Young House Love

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How To Build A Deck

The deck is officially done. Sound the celebratory cowbells! I actually finished it on Friday and we’ve spent the last few days crossing all appendages and waiting for an inspection (I couldn’t bear to share my triumph until I was actually sure it was a to-code triumph). The inspection finally happened yesterday afternoon, and – ta-da! – we passed. Relief flooded over me like all the sweat that I put into building this thing (lesson learned: build decks in the spring or fall). Here she is in all of her wood-riddled, approved-by-the-county glory:

how-to-build-a-deck-and-stairs-and-railing

It’s definitely an upgrade from the tiny rotting balcony that we started with:

Alley 2 Through Door

We thought it’d be great to have it done when Sherry’s mom came to visit from NY today, so I put my head down, powered ahead, and sweated through my belt for one last leg of this deck building marathon.

Deck Stairs

Admittedly it was a bit more of a marathon than I expected. We originally thought this deck would take us three or four weeks of on and off work to complete, but between the heat, thunderstorms, inspections, equipment rentals, material deliveries, summer travel (we ended up being gone more than half of the weekends since starting) and generally being a one-man show who has never built a deck before… it took ten weeks instead. But that doesn’t make the victory any less sweet to me.

Deck 13 John Kissing

I actually kind of enjoyed having an excuse to go outside (despite the extreme weather) and tinker around with something during the occasional Clara nap or Saturday morning. It was weirdly peaceful – getting to ignore emails and diapers for a few hours and just saw stuff. And of course having my dad’s help with the auger when it came to digging those post holes was the best. Nothing like a father/son project to get the serotonin pumping.

So if you’re wondering how long a deck project could take, I think an experienced team could knock something like this out in a week (you’d need a few days to pause for inspections in our area, so a weekend wouldn’t do it). But if you’re doing it almost entirely alone as a first-timer, and can’t work all day every day (maybe you can devote a few afternoons or evenings during the week and a day or two every other weekend like I did) it might realistically take you a month or two  – depending how inspections go, if it’s raining for two weeks straight, etc. But I can promise you one thing: there’s an insane amount of satisfaction when you sink that last screw.

Now let’s rewind for a moment and I’ll try to breeze through how I got the stairs and the railing done. Once all of the decking was laid down, I cut and attached the remainder of my four posts (you can read more on how I did that in this post).

Stringers 9 Posts All In

Even though the stairs were next on my list, getting the railing posts up was important to help me plan the stair stringers – which are the diagonal boards that run down the side of the staircase, where the steps actually rest.

Stringer 10 Placeholders

You can buy pre-cut stringers, but I tackled cutting my own (to save money and time since that’s the lumber they provided in our delivery). Figuring out the lengths and angles of everything was kinda scary until I found this website that did most of the math for you. Thank goodness for the world wide web.

Stringers 11 EZ Stair Calculator

Once I had my rise (the height of each step) and run (the width of each step) calculated, I learned a cool trick from this video for marking your 2 x 12″ board for cutting. I basically clamped a straight edge (in my case, a piece of scrap wood) to a framing square (the L-shaped ruler) so it intersected at my measured rise and run. Then I could hold the scrap wood flush against my board and the framing square would create a perfect guide for marking my cuts:

Stringers 12 Measuring Device

With the length of my board marked, I broke out my circular saw and carefully cut along the lines.

Stringers 14 Cutting Circular

You’ll notice above that despite looking cut from above in that last picture, the triangular pieces weren’t falling away. That’s because the circular-shape of a circular saw doesn’t always allow you to reach those deep corners all the way through. So I went back with my reciprocating saw to finish the cuts all the way.

Stringers 15 Uncut Underside

Once one stringer had been cut (and tested in place to make sure it fit) I used it as a guide to mark and cut two more 2 x 12 boards, since I’d need 3 total stringers for my 48″ wide steps.

Stringers 19 Marking Second Stringer

So here are my three cut stringers in place. You’ll notice the one in the middle has a weird extra piece in its center. That’s because a not-so-conveniently located knot in the wood caused the tip of one step to break off. Rather than go buy (and re-cut another whole board) I just patched it by cutting and screwing a short piece of wood to patch it (making sure it would be to code first).

Stringers 22 Finished In Place

To attach the stringers to the deck I used these angled hangers that I snagged at Home Depot.

