Wednesday, August 19, 2015

How to build a easy deck (Part 1)


I found this on a how to site as one of the comments before I began my mission of building my first deck:

"Decks are easy to build! They sell books at home depot with instruction, prints, and a material list. Can be built buy anyone that can swing a hammer, operate a saw, and read a tape measure. As for the permit, usually you don't need one if it isn't attached to the house(build it real close) but in some local regulations if you attach it to the house it becomes part of the house and will require a permit. If you don't want to buy the book, go to the library with a handful of dimes and photo copy the prints from books they have IF they wont let you take them home(sometimes they are considered reference material and can't be taken from the library)"

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How to build a easy deck (Part 2)


So I went to the evil empire of Home Depot with the deck I wanted (20'x16) in mind. After ogling the lumber for about 20 minutes I decided to ask for help. I very nice fellow walked me to a desk and built a deck on a computer program for me giving a nice 3D image. It printed up a material list and the total cost. Before this I was thinking about a paver patio and priced out the materials for the same 20x16 dims. The deck with standard weather treated wood was about $500.00 cheaper for all materials.

So I bought it right there and then - kind of an impulse buy. Who impulse buys a deck....? Well I did. I grabbed a How to build a deck book from the shelf. I even had to rent their "load and go" truck which was only 20.00 for 75 minutes. I had to make 2 trips and I got a lot of exercise unloading it (they will load it for you at the store).

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Once I got all the materials at home I called my buddy over for help. Between the 2 of us we got the footers and frame built in one full day. Yes we have never done this before. We got everything level (well almost level - the deck has a slight pitch away from the house.) Another thing that is cool about this deck size is that they do have the lumber as 16' long. That took out a ton of cutting. The beams 16' Long and the planks 16' Long - easy.

Having the right tools will make building a deck a lot less painful. Making straight and correctly measured cuts is a MUST!

Over the next 2 days I soloed in the joists using the joist hangers provided in the kit. (Doing this after work of course). On the 3rd day it was time to start screwing in the decking.

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There is a lot of satisfaction of building your own and saving the extra 2k a contractor will charge you. Put the money you’ll save into savings for college for your children!

I wish you Good Luck!

A week later after many nights of lounging around on my new deck I decided to build a bench. Check it out on the link below with pictures.

LEARN TO BUILD A EASY BENCH FOR YOUR DECK HERE!

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