Instructions / Assembly

ManualsBrandsMendocino Forest Products ManualsDimensional Lumber2 in. x 6 in. x 12 ft. Construction Heart S4S Redwood Lumber

Deck Construction

Redwood is a wood like no other and

decks built of redwood are unique in their

beauty and long-lasting service. There’s

a grade of redwood lumber for any part

of any deck

—

luxury decks, economical

decks, simple decks and decks that push

the limits of definition.

Deck building isn’t difficult. In fact, it’s a

perfect project for learning basic con-

struction skills. Your deck can be as sim-

ple or complex as you wish to make it.

The care taken in planning, choosing

materials, double-checking measure-

ments and adding personal finishing

touches will go a long way in making

your deck project look professional.

This booklet contains deck construction

techniques and specifications based on

decades of cumulative deck-building

experience. It does not provide plans for

building a specific deck, but it has valu-

able information that will help with any

deck project.

Planning A Deck

The first step in building a deck is to sur-

vey your yard and decide what problems

the deck can solve.

Do you want to level a sloping yard?

Create a central activity area? Upgrade a

side yard? Minimize landscape mainte-

nance? Make a barbecue or picnic area?

Whatever problems you solve, you’ll find

your deck is a clean, dry place to enjoy

one of the best sides of your home

—

the outside.

In selecting a site for a deck, it is important

to think about privacy, safety, access to

the house and protection from wind,

noise and weather. Landscaping features

must also be considered.

Think about the seasons when the deck

will be used and the sun’s path during the

year. Often a southwestern or southeast-

ern exposure is a good choice to take ad-

vantage of the morning or afternoon sun.

Don’t forget to locate underground utility

lines! In some cases, it may be wise to

reposition the deck slightly to avoid inter-

fering with utilities. In all cases, it is

important to be aware of their placement.

The Secret of Redwood’s

Long-Lasting Beauty

Redwood decks look better than decks

made of other woods and keep their

handsome appearance longer because

redwood is naturally stable. This means

redwood deckboards nail down flat and

stay in place resisting warping, cupping,

splitting and checking.

Yo u ’ll find that redwood lumber has two

predominant colors: cinnamon-red and

creamy yellow. The cinnamon-red wood

is heartwood and comes from the center

of the tree. The creamy yellow wood is

sapwood and comes from the portion of

the tree near the bark. Some redwood

grades are all heartwood while others

permit both heartwood and sapwood.

Summary of content (8 pages)

PAGE 1
Deck Construction Redwood is a wood like no other and decks built of redwood are unique in their beauty and long-lasting service. There’s a grade of redwood lumber for any part of any deck—luxury decks, economical decks, simple decks and decks that push the limits of definition. Deck building isn’t difficult. In fact, it’s a perfect project for learning basic construction skills. Your deck can be as simple or complex as you wish to make it.
PAGE 2
Architectural Grades Architectural grades of redwood are virtually knot-free or in the case of B Grade, contain knots of limited number and size. Architectural grades are the top of the redwood line. These grades are usually kiln dried to pre-shrink the lumber, but they are also available unseasoned. Often used for quality siding and interior paneling, architectural grades can be used for highly-visible landscape architecture where maximum stability is necessary.
PAGE 3
The following pages contain detailed descriptions of each part of a deck and techniques for putting them together. Third Measurement Second Measurement Projecting Lines From the Corner of a House. The accuracy of any rectangle can be proven by diagonal measurements between the farthest corners. When the diagonals are equal, the rectangle is true. In some cases, the house or structure a deck is attached to will be out of line. It is usually best to make the deck conform to the structure.
PAGE 4
Footings Deck footings rest on the ground and support the deck posts. Footings may be either concrete blocks, pre-cast pier blocks or poured concrete pads. As a rule of thumb, a footing should be about twice the size of the post it supports. For example, 4x4 posts should rest on 8x8 concrete footings. Posts Posts are vertical members which rest on the footings and support the beams. The length of the posts is critical in establishing the height of the deck.
PAGE 5
Beams Beams rest on the posts and support the joists. They are installed “on edge” with the narrow side resting on the post. For some low decks, beams may rest directly on the footings. Beams of 4x6 and greater are common. Often beams are “built-up” from thinner dimension lumber by fastening them together with bolts or lag screws. The dimensions of beams depend upon their spacing and the distances they need to span. Larger beams require fewer posts and footings.
PAGE 6
Construction Tips Sometimes, enthusiasm can get builders into trouble if they don’t think about the consequences. Overnailing, for example, is a common mistake. One deck nail or screw per bearing is fine for redwood 2x 4 and 2x 6 decking. Drive deck nail or screw flush with deck surface; do not countersink. Redwood shrinks less than most wood, but unseasoned redwood will shrink as the internal moisture evaporates. If it is held down with too many nails, decking may split when it shrinks.
PAGE 7
Stairs If the deck is over a foot off the ground, you’ll need to build stairs. Stairs require precision carpentry and quality materials. Decay resistance is important, so an allheartwood grade should be used. Stairs are made with treads and stringers, sometimes called risers. The treads are the stepping surface and are supported by the stringers. Stair treads should be a minimum of 11 inches deep and between 6 and 7 inches apart.
PAGE 8
Clear Water Repellents Clear water repellents with mildewcide can stabilize redwood’s color at a buckskin tan if applied regularly. Bleaching Oils Unfinished redwood tends to darken, then ultimately weathers to a soft driftwood gray. To achieve an immediate weathered appearance, a bleaching oil can be applied.