Stairs 1 Attaching Hanger

Oh yeah, and I was sure to check that the steps were level the whole way down. Don’t want wonky steps now, do we?

Stairs 2 Checking Level

Speaking of wonky, I did install some blocking between the stringers. They weren’t perfectly level themselves, but they’ll be completely hidden, so that’s okay. The point was that by using equal sized scrap boards the blocks still served their purpose of keeping the steps an equal width the whole way down (we didn’t want the steps getting subtly narrower or wider on the way down).

Stairs 3 Blocking Added

Next came setting the posts that would support the staircase in the middle and the bottom (using the footing holes that I dug back when I started the deck). To attach these posts, I decided to use these anchors I found at Home Depot this time around.

Stairs 4 Post Hole Hanger

I basically set them in some wet concrete (after carefully marking where they needed to go to line up with my steps – which admittedly was a somewhat maddening process). Then I let them dry.

Stairs 8 Two Hangers Dry

Since my concrete needed 4 hours to cure, I filled some of that time by beginning to cut the wood for the steps. We wanted the steps to match the decking, so we used two 2 x 6″ boards for the base of each step (which included a small overhang) and a 2 x 8″ board for the back of each step.

Stairs 11 Close Up Of Stair

Once my concrete was dry and my post anchors were solidly in place, I set my posts, checked that they were level, and nailed them into place. You can see this anchor was not 100% exact in its placement – but that’s part of the reason they’re open on one end. That wiggle room was a lifesaver.

Stairs 13 Nailing Post

So here are all of my posts set (but not cut to size yet) and a random assortment of step boards just loosely laid in place. Looks kinda like a staircase. Looks kinda like a hot mess too.

Stairs 15 All Posts In

Oh yeah, and I bolted the posts to my stringers the same way I bolted the railings to the end of the deck.

Stairs 16 Tightening Bolts

Then came the task of screwing all of the step boards into place. This task took surprisingly long and a surprising amount of screws.

Deck 1 John Drilling Stairs

With all of the stair boards in place, I turned my attention to the guardrail. The first two parts of the guardrail were the 2 x 4″ rail boards that would span between the posts on the top and bottom. Our county requires no more than 4″ gap between the deck and the rail (it’s also known as a sweep space, so you can easily sweep debris off the deck). I saw someone use a 4 x 4″ post as a guide for this since it’s an easy way to keep the rail level so I did the same thing. Worked like a charm.

Deck 2 Spacer Bottom Rail

Attaching the railings to the stairs was a bit more involved since I had to make sure I was meeting several standards for how much of a gap was at the bottom and how high it had to be compared to the nose of each tread. Once I had figured all of that out, just cutting the angles and keeping things in place while I screwed it all together made my brain hurt a little. But eventually I got all of the railing pieces in place.

Deck 3 Hanging Top Stair Rail

Oh, and you may notice that the four posts attached to the deck got significantly taller. I had to replace my original posts because I realized too late that I had cut them too short to satisfy the railing height requirements on the steps. It’s a long story so I’ll just leave it this: it kinda sucked and that’s why it’s nighttime when this photo was taken. Oh well live and learn. They weren’t going to be staying that tall, but after replacing them once I decided this next time that I’d cut them in place once I was certain my railing height would pass inspection – just to avoid any more surprise do-overs.

Deck 4 Rails Done Night

The next day I could finally start putting the balusters in. Those are the vertical pieces on a standard deck railing. We debated doing something more intricate or modern (like all horizontal rails or a built in planter) but opted for the traditional look because that’s what we have out on the patio side of the house (there’s a fence and a railing out there). Both that railing and this one are visible from the living room (out various sliding doors) so we wanted them to match. I’m also glad we went the traditional route because it was super easy to do (since I could use my post as a guide to meet the spacing requirements again).

Deck 5 Spacing Rails

The last part of the guardrail is the rail cap, which is the flat ledge on the top. It’s made from a 5/4 x 6″ decking board. Cutting those angles and notches around the posts was an adventure too, but I won’t bother you with the details. In short: I lived to tell the tale!

Deck 6 Top Of Railing Done

Oh yeah, and you can see now that I eventually cut all of my posts down to size when I was sure they all met code. Thank you reciprocating saw for that.

