Tips To Make Your Deck Project Successful
Building a deck is a perennial favorite do-it-yourself project, and one for which there is a growing amount of instructional material.
Would-be deck builders can take their choice of books, videotapes, planning kits and computer programs. I’ll give some sources of instructional material later in this column, but here are some general tips that can help make a deck project successful:
Building permit. Always check with local building-code officials to see if a permit is needed. Some people assume that since a deck is usually in the rear of a home, out of sight of any passing building inspector, it is smart to save the cost of the building permit and a possible real estate tax increase.
Actually, it is usually a big mistake. If building officials learn about an illegal deck, it probably will have to be torn down. A fine also can be levied in many municipalities. Even if an illegal deck goes undiscovered for years, it can become a problem if the house is placed on sale, since a would-be buyer might want to see permits for additions to the house.
Picking materials. The materials used to build the deck will affect its appearance and the amount of maintenance it will need. Pressuretreated wood, which is strong, highly resistant to rot and insect attacks, and relatively inexpensive, is a common choice. However, pressuretreated decking can crack and warp if not regularly treated with a water repellent.
Some deck builders take advantage of the high strength and rot resistance of pressure-treated wood by using it for the substructure or supporting structure of the deck, but use cedar, redwood or another material for the decking. An increasingly popular decking choice is Trex, a wood-plastic composite that needs little maintenance and won’t splinter or crack (for more information, call 800-289-8739).
Cedar and redwood make attractive decking, or can be used to build an entire deck, including the supporting structure. Like pressuretreated wood, however, they should have regular treatments with a water repellent. Redwood, generally the most costly deck material, is difficult to find in some areas. Deck builders who are determined to use redwood can save by using less expensive (knotty) grades of the wood.
Hardware choices. Using cheap fasteners and other hardware can ruin a deck by staining it with rust spots.
I recommend screws instead of nails, since the greater gripping power of screws helps reduce warping of decking. The use of screws also eliminates popped nails, common with many nailed decks. An electric drill-driver or special power screwdriver makes it easy to install screws.
Whether screws or nails are used, they should be rust-resistant and of high quality. If galvanized fasteners are used, be sure they are of the hotdipped type with a thick coat of zinc. Hot-dipped fasteners are sometimes identified by the initials H.D. on the container, and have a slightly lumpy appearance.
Joist hangers also can strengthen and speed up construction of a deck. These are galvanized devices that cradle the joists where they are fastened to the surrounding framework of the deck.
Following are some first-rate sources of all-around deck-building information:
Book: “Decks,” by Tim Snyder ($14.95 paperback, Rodale Press). This comprehensive book takes deck building from planning through construction to maintenance and repair. It’s available at some bookstores or can be mail-ordered by calling 800-441-7761.
Planning kit: Redwood Designa-Deck Plans Kit, by the California Redwood Association, has a modular-design system, construction guide, materials lists and other information. The deck does not have to be made of redwood. Send a check for $19.95 to Dept. DDK5, California Redwood Assn., 405 Enfrente Drive, Suite 200, Novato, Calif. 94949.
Videotape: “Building and Designing Decks,” by Scott Schuttner, is available from Taunton Press for $34.95 plus shipping. A companion book with the same title is $21.95, or the tape-book set costs $49.95. For more information, call Taunton Press at 800-888-8286. Computer software. A detailed program showing how to design and build a deck is available in CD-ROM and diskette versions from Books That Work, 800-242-4546. The program, called 3D Deck, costs about $50 plus shipping.