Redwood Deck Construction
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Deck Construction Redwood is a wood like no other and Planning A Deck The Secret of Redwood’s decks built of redwood are unique in their The first step in building a deck is to sur- Long-Lasting Beauty beauty and long-lasting service. There’s vey your yard and decide what problems Redwood decks look better than decks a grade of redwood lumber for any part the deck can solve. made of other woods and keep their of any deck—luxury decks, economical Do you want to level a sloping yard? handsome appearance longer because decks, simple decks and decks that push Create a central activity area? Upgrade a redwood is naturally stable. This means the limits of definition. side yard? Minimize landscape mainte- redwood deckboards nail down flat and stay in place resisting warping, cupping, Deck building isn’t difficult. In fact, it’s a nance? Make a barbecue or picnic area? splitting and checking. perfect project for learning basic con- Whatever problems you solve, you’ll find struction skills. Your deck can be as sim- your deck is a clean, dry place to enjoy Yo u ’ll find that redwood lumber has two ple or complex as you wish to make it. one of the best sides of your home— predominant colors: cinnamon-red and The care taken in planning, choosing the outside. creamy yellow. The cinnamon-red wood materials, double-checking measure- In selecting a site for a deck, it is important is heartwood and comes from the center ments and adding personal finishing to think about privacy, safety, access to of the tree. The creamy yellow wood is touches will go a long way in making the house and protection from wind, sapwood and comes from the portion of your deck project look professional. noise and weather. Landscaping features the tree near the bark. Some redwood grades are all heartwood while others This booklet contains deck construction must also be considered. permit both heartwood and sapwood. techniques and specifications based on Think about the seasons when the deck decades of cumulative deck-building will be used and the sun’s path during the experience. It does not provide plans for year. Often a southwestern or southeast- building a specific deck, but it has valu- ern exposure is a good choice to take ad- able information that will help with any vantage of the morning or afternoon sun. deck project. 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. Garden Grades Grains Sizes of Garden Grade Lumber Garden grades of redwood are tailor- Lumber has either flat or vertical grain Surfacing and seasoning reduce the made for decks and they are not expensive! depending on how it was cut from the dimensions of lumber. As a result, the They have knots which give them a rustic log. Garden grades are sold with mixed actual dimensions of all lumber are look that blends well with landscaping and grain patterns. To minimize cupping and different from the nominal dimensions. other natural materials. Redwood garden grain raising, flat grain lumber should The chart below lists the actual and grades are available in dimensions from be used with the “bark side” up or nominal dimensions of redwood garden heavy timbers 20 feet in length to light- facing out. Vertical grain lumber provides grades. weight benderboard often used for edging the smoothest surfaces for railings garden walkways. Grades that have the and benches. S4S Dry Sizes (Inches) word “heart” in the name are entirely Thickness Width decay-resistant heartwood. Vertical Grain Flat Grain Nominal Actual Nominal Actual Construction Heart/Deck Heart 1 11⁄16 211⁄2 All-heartwood grade containing knots; rec- 11⁄4 1431⁄2 ommended for work on or near the 211⁄2 651⁄2 ground and for posts, beams, joists and 871⁄4 deckboards. Deck Heart is graded for 10 91⁄4 strength characteristics and is available in Annual Rings Bark Side Pith Side 2x4 and 2x6 only. S4S Green Sizes (Inches) Seasoning Thickness and Width Construction Common/Deck Common Seasoned or unseasoned garden grade Nominal Actual Similar to Construction Heart and Deck lumber is suitable and most economical 439⁄16 Heart except containing sapwood; for decks and other outdoor projects. 