A deck greatly expands your outdoor living space while adding a beautiful focal point to your backyard.
Wedge a shim above the post of one beam, if necessary.
Drill pilot holes and drive screws or nails to fasten the beams to each other.
Credit: Laurie Black
Check for square, then anchor the rim joists to the beam with screws.
To mark the angled cut line, measure out from the corner an equal distance in both directions.
Align a straight 1x4 with both measurements, and mark the header and the rim joist.
Credit: Dave Toht
Transfer the marks to the faces of the boards with a square.
Hold the angle-cut piece in place and drill pilot holes.
Attach it with nails or screws.
Credit: Dave Toht
Cut and Install Joists
Cut and roll out the joistswith the crowns up.
Attach joist hangers at the ledger, or drive screws or nails through the header into the joists.
To measure for cutting a joist at the angled section, hold it in place and mark it.
Credit: Dave Toht
Cut a joist to length and hold it in place.
Steps often slope away from the house, so there might be a gap under the joist.
Mark where the joist meets the top of the ledger.
Credit: Dave Toht
Transfer that measurement to the joist where it crosses the edge of the step.
Lay out your cut line between these two points.
Because the width of the joist has been reduced, it must be reinforced.
Credit: Dave Toht
Attach the support to the joist with several screws.
Attach Angled Joist
Use a special skewed joist hanger to attach an angled joist to the header.
If a vent falls at the top of a ledger, cut a notch for it.
Credit: Dave Toht
Install ledger pieces on either side, taking care that the pieces are at exactly the same height.
Cut a joist to run from the header to the blocking piece.
Credit: Dave Toht
Credit: Dave Toht
