You Don't Have to Be a Master Carpenter to Build Great Decks

Sure, you could hire a construction crew to come to your home and build your new deck. You could spend a lot of money, put up with the delays, and deal with contractors tromping through your bed of prize-winning begonias.

Or you could do it yourself.

It's not hard. Decks aren't rocket science - mostly, it's a matter of simply finding a good plan and following it closely. Sure, there are codes to follow and guidelines to remember, but as long as you remember a few simple rules of thumb and choose the best decking material, there's no reason you can't build yourself a deck (or - as long as we're instilling confidence - decks).

Of course, decking isn't a project you can finish in an afternoon (unless your deck is going to be two feet by three feet - but decks this small are technically considered large stairs). You'll need to plan extensively, and ask yourself a series of questions about what you'll actually use the deck for, and what kind of decking (whether wood or maintenance-free composite decking) you'll use. The longer you spend in the planning process, the more smoothly construction process will go, so try to anticipate every detail. Pay a visit to your local zoning office to ask what their construction regulations dictate.

All decks have five basic components:

Vertical posts set in a concrete footing. These provide the foundation for your decking.

Horizontal beams set on the posts.

Joists between those beams, to distribute the weight of the deck.

Decking material, whether wood or composite, laid over the joists - this is the part you'll walk on.

Railings, typically at least three feet high, around the edges of the deck.

There are a variety of decking plans to peruse online, many of which are free (those that aren't free are inexpensive). Give yourself a couple of hours with a cup of tea and a search engine to find the plan that's best for your home.

Decks can be any shape you want them to be, so don't limit yourself to 90-degree angles. Of course, a more complicated building plan will entail more work and invite more potential complications, so be sure to work within your means.

Remember also that decks can have multiple levels - this is especially true of pool decks and decks built on sloping ground. Some decks even look like balconies, extending from the upper floor of a home. Remember that decks that rise more than about four feet from the ground are usually required to have reinforced bracing to prevent swaying and buckling; check with your local zoning office for details.

With a little research, a lot of planning, and plenty of elbow grease (and maybe a little help from friends and family), there's no reason you can't build your own great deck at home. So get to it!

Kevin Ott writes about home improvement projects (like deck construction, basement remodeling and mold removal) and a wide variety of other topics. He writes for dozens of clients, including Sequoia Supply, the premier supplier of decking material in the Northeast.

Visit Sequoia Supply at http://decksupplies.com

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