Deck 7 Starting To Look Good

When it came to attaching the balusters to the stair railing, I didn’t even attempt to pre-cut them to size like I did on the other railing. Instead I temporarily removed the rail cap I had cut and screwed the balusters into place with the excess length extending out the top. Then I used my reciprocating saw to cut them down so the rail cap would sit flush again on top of them for a finished edge.

Deck 8 Slicing Rails On Stairs

With the balusters in and rail cap back on, I started putting the finishing touches into place – like this handrail that we’re required to add since our stairs have more than three steps.

Deck 9 Handrail

And we added these decorative wood caps ($8 at Home Depot) to the posts at the top and bottom of the stairs. They attached with just a little bit of caulk and definitely make things look nice and finished.

Deck 10 Wood Caps

And with that, the railings – and therefore the steps – and therefore the entire deck itself… was finally done!

Deck 12 Stairs Done

I have to admit, I’m still kind of impressed that I made this.

Deck 11 Railing Done

And what do you do when you’re proud of the deck you just built? Naturally, you text your mom.

Deck Mom Text

Well, your mom and your bro-friend.

Deck Jeremy Text

Although being totally built and county approved doesn’t mean it’s totally done. We still need to seal it (we’ll be tackling that as soon as we catch our breath and research the right product for the job) and of course we need to furnish it. As for the budget breakdown, once we seal it we’ll share the full rundown. Until then, you can find me sitting out on the deck, sans furniture, drinking a nice cold soda. Or telling Sherry that I’m not building another deck for at least ten years. Yes sireee, I’m glad to have this done. Although to anyone wondering, I still think demoing our first house’s bathroom and rebuilding that from the studs was the hardest project I’ve ever done. But the deck is hanging in there at second place. Anyone else finishing a deck or some other project that took longer than you expected but is still intensely satisfying to have checked off the ol’ list?

Psst- Want all the deck details? Here’s where we shared our vision for the space, removed the plantings and the old balcony, selected our materials and documented our first day of building. Then we dug our post holes, failed our first inspection, revised our plan/dug more holes, and set posts. Then we installed our joists, did some last minute prep for deck boards, started laying decking boards, whipped up a mood board and finished laying deck boards.

Comments

  10. Erin {Home Everyday} says

    This is amazing! I’m totally impressed! I think it is funny how you said sawing stuff was therapeutic. My husband feels the same way. I guess it is a man thing. I will never understand. Like how rearranging furniture or organizing a closet is peaceful for me, and my husband thinks I’m nuts.

    Reply

  15. annabelvita says

    OH my goodness, it’s gorgeous. Well done!
    Is it funny to be able to see into your master and guest bedroom from the outside? Will you be changing up any window dressings as a result?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, we have some windows to frost (the bathroom ones)! Although the bedroom one isn’t a big deal since we have white faux wood blinds that we draw at night, so we won’t be frosting that one. We’d actually love to make that a french door someday!

      xo,
      s

    • annabelvita says

      ooh yeah, bathrooms probably more important than guest bedrooms!
      Also, you’ll now be able to take those fancy shots from outside the window like they do on photoshoots! Time to invest in a wide angle lens?

  18. Alexa says

    ya-to-the-hoooo-hoooo!

    Great job, looks amazing. What a sense of accomplishment. You put your heart into that deck and its going to be enjoyed for a loooooooooooooong time.

    Reply

  22. Reenie says

    Jeremy took the words right out of my mouth!!!

    Great job John ~ it’s absolutely beautiful. I’ll be anxiously waiting on what you seal it with…. as mine needs to be done again (I’ll let you do the reasearch ;) HA!!)

    Can’t wait to see it all accessorized too!

    Reply

  25. leah says

    Looks amazing! I can’t wait to see how cute you guys make it with furniture and decor. Are you going to stain it dark or leave it light?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We’re doing some research now but we keep hearing that it can look good longer if you just seal it instead of adding stain which can wear down and look rougher over time. Not sure where we’ll end up but we’ll keep you posted!

      xo,
      s

    • Kate says

      We have a similar deck (with green-treated wood) and we just sealed it (waterproofed it). My husband waited a year after he built the deck before he sealed it, though. Something about letting the green-treated wood age a bit…maybe I should listen more when he talks!

      Just wanted to let you know as I thought John built this deck with pressure-treated wood too. Might be something worth researching….and maybe you can take a break from the deck for a bit!

