Instructions / Assembly

8
Building Decks
space the boards
slightly for drain-
age (no more than
1/16" for wet deck-
ing, 1/8" for dry). As
you proceed across your
deck, measure the distance remaining and alter
your spacing in order to avoid a large gap at
the end.
Secure the decking boards at each place where
they cross a joist, using two nails or screws for
2x4’s and three nails or screws for 2x6’s. When
using boards shorter than
the deck length, make sure
all board ends rest on a
joist, and use different
board lengths in order to
stagger the splices.
When all of the decking has been
secured, remove the bumper board from
the side joist and snap a chalk line across the
decking on the other side. Use this chalk line to
trim the decking boards flush
with the side joist. Use a circular
saw for this task and
adjust the blade depth to
cut just the decking, not
the side joist. Apply end-
cut solution to all cut ends.
If desired, you may add a fascia to the side and
ribbon joists for a finished look.
Then apply a layer of quality water repellent to
all decking and exposed wood. Now your deck
is complete!
Maintenance Tips
• No maintenance is needed to renew resistance to fungi and termites.
• EXTRAGREEN™ wood has a lifetime limited warranty against these •
• organisms.
• To help protect your project against moisture damage, apply an • •
• effective brand of water repellent as soon as your project is finished
• or, for large projects, as sections are completed.
• Water repellent should be re-applied every year or two.
• To revitalize a dingy appearance caused by dirt, mildew and mold,
vvuse deck brightener to clean the wood. • EXTRAGREEN™ wood has
a lifetime limited warranty against these • • organisms.
1. Nail into the joist
hanger.
2 Nail to the ribbon
joist, flush with the
top.
3. Align with marks
on the beam and toenail in place This will
minimize bowing
Note: If the distance between the ledger and the
beam exceeds 6' use blocking to keep the joists
aligned.
6 And Lay Down Your Decking
In This Step: you are almost finished! Install the decking
boards, trim them and add fascia for a great, finished
look.
Tools:
hammer, tape measure, nail set, chalk line, circular
saw
Materials: bumper board, decking boards, framing nails/
deck screws, water repellent
Considerations: Bark Side Up: lay each decking board so
that the grain pattern of the end of the board looks like a
rainbow. Why? Because if the board warps over time, it
will follow the grain, and will therefore shed water rather
than cupping to hold it.
Crown Side Out: lay each decking board so that the
crown side is out - away from the house. Why? Because
you can straighten the board by nailing each end, using
a pry bar to force the middle of the board back toward
the house until the crown is gone and then nailing it in
place.
To reduce splitting of the decking while nailing, blunt the
nail points with a hammer, predrill your nail holes or use
deck screws. To avoid denting the surface of the boards,
you may wish to use a nail set.
Attach a bumper board to one of the side
joists to form a lip
against which you
can butt your
decking boards.
Start laying the
decking from the
house side,
and use nails
or shims to
Leave nails
raised for
easy removal
Decking
Side Joist
Ribbon Joist
Fascia
8