DIY Network

Decks From "10 Things You Must Know" episode DTEN-107

Here are the 10 Things You Must Know about building a deck.

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10. Decks aren't just wood anymore. When it comes to decks, you don't have to stick with plain wood. You have a variety of materials. You've got synthetic and natural materials. You can also choose from a variety of different woods like red wood, mahogany and epay.

9. If you don't have a permit, you might have to build it twice. The last thing you want to do is spend a whole summer building a beautiful deck with your friends, only to find out you have to rip it up because you didn't get a permit. There are codes to abide by in most towns if you build a deck that’s higher than 18 inches, or if it's over 100 square feet.

8. If you want years of enjoyment, put a few days into planning. You've got to put time into planning exactly where your deck is going to be built. Location, design and materials are the most important things to think about. Are you going to put it directly in the sun, or do you want to put it in the shade? Do you want it near the pool? What type of access will you have to the house? How does it relate to your neighbors? These are all things you must plan out weeks before you start construction.

7. If you want your deck to stay up, you've got to get way down. The first thing you need to do is dig and build your pier footings. These are footings that are going to support the weight of your deck. Typically, they are located in strategic spots underneath the girder. Girders are lumber that is put together in order to support your floor joists.

6. Make sure your ledger has the proper balance. When installing your ledger board, it's very important that it is level and exactly where you want it. A ledger board is typically a 2x8 or 2x10 type of material up against the home. It has to be cut to the correct length. To try and move a ledger board once it's bolted on is a waste of time and money. It's very important that your ledger board sits nice and flat.

5. You can't forget the elementary protection. The sun does incredible damage to wood decks. It tears and breaks them down. Paint is one of the most desirable things to put on any structure because it's full of sunscreen. Paint keeps the sunrays from breaking down the material. On top of that, you want to apply a clear coat of oil or water-based seals. If you do not want to deal with paint you can just stain it and then apply the clear coat.

4. Use a triangle to keep things square. Once the ledger boards are attached to the house, typically you are going to have a girder, which is going to run parallel to the ledger board. How do you make sure its square? Use a 3, 4, 5 triangle.

3. Don't turn the crown upside down.

2. If you don't like nails or screws, hide them altogether. They have fasteners for mounting deck boards so that you don't see any of the screws. They are easily used; you just have to look at what fasteners are available to you. They come in a variety of styles. You have certain woods you can only use with certain fasteners. Do a little research to find out what style you like and make sure it fits with the materials that you are using.

1. Leave the groove and give them room to move. Wood will expand and contract depending on the climate. When you are installing a wooden deck, you want to make sure that you are spacing out your boards at least an 1/8 of an inch so that you've given them a little room to grow. If you do not, the boards will start pressing against each other and the fasteners will snap.

Web Extras:

• When staining your deck, it is vital that deck finishes be applied under proper weather conditions. Solvent borne coatings are a bit more forgiving than water-based formulations and can usually be applied when outside temperatures are in the range of 40-90 degrees. Water-based products should not be applied if outside temperatures will fall below 50 degrees within 24 hours after application. Deck coatings ideally should not be applied if precipitation is forecast for the 12-24 hour period after coating. This will prevent the possibility of water spotting or wash-off.

• Avoid applying clear finishes, such as varnish or shellac, to wood decks. They don't withstand sun and moisture, and they must be removed if they start to peel.

• Make sure you check local codes for the distance between each railing. Different towns have different requirements, but regardless, you do not want kids getting their heads stuck between the railings.