A trex deck is an outdoor living space that can be used in any season. A 10-foot x 20-foot trex deck can easily accommodate eight people and make a great addition to your home, with the added bonus of being open 24/7. Building a trex deck is easier than you might think, but it does require some time and effort on your part.
Given the right tools and materials, anyone can build a trex deck. The first step is to select the type of deck you want to build. If this is your first carpentry project, or if you are working with children who are too young to handle some of the tools involved in Trex deck construction, you may want to stick with an easy-to-build walkout or open front porch. Be aware that adding these smaller features will cost more overall than building a large deck.
Trex has a reputation for being one of the most durable deck materials on the market, which means it’s perfect for building a deck that will last for years to come. Building a deck is no easy task, but if you’re up for the challenge, you’ll want to plan carefully. To help get you started with this important project, we’ve put together a simple guide below that walks through each step of building a Trex deck.
How To Build A Trex Deck
For most backyard projects, the frame is usually a major part of the project and takes up a lot of space. However, for Trex decks this is not the case because it’s just a small part of your whole project.
Because Trex has already done all the hard work for you and made your deck durable, you’ll want to make sure that everything else goes smoothly so that you can enjoy your new deck.
Get Started
Before you begin the actual construction, it’s important to take care of some preliminary details.
- The site must be prepared for installation. If you’re building a new deck, this means cutting away any sod and removing any plants that are in the way of your planned decking area. If the existing deck is being replaced or repaired, simply remove any old boards and nails with a crowbar and hammer before proceeding with demolition work.
- Check your plans and materials list to make sure they’re accurate—if something isn’t listed correctly on either one (or if there is something missing), contact us so we can sort things out before starting work.
- Get yourself all of the tools that you’ll need: saws; hammers; screwdrivers; pry bars (used for pulling nails); spades (used for digging). You should also have proper safety gear such as goggles/safety glasses, hard hats and ear protection (such as earmuffs). If possible, gather enough friends or family members who are willing to lend a hand—this will help keep costs lower because someone else will cover part of those expenses! Once everything has been gathered together into one central location near where construction takes place then move on over
Measure The Beam
It is important to measure the beam of your deck before building it, especially if you are looking for a particular look. The beam is the horizontal structure that supports your deck and ensures that it does not sink into the ground. There are many different types of beams available, including pressure-treated pine and cedar. If you do not have much space between your house and garage or other structures, be sure to choose a beam that fits well into this space while still providing sufficient support for your new trex deck installation.
Cut The Beams
Cut the beams to the correct length.
- The beams should be cut at an angle that’s the same for every beam. The exact angle isn’t as important, as long as it’s consistent and appropriate for your deck design.
- Each beam should also be cut to the same height and width, or you’ll end up with a crooked deck frame. You can use a tape measure and level to check this if you’re unsure of how tall your 1x6s are supposed to be; just make sure they’re all identical in size before moving on.
- Beams should also be cut at an even thickness, so that they all weigh roughly the same amount when they’re stacked together later on (this will help keep them stable).
Install The Beams
The beams should be placed every 16 inches, and at least 4 inches from the edge of the deck. They should also be placed at least 2 inches from the edge of the deck.
Install The Ledger Board And Posts
Now it’s time to start building the frame of your deck. Use pressure treated lumber for all posts and beams, and use galvanized screws to fasten them together.
Be sure you’re using a post driver to pound in the posts. Using a hammer or other tool will split the wood at its weakest point, which is often around where it meets the ground. In addition, you want to make sure that all four sides of each post are straight before driving them into place so they’re plumb (straight up and down). You can use either a level or an angle guide to make sure they’re level as well.
Measure And Cut Joists
When you’re measuring the joists, be sure to allow for an additional 1/2 inch on each side in order to account for the size of your deck’s framing material. For example, if you’re using 2 x 6 boards as your framing material and they’re 16 feet long, your joists will be 15 7/8 inches wide.
Once the joist widths are determined, cut them down with whatever tools are at hand: a table saw or circular saw (with a blade that’s set low enough so it doesn’t hit any part of the framing material). The best way to ensure square cuts is by using a miter saw; after making one cut at 45 degrees on one end of each board (left photo), turn 90 degrees over and make another cut along this same edge to create two identical pieces from each board.
Place Joists On High Side Of Deck
- Place the joists on the high side of the deck.
- Make sure they are level with each other, then fasten them to the ledger board with 1-1/4″ screws or galvanized nails.
- Mark where each joist should go and fasten them with screws or galvanized nails on both sides of the ledger board (one from above and one from below).
Build Support Structure For Joists
Building a support structure for your Trex deck is an important part of the process. The support structures must be strong enough to hold the weight of the deck, withstand weather and be able to withstand the weight of the deck.
The following steps will help you build a basic structure that will work well for most people:
- Measure and cut 2x6s into 30-inch pieces
- Lay out four 2x6s in an X pattern using 3-foot spacers between each one
- Attach them together with nails or screws
- Add cross beams every 4 feet across your X pattern
Install Joist Hangers Along Top Of Ledger Board
The joist hangers are used to support the ends of the joists. Make sure you have a level on hand to ensure that all your measurements are accurate.
Measure and mark each joist hanger position onto your ledger board. Once you’ve got them marked, drive screws through each hole of a hanger into the ledger board. Before screwing in any additional screws, make sure that everything is aligned properly so that it can be fastened together tightly later on when installing the actual deck boards onto this structure.
Mark Position Of Each Joist On Ledger Board And Fasten With Screws
- Mark the joist positions on both sides of the ledger board.
- Use a square to make sure that each joist is level and plumb.
- Fasten each joist to your ledger board with screws at every 16 inches (40 cm).
- Use joist hangers to fasten each pair of deck boards together; this will help to strengthen your new deck surface, as well as keep it from sagging over time.
Align And Fasten Along Bottom Edge Of Frame Using Screws
Before you screw down the joist, it’s important to make sure that it is straight and level. You can do this by clamping the joist in place with a C-clamp, checking for level using a level, then drilling screws through your ledger board and into the joist. We recommend using a drill for this step because it makes fastening easier. If you don’t have one on hand, though, feel free to use a screw gun instead.
Install Risers And Treads, Starting At Base Of Staircase And Working Upward.
Use a level to check the risers are even. If they are not, use the saw to cut off the bottom riser and reattach it at an angle so that both sides of your staircase are level. Then go back over it again with a hammer and nails in order to secure them in place. Once you have done this for all four risers and treads at each side of your staircase, you can move on to installing remaining pieces of your deck.
The frame for a Trex deck is a lot shorter than most backyard projects, but it’s still important to do it right.
The frame of a Trex deck is a lot shorter than most backyard projects, but it’s still important to do it right. The frame is the foundation of a deck. It is the most important part of a Trex deck.
The framing process starts with assembling all the materials you need, which includes:
- A tape measurer
- A level (or two)
- Framing lumber
- 4-by-4s or 2-by-4s depending on how big your project is
Final words
Congrats. You just built the frame for a Trex deck. Now all you need to do is add your favorite outdoor furniture, some tasty drinks, and a few good friends for a party that will go down in history.
