A beautiful deck will allow you to relax within the wonderful joy of clear open space. It'll also boost your house's value. Think about your vision, get a plan and get er done. Here are some helpful tips.

1. Don't work beyond your skill level. And get some friends to help you.

2. An architect might help you with your design and also expedite the paperwork. Verify that your city/ county planning office, homeowner's associations and utility officials are okay with your plans. Here's where preplanning can save yourself a lot of heartache... imagine having an inspector tell you that you've used the wrong deck fasteners.

3. Buy pressure treated lumber. It's expensive, but your deck will last much longer. Get a prestained wood, or do it yourself, and also apply a polyurethane sealant. At the store, measure the wood. The dealer's stated mill length is rarely perfect. You may also need to square and trim the wood later. Buy more lumber than you need (in case of mistakes). Keep the unused lumber clean, so that you can return it.

4. Choose how you want to fasten the wood together. Stainless steel or galvanized screws or nails will not rust, degrade or affect the surrounding wood. To avoid splitting the wood, drill small pilot holes wherever you use fasteners and don't fasten anything near a board's edge. Using concealed fasteners on your deck surface provides a professional look.

5. The deck must have square 90-degree angles. A carpenter's combination square and a level are very useful tools for this, but, for large measurements, like the deck outline, a quick check can be done using a Pythagorean triangle made from 3', 4' and 5' string lengths. Use the square angle, located between the two smaller sides, to verify the deck's angles. Overall, the most accurate tool is a laser-sighting level set for checking right angles and level surfaces.

6. Mark the deck outline and supporting post locations. The postholes should be 3 feet deep (more, if you're concerned about frost). The tops of the posts must rise to the same height. This height can be verified using a long, clear, water-filled tube, sealed and secured at the low end (to prevent leakage and movement). To start, install the first post at the required height. Place the tube against the post, fill the tube with water to that height and mark it. The water level will then always indicate the same elevation at that mark. Use the tube to find the right height for the other posts.

7. For connecting many parts together, over and over, you can create a jigging tool that shows the pattern of how to connect or cut the wood.

6. For the deck's walking surfaces, show the nicest side of the wood. Space decking evenly apart. If the spacing becomes off, make up the difference over several of the next boards.

7. If you want stairs, it's easier to buy prefab parts.

8. Enjoy your deck.

Learn more about this author, Jeff Parsons.
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