How to: Decks With Lattice

A deck lattice gives the underside of the deck a finished look, hiding the beams under the deck. The lattice also prevents children and small animals from going under the deck. Unlike plywood or other solid barriers, lattice panels allow air to circulate under the deck, preventing the deck’s beams from rotting. Both wood and vinyl lattice panels come in a variety of colors, finishes and designs, helping you complement the look of your deck.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• 2-by-4 boards
• Circular saw
• Hammer
• Finishing nails
• Metal corner braces
• Wood screws
• Screwdriver
• Lattice panels
• Sawhorses
• Clamps
• Metal T-braces
• Level

Instructions

1. Measure the dimensions between the top of the boards on the sides of the deck and the highest point of the ground below. Cut 2-by-4s to construct a frame around the top, sides and bottom of the area where the lattice will sit.

2. Assemble the lattice’s frame on a flat area, such as the deck, and drive 1-inch finishing nails at a 30-degree angle through the boards to join them together. For the frame's corners, butt the end of one board at a 90-degree angle against the end of another board.

3. Drive 1/4-inch screws through the mounting holes on two metal corner braces, which you place over each seam where the boards meet, strengthening the joints.

4. Measure and mark the lattice panels at the dimensions of the different sections of the wood framing you constructed, allowing the panels a 1/2-inch overlap with the frame.

5. Lay the lattice panels on sawhorses and secure them with clamps. Cut the lattice panels where you marked using a circular saw.

6. Lay the frame face down and lay the lattice panels over the edges of the frame, driving 1/4-inch wood screws through the edge of the lattice panels and into the frame.

7. Insert 2-by-4s inside the wood frame where two lattice panels intersect, where the opening is too large to fit a single lattice panel. Lay T-braces over the seam between the frame and 2-by-4s, with the straight portion of the braces over the 2-by-4s.

8. Drive wood screws through the mounting holes in the T-braces and then through the lattice pieces and into the new 2-by-4s.

9. Position the top edge of the frame pieces against the top edges of the boards on the side of the deck, holding a level on the tops of the frame to ensure it sits level.

10. Drive 3-inch deck screws every six inches through the frame and into the deck, securing the panels in place.

References

• This Old House: How to Install Porch Lattice
• Danny Lipford: How to Trim a Lattice Around a Deck Foundation