Beams for Substructure Support

I used a double 2X10 nailed together with 16d nails to create the beams that the deck would sit on, then attached the beam to the tops of the 4X4 posts that are cut to elevation using 16d nails and 4X4 to 2X10 metal plates. Using 2x10's for the floor joists means I can span a longer range from my ledger board on the house to my beams that will support them at the far edge of the deck. I placed my foundations and beams so that I would never span more than 10 feet without being supported by a beam. Its a little over kill for that specific wood, it can span up to 16 feet in between beam supports but its always been my pet peeve to build things stronger than they call for in the specs. An easy tool to use to calculate the span that the joists you are using can span is a free online calculator .http://www.decks.com/Calculators/JoistSpan.aspx.

Summer Deck Construction

I have been involved in allot of summer carpentry projects this year and one of the most common is Deck building. I wanted to share some of the tips and tricks that I have run a crossed and made note of while I am working to make the job a little faster and efficient while maintaining a safe working environment.

This is an old cedar deck that is starting to fall apart and breakdown over tough weathering conditions. The owners wanted a new design to increase the square footage as well as building it out of a material that is low matenince that dosent require re-finishing every couple of years.

Demoing existing structures.

Before you get to the fun part of new construction you have to of course demo the old and make way for the new. This too can be a fun stage of any project but also a dangerous one too. I have seen situations get out of control by trying to work to fast or not thinking before you make a cut or put steel to wood in an attempt to persuade a piece of wood to move.

In this picture I am cutting in between the joist bays to break apart the structure in more manageable pieces. Using a cats paw (nail puller) you can remove the nails from the joist to the foundation and the section should be able to come apart allot easier and faster than using a leverage bar to rip up individual planks.