Arts and Crafts: New Deck, Part 1.

Got rid of the old deck. Putting up the new deck.

I had hired a guy to do this for me, but we had creative differences and we had to seek opportunities in different directions. I knew it was going to go badly when he failed to measure and lay out where the post holes would go before he started digging them.

Step 1. Remove old deck. See here.

Step 2. Order materials from LOWES. got it all delivered on site. It took several trips because with the COVID everyone is “working from home” and decided to add decks, so a nation-wide shortage of pressure treated lumber ensues.

Step 3. Dig the holes for the footings.

Step 4. Measure and lay out where the footings go.

Step 5. Fill the holes back up with concrete and rocks. And set anchor bolts into the wet concrete.

Step 6. Layout and install ledger board. I attached the steel hangers while this was on the ground. Much easier than working on a ladder. I attached some scrap 2×4’s to help hold up the heavy sections and properly align them. Several layers of various types of flashing. First peel and stick, then house wrap, then ledger board, then second layer of peel and stick over the top of the ledger board, and a metal drip-lip under the ledger to keep water from traveling back under the overhang.

Step 7. Put up the 6×6 posts and main support structure. I hired a young relative to help with this part. I could have done it myself, but a second set of hands was welcome and he needed Christmas money.

Step 8. Then add the 2×8 joists. The ledger board side is anchored in metal hangers. The cantilever side rests by gravity, and reinforced by hurricane ties. Then added wood sections between the joists to keep them from “rolling”.

Step 9. Add the outer rim joist or “band board”. Again, I used scrap 2x4s to hold and align the boards since I’m working alone again.

Step 10. Loosely pile a bunch of planks on the deck so I have a work surface. I’ll nail these down later.

Step 11. Install the 4×4 handrail posts. I do this before the deck planks because the planks need to fit around these posts. This step requires 8 individual trips to LOWES to get all the correct sized and quantities of screws, bolts, washers, and drill bits. Don’t skimp on this step by planning ahead and getting it all in one trip.