How to Build an 8 x10 Deck for Beginners

hello my name is Craig Heffernan today we're gonna show you how to build an 8 by 10 treated lumber deck on the back of this home we first start out with the layout a string line is used to mark the outside frame of the deck the actual dimensions are 9 foot 9 inches along the house and 8 foot out from the house remember the string line represents the outside of the frame to mark where the posts go I find where the center of the post is and then I spray a 10 inch to 12 inch circle around that center line this deck has just three holes in the front and three holes in the back along the house to check your lines for square measure each corner diagonally when each measurement is the same than the layout is square we start by digging the holes 10 inches to 12 inches round and diameter to 42 inches to 48 inches deep depending on the frost level in your area is how deep you dig the holes the steel breaking bar is used to break up the hard ground and the post hole diggers are used to remove the loose dirt [Music] there's no need to hire machine you can do this yourself don't be scared plus you will not have to work out the rest of the day once the holes are dug it's time for concrete I start with a half of an 80 pound bag it's poured in dry water it's in added and mix with postal bigger [Music] for safety reasons we cover all the holes with 3/4 inch plywood we don't want any animals or small children falling into holes it's the next morning and the concrete's cured this deck is ready to build we begin with the back van it's a 2x8 and cut to 9 foot 7 inches with the top of the frame determined the three 4x4 posts will be cut and fastened with nails and lag shoes from the back side of the van with the back van and the posts all secured we place the entire assembly in the back holes this method is called freestanding is not fastened to the home the back band is checked for level and the posts are checked for plumb when everything checks out we fill all three posts with the dirt we use the same dirt we removed earlier make sure you tamp and fill tamp and fill and if you have any questions so far put them in the comment box below and I'll answer them promptly and don't forget to subscribe the two front posts are set into the holes the side bands are nailed to the back band with four nails and then level to the front post one nail is placed in the top outside corner and then the post is plumb when the post is plumb we put seven more nails into this neat consistent pattern repeat the same steps for the other side to him once the side bands are in place you can now put the same nail pattern on the two back post now we are ready for the two by eight front bands it has cut nine foot 10 inches and nailed on flush to the outside side bands using the four nail pattern the two front post should be plumb both ways to check the deck for square measure the diagonal each way if each measurement is the same the deck is square if it is not the same move the entire deck by sliding the posts along the concrete footings until the deck is square this is why we dig the holes 10 to 12 inches wide gives us enough room to move the posts around it set the front middle post 39 inches from the end post this will be the space for the stairs all three front posts will now receive the eight nail pattern but the two middle nails are left out and replaced with 3/8 by 4 inch lag screws walkers [Music] the three front post holes can now be filled in with the dirt plastic and gravel is used to keep the weeds and growing under the deck we are now cutting seven two by eight joists at seven foot nine inches the joists are spaced evenly across the 10 foot span at 15 inches on Center joist hangers were installed on the back band and on the front band as well [Music] all the long posts are now cut to 35 and a half inches from the framing these two by fours were used for the ground boards and they will go on the top and the bottom in between the posts they will be a nailer for the bottom skirting I like to put a center post on the 8-foot sides it splits up the railing span the post will go from the ground board and up through the deck to support the rail layout the 2 by 10 using the framing square the run is 10 inches and the rise is 8 inches I cut the top and bottom but I don't cut the middle out [Music] 2x4 creeps are used to hold the tread two-by-sixes are cut to 36 inches for the tread and two by eights are cut also to 36 inches for the risers two holes are dug on each side of the steps you want the post to hold the stairs not the ground so once the holes are dug and the footings are in place fastest stringers to the post plumb the posts and fill the holes with the dirt [Music] I cut the post off parallel with the stair stringers at 24 inches I cut through halfway with the circular saw and finish it off with a handsaw for a smooth flat cut to fill on the bottom skirt I'm cutting some scrap decking and installing it vertically the ground boards are coming into whirl handy now the deck boards measure one inch by five and a half inches and are oversized at 120-180 I start by cutting the first deck board to the home and around the two posts in the back the board is also trimmed to a 3/4 inch overhang on each end [Music] a 3/16 inch drill bit is used on all the small pieces and on the ends of the deck boards it will prevent any splitting the remaining boards are put on tight with no spacing and with an even overhang on both ends [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] it's time to wrap it up with all the railings we begin by fitting two two by fours in between the posts there is one cut for the top and one cut for the bottom the balusters are cut to 30 inches long and a small 45 degree chamfer is put on one end I line up all the balusters from pre-drill the top and the bottom to get them ready for screws [Music] the balances are then spaced evenly across the top and the bottom of the 2x4 the railing assembly is then placed in between the posts a pre-drill is used in several places in preparation for more two and a half inch screws for the top cap we were using a two by six to cover all the posts ends and balancers a router is used with a round over bit on all the top edges it's optional but it looks way nicer [Music] [Music] if I glanced over anything or if you have any questions about the 8 by 10 deck we just built write your question in the comment box below I'm Craig Heffernan and thanks for watching and don't forget to subscribe [Music]

Channel: Craig Heffernan

Views: 5,638,139

Rating: 4.8347745 out of 5

Keywords: deck, patio, porch, stoop, treated lumber, outdoor deck, stairs, railing, back porch, front porch, 8x10, wood deck, deck builder, building a wood deck, timber deck construction, deck plans, deck ideas, diy deck, deck cost, deck design, deck framing, timber decking, houseimprovements

Id: xMGgQAYOiM0

Length: 14min 57sec (897 seconds)

Published: Thu Jun 27 2013

Reddit Comments

[u/KelcyHammer]

I don't need decking nor do I want decking but I just watched that video..

[u/zoinks]

I like how he completed his 'So, now that we finished the deck' lines before the deck was even close to done. This man's got confidence!

[u/connorkmiec93]

Why did he put the decking surface boards tight without a gap? I don’t know anything about decking but I thought that gap was necessary for expansion and water drainage.

[u/AnalyzePhish]

This guy knows what he's doing but his graphic designer doesn't. That cow as a logo is really bad. I hope his business does good and he gets a better logo.

[u/Khan-Don-Trump]

Thanks Craig. Simple to the point. Only said subscribed once. Going to check out other videos

[u/b4n4n4r4m4]

If I've learned anything from reddit, its how to build a deck.

This is not how you build a deck. I think his general finish looks good and his techniques are almost all correct, but you definitely don't want the posts touching dirt, you want them either surrounded by concrete or on deck brackets. These posts are going to get rotted out at the base within a few years.

Also you really want a some amount of space between your boards as they will swell and shrink throughout the seasons. that piece that sits right over the posts is going to crack.

[u/sonofthenation]

Measure before you spray the paint.

[u/Benandhispets]

5:40 best part