All Decked Out For Summer
(Page 5 of 10)
June/July 1992
by John Vivian
(please see Image Gallery for details)
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1. 4x4 railing post
2. 2x6 decking installed at 45° angle to joists
3. 2x4 blocking nailed to brace and between joints
4. 2x10 joist
5. 7 1/2" x 3/4"- dia. machine bolts.
To drain, floor planks must also be be spaced 1/8 to a 1/4 apart. The wider spacing allows for easier cleaning, so have each plank plus the space occupy a full 4". You can space decking more closely on the job if you like.
Using PT, space your piers so that no 2x8 beam is unsupported for more than 10'. Eight-foot spacing is sturdier—and must be used with any framing lumber other than PT. For a deck that is 16' deep, run a dual-2x8 beam down the middle as well as at the front—both 16' beams supported on a quartet of piers spaced 8' apart.
Space 2x8 joists no more than 16" apart "on center"— meaning that the middle of each on-edge board is 16 inches from the centers of its neighbors. No need to space all joists 16 inches apart, however; this is possible only on decks that are an even 8, 12 or 20' wide (or a larger even-foot multiple of 16). Do space joists evenly in the center. Using (most economical) 16" spacing, in an off-width deck, add a joist or two and space end joists closer than 16". Or arrange all joists an inch or two closer to even them out. For example, on a 10-footer, space seven joists 15" apart between the end beams.
Now, draw your detailed construction plan and make up a Bill of Materials listing the block, mortar and concrete mix, fittings and fasteners plus how much lumber of what sizes you will need. Don't try estimating square footage or board feet. Count each board. Get a post anchor, truss-tie plates or column caps for each pier, a pair of joist hangers for each joist plus other wood and hardware depending on your stair and railing needs.
Order all your materials at one time for a quantity discount. Get lumber in lengths that will give you mistake-space, but which will generate the least waste (divide a 20' board into three 6' 8" segments for 6' joists rather than buying a trio of 8s and losing two feet of each). Buy a few extra boards for when you measure too short. As they say, "No carpenter's tool chest contains a board stretcher."
Sources
To save money, look in the Yellow Pages for building material recycling outlets. You may find lumberyard surpluses & discards at 20% off or used materials for even less. And scrounge around. Check building supply outlets for deck packages. You may find one that approximates your own design, and during spring sales a package often sells for 10% or 15% less than the same materials bought by the piece.
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