Overview
Building a deck means considering safety first. Railings and stability of design are very important, but the most important safety feature of the deck is the installation of the deck posts. A deck is only as strong and safe as the posts that support it. A series of strategically placed, treated posts buried in concrete will support your deck and keep you, your family and visitors safe while you enjoy the outdoors.
Things You’ll Need
Detailed, county-approved plan
Stakes (1 inch by 2 inches by 48 inches)
2-pound sledgehammer
String line
Tape measure
Orange marker paint
Shovel
Gravel
Treated 4-by-4 posts,10 feet long
4-foot level
Cement
Water
Wheelbarrow
Hoe
Work gloves
Safety glasses
Step 1
Review your plans thoroughly after you have them approved by your local building inspector. Measure out from each corner of the house, and drive a stake into the ground with the sledgehammer, 1 3/4 inches past where the center of each row of posts will be placed to mark the face of the posts you will install. Keep the stakes 36 inches wider than the deck will be built. Tie a string line between each set of stakes to mark the face of each post.
Step 2
Measure your work area and place a spot of orange paint on the ground at the location of each post. Take your time and measure the placement of each post twice to be sure that you follow the measurements on your plans exactly. Keep your paint spots between the string line and the house.
Step 3
Dig a hole at each paint spot with your shovel. Make the holes 12 inches wide and 36 inches deep. Clean all of the loose dirt and rocks out of each hole by hand. Shovel six inches of gravel into the bottoms of the holes and smooth the gravel by hand. Watch your string lines while digging the post holes, and remember that the faces of the posts will rest against these lines.
Step 4
Hold a post vertically with both hands. Lift the post and slam the end of the wood into the gravel in one of the holes. Place the post into the hole and add six inches of gravel around it. Tamp the base, place a post, and add more gravel to each post hole. Hold the level to the side of each post and move each as needed to be sure it is perfectly plumb while keeping the face of the post touching the string line.
Step 5
Dump a bag of concrete into your wheelbarrow. Smooth the mixture flat with your hoe. Cut a trench through the center of the concrete, and add the recommended amount of water. Work the powdered concrete and water with your hoe until they are thoroughly mixed. Use your shovel to fill each of the holes with the mixture. Check the plumb of each post and adjust the post as needed. Let the concrete cure for 48 hours.
Warnings
Work gloves and safety glasses are needed when working with hand tools.
Always contact your local utility locating service before digging holes.
Always be sure to obtain the necessary permits from your local building inspector’s office before beginning any deck project.
Reference
Start Remodeling: How to Build a Deck for Your Home
Ask the Builder: Build Deck
Ideas for Deck Designs: Wood Deck Railings
