How to Build a Covered Deck

The indoors can be stuffy at times and may not allow much room for really large parties. One solution is to create a covered deck in the backyard for easy entertaining. There are a number of sizes, shapes and designs that you can choose from for a plan. A simple square design is discussed in this article, so on-grade so that posts will not be needed. For a covering, you may opt to simply nail down some plywood on top or get a little fancier and build a pergola covered deck.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 5 by 4 foot wood for the deck 2 by 8 foot wood for the joists Wood for the pergola Fiberboard pier form Plastic footing form Marine sealant Post bases (optional) Ledger material Circular saw Galvanized common nails Stainless steel finish nails 5/8 inch roofing nails Lag screws or carriage bolts Masonry expansion bolts Concrete Measuring tape Level Hammer drill with masonry bit 1/2 inch drill with 3/8 inch bit Socket wrench Plumb bob and string Chalk line Hammer Impact wrench Shovel Utility knife Silicon acrylic caulk Metal flashing Self-adhering waterproof membrane Concealed flange and face-mounted double joist hangers and hanger nails Construction adhesive Jigsaw Miter saw Ladder Ratchet and socket

Building the Deck Portion

1. Remove the trim up to one foot above where the ledger will be seated. Cover the sheathing with the waterproof membrane. Most codes state that the deck needs to be 4 and 7.75 inches below the door sill. Snap a chalk line into place at this interval.

2. Cut the wood for the spacer 2 inches wide by 1.5 inches thick and two feet in length. Align with the chalk mark and nail in. Drill pilot holes into the spacer and place the ledger over top and push lag screws or carrier bolts through these holes to attach to the house.

3. Cut the waterproof material and place over top the ledger and nail the metal flashing over top of the ledger and material.

4. Dig post holes at the outside corners of your deck (size predetermined by you) and at every 8 feet. You can use masonry strings as guides as an option. Position one footing or pier form, adjusting as needed, in each hole and fill back up. Pour concrete into holes to solidify footing. Let dry for one week.

5. Install the post bases on top of the pier by placing and marking the location, bore into the pier with the hammer drill/masonry bit, put the post base back on and use an anchor bolt to secure it. Repeat at each location.

6. Cut pressure-treated wood twice for the rim joists and beams. Glue them into place with the construction adhesive. Nail together. Fit side rim into joist hanger on the ledger, making sure the corner is square. Stagger the lengths of the butt joints, placing them in the middle of the post anchors.

7. Fasten the flange joist hangers on the ends of the front rim and fit into the post bases. Place the side rim joists into the front hanger, squaring the corners. Nail them together. Glue the front rim to the outer and inner boards.

8. Attach joist hangers on the beams, 16 inches from the center. Use level to make sure they are flush. Put the joists through the hangers.

9. Attach the trim boards with nails to the rim joist's outside faces. Miter the joint corners.

10. Cut the boards for the deck the length of the distance from wall to outside trim board, plus 1 inch. Glue the boards into place on the beams and along each side with the marine sealant and use finishing nails to secure to beams (joists).

Constructing the Pergola Cover to Your Deck

1. Place a chalk mark along the inside corner of the joist, and then 8 feet down the line. Use the masonry string as a guide by tying it from one end to the other. The formula for squaring your pergola is 3 feet along the chalk mark, 4 feet along the chord at a right angle and 5 feet perpendicular. Repeat the formula as necessary to achieve your four corner post locations.

2. Cut out a hole for a 4 by 4 at each corner using the chalk to mark it and the jigsaw to cut it. Place the 4 by 4 into the holes and secure with the lag or carriage bolts.

3. Cut each off at the 8 foot 6 inch mark, making sure you are flush and level. Square 10-foot 2 by 8s, making sure they are exactly 10 feet. Scew them together.

4. Measure the distance from one post to the next. The formula example for the beam placement is the distance of post 1 to post 3, subtracted from 120 inches, divided by 2. Place the top of beams flush with the tops of posts and secure with drill and carriage bolts. Allow for overhang.

5. Cut 2 by 6s to the length needed for the rafters across the pergola. Mark them all 24 inches in; that is the placement of the end beams to the cross beams. Secure to each other with screws, rafters atop the end beams.

6. Install brace blocks between all the rafters by measuring 10 inches back from the inside face of the beams. Secure with screws or nails. Continue in at three 3-inch intervals and attached as noted.

Tips & Warnings

• For joists (beams) the span in feet and the width in inches should be the same number when using doubled-up 2-by lumber.

• Check your local city and state zoning laws. You may need a permit to build a covered deck. Use appropriate safety gear when working with tools and machinery.

Resources

• Simple outdoor deck instructions
• Another source for deck building
• Ron Hazelton pergola project