upright in the holes and refill the dirt to hold the post in place. The top of the posts should extend to where the top of your deck beam will be.
NOTE: A concrete footer is recommended for each post.
Step 4 – Mark The Beams
Starting from the end of the beam, mark the spots where your joists will go. Marks should be made every 16 inches. These marks will line up with the exact center of each joist.
Tip: If you set the beams side by side when you mark them, you can be assured of having the marks line up properly once the beams are installed.
Step 5 – Nail The Beams In Place
Nail the beams to the corner posts, remembering to let them extend 1-1/2 inches past the post to create a smoother corner when the fascia boards are added. Next, nail the fascia boards in place. When properly installed they should reach to the outside edge of the post and be overlapped by the beam.
NOTE: All fasteners and hardware must be approved for selected treated material.
Step 6 – Complete Your Frame
Using the marks on the beams, nail the joists into place and add joist hangers for support.
Step 7 – Nail The Decking
Nail the decking to the joists. For 2 x 6 decking use (3) 16d HD galvanized nails at each joist. For 5/4 x 6 decking use (3) 10d HD galvanized nails at each joist. For composite decking use (2) 2" galvanized deck screws.
Tip: Before nailing toward the end of a piece of decking, pre-drill nail holes to prevent the board from splitting.
Step 8 – Finish The Deck
Snap a chalk line across the end of your deck and trim off the excess. Be sure to protect your deck with stain and sealant, available at your local Carter Lumber.
Accessorizing Your Deck
Once you've built your deck, you can add the personal touches to make it a part of your home. Here are just a few of the accessories you can use to make your deck a unique, enjoyable outdoor living space:
Use decorative post caps or finials
Choose an ornamental wood railing to add interest
Choose materials, trim style and color that match your house and landscape
Steps can be used between levels of the deck, as well as providing access to the house or yard
The space between the deck and the ground can be concealed behind patterned lattice panels
Benches can be attached to the railing or form a unique boundary themselves along the edges of your deck
Add doors to the sides of your deck so that the space beneath can be used for storage
Let Us Work With You
Your deck project is important let Carter Lumber help you every step of the way. Stop in any of our locations for assistance with design, layout, material lists, material purchases, accessories, sealants, stains and more. We want to help you build the deck of your dreams.
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