Building a deck, whether large or small, can be a great addition to your home. It’s also an experience that can give you and some friends something to do together, plus save you money instead of hiring someone else to do it for you. There are several ways to build a deck and many different things that go into making it. In this guide, I’m going to show you how to build one with these easy steps.
STEP ONE: GATHER YOUR MATERIALS
The first step in building any deck is to gather your materials. You will need 8 x 4 pressure treated lumber and a sheet of plywood. The length of the lumber should be equal to twice the desired width of the deck, plus 4 feet. If you want an 8-foot wide deck, then use 14 foot long boards. The plywood should be twice as wide as your finished deck width, so if your finished width is 8 feet then purchase 16 foot sheets. You’ll also need screws or nails for attaching everything together, screws being preferable due to their ease of use and strength compared with nails (which tend to bend over time). Be sure not to skimp on quality; while it may seem like more expensive materials are unnecessary at first glance they will save you money in the long run by reducing maintenance costs over time.
Plywood can be purchased at home improvement stores for around $4 per sheet which includes shipping costs depending on where you live within Canada/USA (most places have similar prices). Lumber stores sell 10cm x 20cm pressure treated wood board lengths starting from $10 each upwards depending on size.
STEP TWO: PREPARE THE SITE
The second step in building a deck is to prepare the site. Before you start, clear the area of any debris and then level the ground with a rake or shovel. If you have an existing deck that needs to be removed, make sure it’s stable before trying to tear it down.
To level your ground, dig holes into the ground where each post will be placed and fill them with water until it sinks below ground level. Then, dig out around these holes so that they’re just under 2 inches from being flush with the soil surface (but still in their original positions). Pour concrete into these holes so that each one becomes filled flush with its original location; this will keep moisture from seeping up through cracks later on.
STEP THREE: SETTING THE POSTS
- If you’re setting posts in concrete, first measure the distance between them and mark their locations on the ground. Dig holes that are two to three times as deep as their height, and make sure they are wide enough for your support beams.
- Place each post into its hole so that it’s level with the ground. Make sure it extends at least six inches into the ground past where it will be buried (this is important because posts need pressure-treated lumber or other materials to withstand rot). If necessary, use a hammer to pound 2x4s through holes at each end of each post until they go all the way through from top to bottom.
- Fill these holes with concrete until they’re nearly full—don’t worry about getting all of the dirt out just yet because we’ll cover this in step 4 once everything has dried properly—then tamp down firmly with a sledgehammer several times over an area about three feet around each post (this helps ensure good drainage).
- Once dry, remove any excess concrete from around each post that may have formed during pounding but leave some on top so there’s still some weight pressing down onto those boards you laid earlier during this process; otherwise you won’t get proper results when attaching your decking material later on.
STEP FOUR: ATTACH THE MATERIALS
- Use a tape measure to ensure the boards are the right size. Make sure that your deck’s dimensions are accurate and can be completed in one day.
- Use a level to ensure the boards are straight. If you want your deck to look nice, it’s best to make sure that your board is absolutely straight before attaching it to anything else. This will save you time down the road when trying to fix any mistakes that may come up during construction or later on when using your deck for purposes other than resting after a long day of work or play.
- Attach all four sides with power drills using nails or brads (also known as “wood screws”). If you prefer this method over hammering in nails by hand, use an electric drill instead of manual tools such as hammers and nail guns because they allow significantly greater control over where each individual piece gets attached so there won’t be any gaps between them once everything’s ready for use.
STEP FIVE: ADDING LIGHTS
Lights are essential for installing a rectangular deck. They illuminate the area, providing security and safety.
Ideally, you’ll want your lights to be well-lit but not overly flashy—you want people to feel comfortable while they’re on the deck. Lights can also boost the overall look of your home by creating an inviting ambiance that encourages guests to spend more time outdoors.
You should keep in mind some basic guidelines for installing lights: don’t over-light it; don’t install them too high or too low; don’t place them too close to the ground or too far apart from each other; make sure they’re not facing directly into another light source.
Building a deck can be a great experience in addition to saving you money.
Building a deck can be a great experience in addition to saving you money. You can save money by doing it yourself and building it in a weekend, if you have the right tools and materials.
Final words
As we have demonstrated, deck building is a fun and rewarding process that can save you money and allow you to make your own unique creation. If you’re ready to build one of these amazing decks, let’s get started.
