How To Build A Wood Deck

There is nothing like sitting out on your deck grilling or just relaxing, and the good thing is that you can do it in one weekend!  You can invite some family and friends to help put it up or it is easy enough to do yourself.  With the right lumber you can add years to your deck and it is attached to your house which makes it very convenient.  With no railings, steps, or posts and sitting on the ground and concrete blocks that support it, you just can't go wrong! Here's what you will need to build your deck.

You will need:
• 2×10 lumber (pressure treated)
• Deck lumber
• 2×8 pressure treated lumber
• 1/2-inch zinc plated washers
• Zinc plated 4-inch ½-inch lag screws
• Concrete block
• Joist hangers
• 1 ½-inch wood screws
• 2 ½-inch decking screws
• Drill bit
• Drill
• 1-inch wood screws
• Carpenter square
• Circular saw
• String
• Stakes
• Shovel
• Pencil
• Line level
• Hammer
• Tape measure
• Landscaping fabric securing stakes
• Landscaping fabric

Step 1: Measure the deck size using the tape measure. At each corner, drive a stake into the ground. Tie string 10 inches from the ground. Attach the string to the stake. Level the string using the line level.

Step 2: Tie another string to the stakes, this one at ground level, and level this string.

Step 3: Use the shovel to dig a hole near the two stakes in the front. Make it deep enough so the top of the concrete block will be level with the string line on the ground. At the front and on both sides, put a cement block four feet from each of the corner blocks. Dig a hole for each, leveling with the string line on the ground.

Step 4: Use the shovel to remove grass from the deck area. Put landscaping fabric on the ground and secure it with the securing stakes.

Step 5: Remove house siding from the area, creating an 11 ¼-inch space between the bottom area of the siding and the ground.

Step 6: Put the 2×10 ledger against the home, making the bottom of the board even with ground level. Use the ½-inch zinc plated lag screws and ½-inch zinc plated washer to attach the board to the house.

Step 7: Put the side boards for the deck frame in place. Screw these at an angle into the ledger board and the side of the house. Put the front of the frame in place and secure corners to the frame with the 2 ½-inch decking screws.

Step 8: Use the 1-inch wood screws to secure joist hangers every 16 inches to the interior of the frame. The bottom of each joist hanger should rest 8 inches from the framing board top.

Step 9: Put the 2×8 joist into the hangers. Use the 1 ½-inch wood screws to secure the joist at an angle to the deck frame.

Step 10: Cut floor decking boards to the correct length. Use the wood screws to attach decking boards to the top of the frame.

http://www.hippshelp.com/how-to-build-a-wood-deck/