Building a Deck from Scratch

This past fall, the EcoWash carpentry team got together to build a deck from scratch to reinforce our skills. Our carpenters are very skilled at a variety of deck repairs and replacement work and building a deck was helpful to put these skills to the test. Here is what we did.

Our finished deck project

Step 1: Site Preparation

To begin our project, we had to remove the existing deck which was falling apart. The old deck lacked any water barriers or flashing on the ledger joist which led to some rotting on the side of the home. Before we began building we removed some old rotten wood beneath the siding and installed a new ledger joist to begin the framing.

After deck removal, before ledger joist replacement

Step 2: Framing

Any solid deck begins with a sturdy frame. To ensure this was done correctly, we used top-of-the-line materials. We used treated 2x8 lumber, Simpson strong-tie fasteners, joist tape, and blocking techniques to improve structural rigidity and ensure the deck has a longer lifetime. These techniques along with our standard practices of checking to ensure all aspects of the deck are level, plumb, and square created a perfectly framed deck.

Head carpenter Andrew on top of the partially-framed deck

Step 3: Railing Posts & Stairs

Railings can be installed multiple ways, but truly long-lasting railings should have posts that are a part of the frame and not sitting on top of the floor. This gives water fewer areas to penetrate and begin the rotting process. It also ensures that railings do not become wobbly with time.

Stair installation is fairly straightforward. Building code is strict on how these are built which leaves little up to interpretation. Stair stringers must be 12" on center and stairs must be 36" or wider to allow for traffic flow in case of emergency. We did a six-stair setup so each stair was within the allowable height dictated by the building code (7.5").

Deck after joist tape, railing post install, and stairs

Step 4: Decking & Railing Installation

To finish this project we installed the floorboards, the handrails, and the ballisters (spindles). This process is simple. All ballisters were placed 3.5" from each other and floorboards were packed in tight to allow room for shrinkage as the wood loses moisture, creating spacing for water flow.

The finished project

All in all, this project went extremely smoothly and only took two days. The carpentry team was able to put all of our skills together and we are ready to service any repair work you may need.

If you are looking for experienced deck carpenters to repair your deck before a staining project, please request an estimate today.