5 Deck Building Hacks || Dr Decks

[@gsh319]

It's all about layout!!! Can't emphasize that enough.. I'm always telling the guys to slow down and get the layout perfect. I'm always explaining the square up really become obvious once the finish materials (trim, railings and stairs)are built in. After that, the build is all about build skills. It's the layout that sets you up for the absolutely mint finish. You could spend an hour on squaring-up skills and methods alone. Love the channel madman.

[@stemmentor9700]

So true. And add many try to squeeze by with makeshift tools. Adds to their misery. If I don’t learn something new each time, I don’t consider it “ productive. Plan- budget- execute I tell my wife. She’s skips the 1st # as she gets tired of waiting for me. Told her “ what budget. It’s gas $$ now. 😆

[@michaellane1316]

Same with every trade skill, for the most part. Welding, engineering, etc.. Prep work may take many times the actual final, yet for a job to be substantially complete, necessary. We do not live in a perfect world, at least until AI becomes more ingrained and even then, there will be mistakes. Made by man, same o the failure. The real key this this or any instructional layout is, if one makes the times to do the task correctly, within all factors given, then most jobs tasked will be within that 1-2% window of how we interpret, perfect.

[@davidshettlesworth1442]

OMG, the good old 3 4 5 rule. I had forgotten about this, Fantastic stuff to save me, the DIY home owner that does a lot of home improvement. The string hack was excellent information. I had never seen that one before. I am 71 years old and no one ever showed me that, a big help! Carry On Sir!

[@boblindner5808]

"Hit the bell icon if you want to be notified every time there's a bee running around my head" hahaha best impromptu intro in the history of KZbin. I subscribed for that alone!

[@phoenixpalazzo4089]

Great video but I gotta ask my brother.. where does one get " a straight piece of 20ft lumber " lol

[@catsmeow5566]

"...everytime-- there's a bee running around my head..." LOL. I'm glad you stayed still. I've seen people panic and end up getting stung. The 3 4 5 thing is nice.

[@Dustylittledigga]

Nice simple tips J. It really is amazing how many people won tools that they have no idea or only half a clue how to properly use them. That big folding square is awesome first time I've seen one of those. Looking forward to seeing the final on the deck as well I'm sure you are too.

[@harbourdogNL]

I like the level in the speed square, going to buy one of those.

[@duke81625]

I knew all of these hacks.I've been using the my whole life( 61 yo). This is great info for for the capable DYI er.

[@gabrielguzman7722]

I love the pride you take in your work. Keep it up :)

[@randallpatterson7285]

I want to know where you got the pensil holder

[@morokeiboethia6749]

I rent the Microsoft Office software for my pc ($7 month) which has Microsoft Excel in that bundle off programs. I swear it is better than any construction app or calculator b/c it can generate a list of numbers unlike a calculator which only computes one at a time. I built one for deck board spacing when customer does not want any ripped boards in the decking layout. You just have to enter the width of the deck boards and the total span distance and it will return a short list of potential choices of total number of deck boards to use to fill the span and the gap size for each of those choices. You choose which one which is closest to the gap size the customer likes and input that number of deck boards in the next phase of the spreadsheet and then it will calculate the actual location of each decking board which will all be evenly spaced out the entire span. Also built another for calculating miter angles and the angle to set miter saw on based off the corner angle that you input so if you have a corner that was not really 90 degrees and turned out to be 86 you just enter 86 and it will tell you (if its 2 pieces making the angle) what the toe/heel angle of the boards to make that 86 deg angle and it calculates miter angle setting for the miter saw to acquire that toe/heel angle when cut.

[@CWhitmer22015]

These are all great hacks. I am often surprised when talking to carpenters that have done this for years and don't know many of these. Always love to see videos that show the basics.

[@tundrawhisperer4821]

Great basics! Thx for the video!

[@stemmentor9700]

So many users aren’t aware of the kewl tricks with the squares. Liked the string tip. Retired Navy, did many knots, this is one I will keep in mind. (Mine worked but more effort

[@richardrumplik7023]

Thanks for all the great Havks

[@BrentLagerman]

that string line trick is golden

[@holdernewtshesrearin5471]

An even easier squaring method that I've used my whole life is the 1.414 method. A 1" square is 1.414" across the diagonal. So...you can make marks at any dimension along both sides of a right angle and multiply the measurement by 1.414 to get the square diagonal. 10", 16", 96" 227.5", whatever. Multiply by 1.414 and that's your desired measurement along the diagonal to achieve perfect square.