651⁄2 recommended for most above-ground Architectural grades marked “Certified 871⁄2 applications such as railings, fences, Kiln Dried” are pre-shrunk and have 10 91⁄2 deckboards and trellises. Deck Common superior stability. They are good for areas is graded for strength characteristics and requiring tight joints, such as outdoor is available in 2x4 and 2x6 only. shelves, cabinets and detail work. Specifying Redwood Merchantable Heart Most economical When you order or specify redwood all-heartwood grade, allowing larger knots Textures lumber, it is important to list the following: and some knotholes; used for retaining Redwood is generally available with a intended use, grade, seasoning, size walls and garden or utility structures on or smooth, planed surface on all four sides, and texture. near the ground. known as S4S. Larger dimension timbers (4x4 and greater) are often available For Example: Redwood lumber for Merchantable Same characteristics as rough. Surfaced lumber is best for (use) decking shall bear the Redwood Merchantable Heart but containing sap- sitting and walking surfaces or areas Inspection Service grademark and shall wood; suitable for fenceboards, trellises to be painted. be (grade) Construction Common, and above-ground utility applications. (seasoning) unseasoned, (size) 2x6, (texture) S4S. Architectural Grades Architectural grades of redwood are vir- tually knot-free or in the case of B Grade, contain knots of limited number and size. Architectural grades are the top of the Redwood redwood line. These grades are usually Grades kiln dried to pre-shrink the lumber, but and Uses Construction they are also available unseasoned. Often Construction Common/DeckMerchantable Clear Heart/Deck Heart Common Heart Merchantable All Heart Clear B Heart B Grade used for quality siding and interior panel- I I ing, architectural grades can be used for Architectural ——— ——— ——— ——— highly-visible landscape architecture Garden I I ——— ——— ——— ——— where maximum stability is necessary. Knots III I ——— ——— I Clear All Heart All-heartwood, free of Sapwood ——— ——— knots; recommended for highly-visible ——— ——— applications like deckboards, railings, Posts I ——— ——— ——— I ——— ——— overhead shade structures. Beams I ——— ——— ——— I ——— ——— Clear Similar quality to Clear All Heart except containing sapwood; uses include Joists I ——— ——— ——— ——— ——— railings, fences, deckboards, benches Decking I ——— ——— I I and trellises. Rails I ——— ——— I I Heart B All heartwood grade containing Fenceboards I I I I limited knots and other characteristics not permitted in clear grades; uses same as Benches I I I I I I Clear All Heart. Planters I ——— I ——— ——— ——— B Grade Similar quality to Heart B Trellises I I I I except containing sapwood; uses same as Clear. Furniture I I I I I Suitable grade for use Most economical grade for use With the preliminary planning done and Laying Out the Deck the business of redwood grade, sizes, Mark the area for your deck with stakes seasoning and textures taken care of, you and string. Consider all the points men- House can start thinking about the actual tioned under “Planning” on the first page. structure of the deck. Decks are walking The deck perimeter can be laid out and surfaces held up off the ground by an squared in any number of ways. For Second Measurement understructure. The deck must be strong example, if the deck is to extend from the enough to support the weight of people, corner of a house, it is easy to project a planters, benches, snow or anything else string line from the non-deck side of the that might be placed on the deck. The house. This line and the wall where the understructure of a deck can have some deck will join the house form two sides of or all of the following members: footings, the deck perimeter. Next, measure the posts, beams, joists. length of the deck from the corner along The footings sit on or are partially buried the wall of the house. With the third corner First Measurement Third Measurement in the ground. Posts are vertical members marked, the location of the last corner can be determined by measuring from that rest on the footings and support the Projecting Lines From the Corner of these other established points. beams. Beams support joists, which are a House. usually spaced about two feet apart and The accuracy of any rectangle can be support the decking. The decking is the proven by diagonal measurements surface of the deck. between the farthest corners. When the Each member of the deck is important diagonals are equal, the rectangle is true. in carrying the load and distributing In some cases, the house or structure a B the weight evenly. Proper spans—the deck is attached to will be out of line. It is distance between two supporting usually best to make the deck conform to members—make for a safe deck and the structure. one that feels solid when you walk on it. Another method for determining the accu- The following pages contain detailed racy of a right angle is to create a right- descriptions of each part of a deck and angled triangle with sides 6 feet by 8 feet A techniques for putting them together. by 10 feet (or proportionate measure- ments). Using string, run two lines from a proposed 90 degree corner. Measure and mark points 6 feet from the corner in one direction and 8 feet in the other.