Welcome to Part Four of our six-part series, How to Build a Deck. In this episode were going to assemble the framing on the beams and install the decking. Now, if you haven’t set the posts and placed your beams watch the previous episode in this series Setting the Post at Lowes.com/Videos.
Before you start framing, check with town and home owners association to see if you need an inspection and follow local building codes. Now this part of the project will a require a few tools such as your joists, a pencil, a tape measure, a square, a drill with bits, nails and screws, a hammer, joists hangers, reinforcing corner brackets and hurricane ties, a saw, dust mask, gloves and safety glasses, for a complete list of tools and materials for this deck as well as additional deck building information, check out the printable instruction at Lowes.com/videos.
Now, this project involves some heavy lifting so be sure you have some help. Okay, Oliver we have our tools, we passed the inspection, so we can begin laying the joists. We’ll start by marking the rim joists, which help support the floor joist now our building code requires the floor joist to be spaced at 16", on the center. So starting at the end roll out tape measure and mark every 16”.
Ones you have all the marks extend the lines down the face of the plank with the spud square. Place an “X” to the right of every line indicating that the joist will sit to the right. And then mark the other rim joist by transferring the marks from the first one. Now were going to attach the joists. First cutting the length, when cutting treated lumber always apply a sealer to the cut end and edges. Then drill three pilot holes at the ends of the rim. You'll need to drill near the ends to avoid spiting. Resting on the beams hold the rim joists against an end floor joists and attach them with screws through the pilot holes. Do the same thing on the other end.
Attach reinforcing brackets with nails. Position the frame on its final location, making sure that everything is square. Then attach hurricane ties, which are brackets that hold frame in place, the frame is locked on this beam so we can install the rest of the joists. Joists hanger will help support the planks. Just hold the joist on the mark drive a screw in the top to hold it even with the rim. Position the hanger tight against one side and tap in the speed prong. And then squeeze the hanger against the other side, and tap in the other prong, now drive the nails. Finish installing joist and hangers for this side.
Place the other rim joist on top of the floor joists near the beams, line up the joists with the marks, and then secure the ties in place. Add ties across every row of beams, with the frames secured to the beams attach the other rim joist just as you did the first, drive nails through the rim joist. Now that the frame is finished the decking is next.
Starting near the yard and working toward the house place the straightest decking plank you have flushed with the rim joist. Dill two holes, about 1" from the edge of the planks through the rim joists and then Drive screws two into every joist along the entire plank, position the next plank against the first using nails to set the space for drainage.
Continue securing the rest of the deck, checking for square every few planks. Now when you get to the last 10 boards you can adjust the spacing to make the last plank fit or you can keep the space in uniform and rip the last plank to fit. Just place the cut edge closes to the house with the decking secure snap a line on the planks over the end joists and cut off the excess decking. Well things are looking pretty good on this deck now the step is to install the stairs. To learn how watch the next episode in this series building deck stairs at lowes.com/videos.
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