[@andyprairiedog]

The string hack and the new-to-me app feature. I am very interested in that app. Thank you very much for introducing those to me.

[@bash6519]

Can anyone tell me what im supposed to use on cuts to pressure treated lumber now? Here in NV i cant seem to find Cut and Seal or anything like that at any of the Box stores.

[@karlairey2419]

I have flipped over my ten-year-old pressure-treated boards and am starting again with the non stained side up and now need to know if I should put a 1/8 gap in between all the boards before I screw them down. I've heard that I should do that to allow for movement. The trouble is I don't want to put a space between because those gaps tend to fill up with all of the tree stuff that's surrounding the deck. Is it necessary to put the 1/8 Gap between the boards? Thank you so much for your advice.

[@knicksfan1657]

love ur videos dr, big love from australia. youve helped me heaps

[@koolkiwikat]

whats that magnetic pencil setup you got going on?

[@cmm170526]

Great video! Thank you very much for your help!

[@lotuseater6741]

Great video Jason!

[@chuggns]

Nice, thank you, good doctor. Some of these would have been great 2 days ago when I started my first deck

[@grantzaruk4]

What glue do you use on your composite connections

[@Joe-jv5mm]

Good with Speed Square

[@davidav8orpflanz561]

You also gotta pluck the tightened string until you hear a base "G" note, then you know, "Gee, that's tight"...

[@erickimble803]

Video on the most precise level? A water level. It would be a good idea for a video.

[@cbrooks0905]

Can someone tell me where to find the magnetic pencil contraption attached to his shirt? I can’t find it online. I’m assuming because I don’t know what to call it.

[@douglasmichel6361]

What brand pencil holder are you using, I’ve tried a few and they all suck.... thanks

[@drdecks]

It’s called a quick snap

[@douglasmichel6361]

@@drdecks thanks

[@davidav8orpflanz561]

I finally figured out what Hollywood actor you remind me of - JACK Black, in the movie, "SCHOOL OF ROCK"! Especially the voice. You know what that means - gotta add AC/DC background music to your videos (but not too loud), and Jam with the tools!

[@danatkinson8798]

enjoy your videos, I'm a contractor and like to build Trex decks. Do you have Master Classes?

[@davidav8orpflanz561]

It's all about the Base - angle!

[@scottwebber652]

Sure would have liked to work with you for o while

[@warrenranstrom4462]

Hello, I’m building a deck off my pool and trying to figure out how to mark my posts all the same height that I left long after backfilling. What is a good way to mark every post at the same level so I can see how high to make my beams? Thanks

[@MegaTapdog]

use a laser or even easier use a water level, get a piece of clear tubing and fill it with water. you can add food colouring to make it easier to see. Decide the height of your first post and then fasten with rubber band or clamp and equalize water height at each post progressively. search for diy water level online.

[@bondo167]

i need that pencil magnet!

[@mrose4132]

What do you do with the impossibility of your corners being 3-4-5 square but your ledger and beam are 1/4" difference in length over 52 feet?

[@Industrialitis]

Seems like such a small discrepancy over such a large distance is well within tolerance.

[@jontunat1196]

This is interesting.

[@laserbera19]

Nice hack video and I mean it!

[@paulholloway1219]

Amazing! What square has two sides shorter than the other two?? I know it’s been 25 years since I was at school but surely a quadrilateral with two sides shorter than the other two is still a rectangle, no?

[@adamnonnenmacher7774]

Who builds something at 14-3/8 oc?? 16 and 24 are construction standards

[@jimangela4589]

I like the cutting a measurement in half even if it has a fraction hack: half the whole number (that's easy) but for the fraction just double the bottom number so half of 42 and 3/8 is 21 and 3/16. It gets a little tougher with an odd number like 43 inches but the principle is the same. Half of 43 and 3/8 is 21 1/2 + 3/16.

[@14lou]

I happy to be metric:)

[@MatzeMaulwurf]

Use metrics ;)

[@stemmentor9700]

Some beat me too it. In 70s while in HS, so much talk on converting to metric system. Used 3 years overseas and love it. Now I teach youngsters how or adjust tape measure if needed to whole number by angling it. Total length I’d 58-9/16”. Angle the tape till 1is one one edge and go to 61 if possible and mark at 30. (Surveyor trick. Helps. Def lone yo go to metric system. Soo much easier

[@forwardhomeenhancements2622]

Engineers knot I use it all the time.

