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Framing is the support structures of the deck framing consist of post, beams and joist. This is where the fun begins and you can start to see the results of your design and planning. The first thing we need to construct is the beam that will support the floor joist that will be attached to the ledger. Our deck beam will be cantilever meaning that the joist will extend past the beam. This result in a more ecstatically pleasing look. The beam will consist of two by tens to support the beam we knot out our post which are made from six by sixes. The two by tens are nailed together then bolts are use trough the beam and post to secure the beam most structural lumber has a natural bend or crown when selecting the board for joist side down the edge to find the bend. The upside is the crown setting joist with the crowns up build extra strength on to the deck. Our e joist will be installed 16 inches on center meaning it is 16 inches from the center of one joist to the center of the next.

We mark the joist location on the ledger then installed Simpson strong tie joist hangers. The joist will set in this hangers be sure to use a nail in each of the joist hanger holes the strength of the hanger can actually depends on proper nailing. The other end of the joy sits on top of the beam where it is toe nailed into place. Continue installing the joist we installed joist full length and then cut them of in place using this method insures a straight front edge of the deck even if the house itself is not quite straight. On the front of the deck another two by ten is attached to the end of the joist. This is called the header. Our deck will have a diagonal corner so part of the header and joist will involve miter cuts. Cut a nail the diagonal header between the header and ream joist then miter cut and attached any necessary remaining joist to add strength to the deck you could add one of two more layers of two by tens to the header are deck is on calls for diagonal decking placement framed by three decking boards. To support the area where the diagonal cut boards meets the straights boards we installed blocks between the joist also called bridge blocks after measuring the distance from the edge of the deck we mark a chalk line to indicate the placement of the blocks then the blocks are cut and toe nailed in place.

Since we have a two level deck we know need to frame the smaller lower deck first a temporary stringer or a stair frame is cut and attached to the large upper deck to insure the proper height for the lower deck. We will talk more about determining the rise and runs of stairs later once the height of the lower deck is set we installed post beams and joist in a similar order as the upper deck just on a smaller scale. We again use the knot post for supporting the beams. Note the angle cuts on the beams a small touch like this gives an added ecstatic touch to the deck also we knot the end of the beams to support the framing for the joist. We build the frame as one piece and place it on the beams and attached it by nailing then we installed the joist. The deck boards on this lower deck will be installed horizontally now we have the frame built for both levels of our deck and we are ready to begin laying the decking in the next segment.

Framing is the support structures of the deck framing consist of post, beams and joist. This is where the fun begins and you can start to see the results of your design and planning. The first thing we need to construct is the beam that will support the floor joist... click to read more