# Help me build a deck **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 9, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010 "2005-05-09T03:09:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/1 "2005-05-09T03:09:33Z")
Can someone direct me to a good online resource for HowTo build add a deck to an existing structure? I’m looking for some basic designs to get my wheels turning. I’d hate for whatever plan I come up with on my own to crumple under snowload. Speaking of that, does anyone know how to calculate the snowload for a given depth of snow? ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/2 "2005-05-09T03:59:20Z")
Am I the only one that thought of [“Deckbuilding” in Magic: The Gathering](http://www.fireshui.com/display.php/mtgarticles/5) upon reading the thread title? ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/3 "2005-05-09T05:56:28Z")
> [@TJdude825](#): > > Am I the only one that thought of [“Deckbuilding” in Magic: The Gathering](http://www.fireshui.com/display.php/mtgarticles/5) upon reading the thread title? Nope. Glad I’m not the only one, though. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/4 "2005-05-09T06:48:18Z")
I’ll chime in with the teeming throngs to say that I, too, could help you build a Magic deck. But I’m useless with wood and stuff. Ain’t the Internet grand! ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/5 "2005-05-09T10:24:29Z")
> [@iamthewalrus(:3=](#): > > But I’m useless with wood and stuff. They make pills for that. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/6 "2005-05-09T10:31:40Z")
Damn, I saw this and wondered (with some excitement) if you were building the bridge, sick bay or engineering… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![mittu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@mittu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mittu)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/7 "2005-05-09T10:41:38Z")
My first thought was that he wanted to build a skateboard. I have no idea about building an extra deck on a building but I would imagine that it is one of those things where if you have to ask, you probably shouldn’t be doing it, like asking how to re-wire a house 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@BF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BF)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/8 "2005-05-09T11:24:21Z")
Here’s a couple. [One](http://www.butkus.org/deck/deck.htm) [Two](http://doityourself.com/deck/index.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![brassballs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@brassballs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brassballs)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/9 "2005-05-09T11:46:51Z")
When I was confronted with this same problem, I went down to my local Lowe’s home improvement store where a friend of mine was employed. There, in the Millwork department they have a computer system with a program that will design or assist you in designing a deck, produce a drafters model on paper, and give all the measurements and amounts of wood etc. It was a killer program, when I got ready to build I had a blueprint, all the lumber and fastners, and a good idea in my head of what the final product was to look like. Hope this helps. If this isn’t an option for you, try describing what kind of residence you have in detail, how large a deck you would like, and distance from the ground etc., and I will see if I can be of some assistance. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/10 "2005-05-09T11:50:11Z")
Before you start, check to see if you need a buliding permit and what your zoning ordances require (there may be maximum deck size based on your lot / distance from nieghbors) Brian ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/11 "2005-05-09T17:15:11Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Before you start, check to see if you need a buliding permit and what your zoning ordances require (there may be maximum deck size based on your lot / distance from nieghbors) > > Brian _chuckles_ ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/12 "2005-05-11T01:58:42Z")
Ok, I’ve got the basic design worked out. It going to be pretty small, but sufficient for my purposes. Should I put a small space in between the decking boards? I can’t seem to find this mentioned on the deck building sites. This deck will be 8x10 feet (small, but sufficient for my purposes). It will be covered in snow for a few months out of the year. If so, should this space be 1/4", 1/2", or what? ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/13 "2005-05-11T02:00:30Z")
Forgot to type the size - 8x10 feet. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/14 "2005-05-11T02:09:21Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > Ok, I’ve got the basic design worked out. It going to be pretty small, but sufficient for my purposes. > > Should I put a small space in between the decking boards? I can’t seem to find this mentioned on the deck building sites. This deck will be 8x10 feet (small, but sufficient for my purposes). It will be covered in snow for a few months out of the year. If so, should this space be 1/4", 1/2", or what? That somewhat depends on what you’re using for treads. In NE US, I space treads fairly tight (8d shank), figuring on the treated lumber shrinking a bit once in place. Are you using treated lumber or a synthetic wood substitute? ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/15 "2005-05-11T02:33:02Z")
For treated lumber, with 5/4x6 “deck tread” boards, the 8d spacing method is more than sufficient, especially with 1st-season shrinkage. To get the 8d spacing, place your first tread, then lightly tap some 8d nails into the joists to function as spacers to place the next tread. Of course, you might consider using no space at all with treated lumber, at least I wish that I had, with the incredible amount of shrinkage I had in the treads on my deck after the 2nd season. By the end of season 2, I had 1/2" gaps between the treads, and the gaps would’ve been plenty sufficient if it had been built with no gap to begin with. Artificial or composite-material deck materials usually come with or specify a tread-spacing fastener system that spaces the treads and fastens them to the joists in a manner that keeps any screws hidden. It should be noted that the composite decking seems to be quite a bit more expensive initially - I can’t speak to total cost of ownership, though. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/16 "2005-05-11T03:10:11Z")
I will probably use 5/4x6 untreated. I’ve got some very expensive water seal that I plan to use to cut down the cost of this project. Ideally, I’d use Trex, or a similar brand. But that runs about 1.35 a foot for the 2x6 if its on sale, which I can’t afford. If I do use those treads, will 24" spacing on the joists be enough? Or should I go smaller? 24" fits perfectly with the spare lumber I have now (honest 2x12s), thats why I went with that. However, it would be cheaper to add another couple of joists rather than go to 2x for the decking. ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/17 "2005-05-11T03:15:16Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > _chuckles_ Some of us are astute enough to know you’re not talking about building a deck in Davis if you’re talking snow load 😉 … but I’d be willing to bet that the county building department where the scout camp is located could tell you what you need to know about snow load and lumber dimensions to support it. ---
**Author:** ![BF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@BF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BF)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/18 "2005-05-11T11:35:59Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > If I do use those treads, will 24" spacing on the joists be enough? Or should I go smaller? 24" fits perfectly with the spare lumber I have now (honest 2x12s), thats why I went with that. However, it would be cheaper to add another couple of joists rather than go to 2x for the decking Definitely smaller if your using quarter round deck boards. 16" spacing is recommended. And the advice on 8d spacing is right on. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/19 "2005-05-11T11:45:55Z")
I agree with the 16" spacing. I have always butted the planks as shrinkage is inevitable. If you are referring to 2x12’s as the joists, that is a bit of overkill on an 8x10 deck. You can use them for the rim joists and the outer band. 24" spacing is OK with 2x4 or 2x6 planks if you decide to got that way. ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010/20 "2005-05-11T12:07:01Z")
One other note - I’ve been using a Canadian Lumber Association book that designates spans, etc., when designing a deck, but they use a VERY easy “rule of thumb” for determing joist spans: One inch of width on 2x dimensional lumber for each foot you wish to span. For example: 2x4 = 4’ span 2x6 = 6’ span 2x8 = 8’ span etc., etc. On 5/4 deck treads - 16" spacing for joists is pretty much mandatory. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-build-a-deck/303010.md?page=2)