[@OutdoorsAffiliated]

I liked the video. I did notice you went the wrong way with your 37 degree angle. The 35 degree was a larger angle meaning you went 2 clicks in the wrong direction, down to 33 degrees. We get the picture though. Good hacks.

[@milesthronson1442]

A lot of people get this wrong, but the angle your speed square finds you is relative to 90 degrees. That’s why he marked his 90. You’re speed square find the angle you will be cutting off not leaving.

[@nathanpike4745]

Shout out to Martinez Tools.

[@thebigbrainbuilder111]

Sorry bro, I don't know why I lost my shit at 11:53 lol. Nice Vid..

[@chichidouglas5078]

I'm sure you've workrd with people that didn't know how to use a speed square, but they weren't carpenter's or even a carpenter's apprentice.

[@138KO]

Why are you particular about equal joist spacing? Are you face nailing/screwing the decking? I’m framing my deck now and the joist spacing is kinda out of wack because I need to clear vents from a crawl space. It’s kinda overkill: All 2x10s spanning ~9ft to a center concrete grade beam for a total of 18’ 3-1/2”. Many vary and are spaced 10” -12” OC between the locations where I have vents - I didn’t want anything less than 12”OC for composite decking. At the vents the joists had to be spaced 16” OC to prevent conflict. I plan to fasten 2x4s to get the spacing down to 13”. All this odd spacing has me concerned about the pattern of my screws. I chose face screwing because I like the idea of accessing screws incase a board needs replacing also I think face screwing has better structural integrity. Have you seen decks with odd screw patterns? Is it noticeable? I’m using color matching screws.

[@BiPolarBear722]

The drill dying was amazing. Go buy a lottery ticket.

[@israelparra3257]

IDKY all of this isent comon since after 1st year of being a labor.

[@thebigbrainbuilder111]

Sorry Bro....I lost it again at 12:42. Is that square even worth it lol?

[@monkichiboi4003]

i didnt understand the last one

[@richardrumplik7023]

lol on the string trick I always forget how. Old guy and forgot is my middle Name

[@Alex-ln1ps]

Construction master pro

[@fry216]

"Nope" cloud lurking in the background..

[@billymessimer9854]

The second one isn't a hack, you bought a tool that nobody has and it does it for you.

[@Indus2020]

3,4,5 ??? Go to your calculator - take the first number - any number - square it and store it. Take the second number and do the same. Add the two numbers. Now take the square root. That’s the third number you are looking for. It’s middle school math - called Pythagoras. Jeez ! 5 year olds do this in South Korea !

[@jameslund221]

For some reason my boss never learned how important plum and square are.

[@alltaske1]

Does anybody know if this guy is still in business? Holy deck Joyce Tate look at that staircase there must be a $1000 or more just in tape.

[@rayshawn1986]

The calculator hack, sorry to burst your bubble but all calculators do that including the free one on ur phone

[@julioortiz9664]

He looks like jack black

[@T.E.P..]

Saw that it said "5 Deck Building Hacks" ... and forgot which channel I was watching. Thought it was really going to be "5 Deck Building Hackers" and was about to watch a sh*t show.

[@LaminarSound]

Always trust the guy with his business or profession tattooed on his skin. lol

[@nonamebp8310]

This aren’t hacks tho. These are tools.

[@254JROCK]

Battery 🔋 always die at the worst time 😂

[@MatzeMaulwurf]

Girls also say this about their satisfyer.

[@jamskof]

3,4,5 is not a square.. its a right angle

[@djlazarek5830]

This should be renamed to "5 tips for people just starting out that haven't ever swung a hammer or used a saw", this is like the most basic stuff I knew when I was a kid.. That calculator your using I just used math and memorized the decimal equivalent of 1/8th and 1/6ths 20 years ago lol. The 3-4-5 rule lol Jesus I think I learned that from my grandfather was I was 9 or 10, it's obsolete to me now I have a (free) phone app that will tell me what the diagonal distance should be and I'll get a truer square by using the full length of each side..

[@plumbbuildrenovate]

it's called a 3, 4, 5. your explanation makes my brain hurt.

[@MatzeMaulwurf]

In Germany 30/40/50 or 60/80/100. we use centimeters.

[@logananderson6464]

Pythagoreans Theorum has blown so many people’s minds in my construction experience. You can use any number you want (21-28-35, for example)