You’ll need about 20 2 by 6 inches (51 by 152 mm) boards cut 16 feet (4. 9 m) long to complete a small deck of 144 square feet (13. 4 m2).
To calculate the number of clips you need, multiply the number of deck boards by the number of joists. For a small 144 square feet (13. 4 m2) deck, you’ll need about 120 clips. If your boards don’t have grooves on the sides, don’t install clips. Instead, lay the boards and attach them later with hidden fasteners.
Don’t worry if the board hangs over the side of the frame. You can cut it later.
Each post will most likely be surrounded by two boards. Divide the post’s length measurement in half and cut this reduced measurement evenly into both boards.
You’ll notice that the clips leave a little space between each board. This is a good thing, since it helps water drain off the deck.
Skirting isn’t necessary, but it looks nice. You can cut the framing so it slopes upwards towards the deck’s surface, then cover it with composite boards.
You may need to add an extra joist to support these boards. This can be done by getting a piece of wood as long as the deck, placing it in the hole you cut, and screwing it to the framing.
It’s best to place all the screws first, since adding the plugs can cause you to lose track of what you’ve already done. They’re called hidden fasteners for a reason! To calculate how many fasteners you need, multiply the number of boards by the number of joists. You’ll need several hundred fasteners for a small deck.
For example, if you have a 15 feet (4. 6 m) space, you can place two more posts between the corner posts.
The post length you use depends on what you want as well as what government codes specify. Check with your local government for details first.
You can use clamps to hold the posts in place as you work.
Plan on using two anchor braces and four bolts for each post.
Crush blocks can be purchased wherever railings are sold.
To complete your project, you’ll need two brackets for every railing.
