How to build a deck

Do you want to learn how to build a deck, start to finish? Find out how we doubled our outdoor living space and how you can do the same.

Originally Tony and I hadn’t planned on building an extension to our deck this year. But since a lot of our summer plans were cancelled, we decided it would actually be a great time to start a big project, and especially one that would increase our outdoor living space.

We started building our deck Easter weekend, and it took us about about six weeks to finish everything, and that was working mostly evenings and weekends and whenever we could find some extra time.

How to build a deck

This post is a summary of how to build your own deck, start to finish. For more info for each step in the process, click on the different links provided throughout this blog post

1: How to design a deck

The first step in your deck building project is to come up with a design. Originally our deck was about 190 square feet that we completed when we built our house four years ago.

Our plan for our deck extension included expanding the top deck by 190 square feet, and adding a 100 square foot lower deck that goes right up to the pool. The entire deck will be just under 500 square feet.

We wanted to have an area for lounging, for eating, for cooking, and for swimming. Once you have your design, you’ll also have to figure out your supply list and order all your materials

2. How to install deck footings and sonotubes

We rented a mini excavator and Tony dug six holes for the sonotubes for under the top deck.

We built forms for the concrete footings and centered them where the deck posts would go.

We poured the footings, and once those were dry we put up the sonotobes, then leveled them and braced them.

We spent a day mixing and pouring the concrete for the posts, and then once they were dry we backfilled and removed the bracing.

3. How to install deck posts, beams and joists

After we finished pouring the concrete in the sonutubes, Tony put the steel deck post plates into the still wet cement. He made sure they were centered in the string lines, level, and parallel to the existing deck.

We built two three ply beams and installed them on top of the posts. We used 2″ x 16″ pressure treated lumber for the joists and installed them on top of the beams every 16 inches.

For the bottom deck, Tony used deck blocks instead of posts because we didn’t want to dig too close to the pool. The process for deck framing on blocks is the same – posts, beam, joists.

4. How to install deck boards

Installing deck boards is a very satisfying step when building a deck. It’s fairly easy, and you can see progress happen very quickly.

Deck boards should be installed perpendicular to the joists. This is the easiest and simplest way.

There are a bunch of different tools you’ll need to install deck boards, including a miter saw, cordless drill, deck board bender, circular saw, and camo nail fastening tool (if you want to have hidden screws).

5. How to build deck railings and stairs

We went with a simple deck railing design that consists of posts, rails, spindles and top.

Installing deck railings is simple enough, but you just want to make sure that everything is level and straight.

For the bottom set of stairs down to the ground, we reused the deck stairs that I built a few years ago, but just cut them down to the right height. Find out how to build deck stairs.

6. Deck skirting

To hide everything underneath your deck, skirting is a great idea. You can either use lattice, or you can use fence boards. We wanted to use the space under the deck as extra storage, so Tony decided to build wide doors out of fence boards. On the right side of the deck we store our lawnmower and our wood for the winter, and on the left side are all the bikes. Tony put up some tin on the underside of the deck so no rain falls on the bikes, and the skirting hides all the clutter.

We’re not quite finished with the skirting, but we’ll do the rest around the hot tub area and on the other side of the deck next year.

DIY Outdoor sectional

To finish off our deck lounging area, I built an outdoor sectional using some reclaimed fir lumber. You can easily make this outdoor couch from 2″ x 6″ lumber using this tutorial

We also added a mesh fence around the pool. We can close it and latch it when the pool is not in use…

…but then roll it back when we want to go for a swim.

We still have a few more things we’d like to do on our deck, but this will be it for now. We still have to get the barbecue line moved over to the left side of the deck so we can create a cooking area where the swing is currently located.

It would also be nice to add a pergola over the dining area to add a little bit of shade in the dining area.

And we found a free hot tub that we picked up, but we need to fix that up and lay a cement pad in the hot tub nook. Hopefully we can get to that before the fall so we can make use of the hot tub this winter.