    • Kate says

      Also, if you decide to just seal it, my husband recommends the use of a pressure-sprayer! Makes it a lot easier than painting it on with a paint brush!

  27. tae says

    yay – congratulations!!!!!!! you are amazing! can’t wait to see it all furnished. will you take some wide shots of the house from that side of the yard so that we can see how it fits in to the whole landscape? and maybe see where you’re planning to put a landing for the grill? so cool! nice work!

    Reply

  29. Erika says

    Congratulations John! I know you’re so glad to be finished, and it looks fantastic!!!!
    Hope you, Sherry and Clara have lots of fun times and good memories on your new deck :)

    Reply

  30. Alan G says

    LOVE IT! And I love how you built the railing yourself rather than buying it from a big box store! Looks great, John!

    Reply

  32. Amanda C says

    Way to go John! I am totally impressed! That’s a much bigger job than I think my husband would ever attempt to tackle on his own! And it looks amazing! Sherry, can I borrow him sometime?! ;-) Just kidding – can’t wait to see it furnished!

    Reply

  33. Monica says

    Oh wow – you made your stairs?! I’ve built a deck before but would never attempt making stairs. Kudos John kudos!

    Reply

  34. Brandy says

    I’m so happy you guys finally finished all the hard work! Now, all of us girls can’t wait to see Sherry’s decorating post! Ah, anticipation :)

    Reply

  38. Tracy says

    It looks so beautiful! You guys should be so proud of yourselves. I hope our mini deck/porch looks half this good when we build it next year. Are you planning on adding any kind of screening to the bottom (next to the AC) to polish it up/keep animals from going under there, etc. Like a lattice or something?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We’d love to lattice that or somehow screen it with plants without interfering with the function. Will keep you posted whenever we figure something out!

      xo,
      s

  39. Laura@JourneyChic says

    Wow!! It looks fantastic! My dad built my parents’ big wrap-around deck, but I was too little to remember. Last fall my hubby helped him re-do a huge section of it (30 years takes its toll) and it was definitely back-breaking work. Congratulations on such a big accomplishment!

    Reply

  40. Jenny says

    Congratulations! You have done an awesome and most impressive job! Now, once you’re all rested up, why don’t you just pack up those tools and head on over to my house in Short Pump…I could use a new deck! ;-)

    Reply

  41. Jen@The Decor Scene says

    YAY!!! Three cheers for John!!! You did a great job. I love it. WOW those stairs turned out really nice. Thanks for sharing your full project. Can’t wait to see how Sherry styles this gorgeous deck. :)

    Reply

  44. Suni says

    CONGRATS!!! It looks beyond amazing, and you should be so very proud!! Sherry this is just another reason John is a keeper. :) Enjoy that deck for many years to come!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Amen! Such a keeper! The cool thing is that when I met John he said he wasn’t handy. Couldn’t even change a tire. Now I just look at him and awe and say “dude, you built a deck!”

      xo,
      s

  46. April says

    It looks wonderful John! I could never tackle such a large project but you made it look easy even though I know it was not. :)

    Reply

  48. Connie says

    Greetings from Montreal!

    Félicitations John!!! Très beau travail!!!! Hubs wants to know do you hire out? :) Really lovely deck, betcha Miss Clara can’t wait to get out there and make it her own.
    Excuse all exclamation marks,really really impressed by level of quality work.

    Reply

  49. Ann L. says

    Wow, John, that looks great! Have you gotten up in the middle of the night to go look at your new deck? What an improvement! I can’t wait to see how you decorate out there. Good work!

    Reply

  50. Kim says

    That’s a mighty fine looking deck! Seriously, it looks professional. I’m in awe of your stairs. You did a fabulous job, John. I can’t wait to see what it looks like after it has been stained.

    Reply

    • Jody says

      I think it looks great!! As a guy who just built his own deck and actually started the staining/sealing process just last night, I feel your pain! I chose to stain mine because of the elements it is exposed to. Seeing the color on it finally, made me really look forward to enjoying the fall season out on it. As a side note, if you choose to stain, don’t freak out when the color looks wonky when you first apply it. Once it soaks in, it should look acceptable. My wife was freaking out when she first saw the color last night!! She has now mentioned how much “she knew” she picked the right color all along!

      I have also done the bathroom project and I agree that it is still the hardest project I have ever done.

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