Building a Deck with Greg Pennington

[@AprilWilkerson]

Want to build some sturdy but simple porch furniture? I have templates and plans for a porch swing: bit.ly/2zFU6PN Rocking Chair: bit.ly/34T5hiV and Folding Adirondack chair: bit.ly/3dKrLHJ

[@diydaddoes9710]

I’m really new to wood working and want to try that chair. Is that something a new person can do? Like what tools would I need?

[@xagron2902]

Since treated joist material can vary in size as much as 1/4 inch, I prefer to add the hangers after the joists are nailed to the Ledger

[@borys444]

Especially if the wood is left outside to dry once it’s bought from the store. Then u will start to c the wood wanting to go the way the tree was in the first place.

[@bigvegass]

This bit me in the ass on my first deck build.....ugh. Hated following that tip after that inordinate amount of planning to get them flush.

[@sailinglin584]

I've been watching April's videos almost sinds the beginning. And it is so much fun to watch her progress and develop. And to see the eagerness with which she attacks bigger and bigger projects 💪🏾

[@Cynyr]

@5:00, typically decks should be sloped 1/8" to 1/4" per foot away from the building to help with water drainage. The deck will get wet, and you want the water to run away from the building. Also up here in the north, that building would need to be sitting on footings that are ~42" deep. With the deck attached to the building, it too would need to be on 42" deep footings. These need to have flared bases, and the holes inspected both prior to and after being filled with concrete. The shed roof above the porch also would need to be designed for a snow load (would need to look it up in a table), but the very low slope would mean quite the structure up there as well.

[@99tym]

I was wondering about that. I'd think the deck should be slightly pitched so water drains away from the building even though there's a porch roof above. Wouldn't want that header rotting after a few years.

[@tramaineb748]

@andrew frink - the research I’ve done also says it’s best to have a slight slope away from the house. Where did you get the 1/8-1/4” per foot? If the deck is 16 ft, a 2-3” slope seems kinda steep

[@NoRoads2AllRoads]

I only recommend using the jig for the joist hangers IF you used engineered wood! I tried using that method of a piece of the joist to hang the joist hangers along my beam, and I had to remove all of them because my joists had variations between a few of them. Some would site flush, other's wouldn't. And I was using #1 Prime wood

[@hhanger1]

that's some contractors rip a narrow strip off of each board to guarantee uniformity.

[@ladypoetess]

Yay, thank you SO MUCH for the captions on this video!

[@benjaminreinhardt259]

Nice looking deck. BUT - Definitely not code compliant. Deck screws do not have the shear strength required of joist hangers.

[@sheltonsmith9270]

Simpson makes a code compliant joist hanger screw

[@vaalrus]

Simpson’s does supply a shear-rated screw for the joist hangers, and GRK, among others, make shear rated structural screws, but I couldn’t see what sort of screws they were using.

[@vaalrus]

Nice to see they switched to the nail gun to finish fastening the joists to the hangers. I’d be more concerned about the concentrated load on the ledger board from the rotated beams… the whole deck on the house side is supported by just five joist hangers… I know they’re strong, but that gives me the heebie-jeebies.

[@trentonramey6641]

The Walrus I’m 95% sure those are just common deck screws

[@trentonramey6641]

Shelton Smith I’m pretty sure these aren’t them chief

[@arkansas1336]

April, the two of you worked very well together. You all did a great job.....annnd you're a 'natural' when it comes to learning and doing construction of a builder! My compliments go out to you. The "blocking" you placed in the center span of the floor joists is technically called "bridging". I was a home designer/builder/contractor for 16 years (I began 'driving nails' at age 13) before going into road and bridge building.

[@markusayt]

arkansas13 on a stud wall is still blocking?

[@Venge94]

arkansas13 we call them Noggins in England lol

[@arkansas1336]

@@markusayt---Blocking between studs is technically called 'fire blocking', and that was what it was originally designed to do (block/slow the spread of in wall fires) back in the designing of construction techniques of yesteryear! During my career I called it 'wall blocking' all be it incorrect and I knew better....lol

[@MitchN9660]

I really liked using the Diablo demolition blades when I had gut a bedroom in my house. I found out there were multiple layers of different flooring to go through just to get to the joists, which were also cut out, due to rot. Those Diablo blades went through everything.

[@concert610]

Love it. Definitely agree with you. Everyone should use blocking. I also use screws for the same reason. I've used string from one end of the deck to the other to keep my screws lined up and make sure they were hitting the support underneath.

[@Jeppe.P.Bjerget]

April, you kick ass. You are doing big project, and sm sae great attitude. It is always fun and great to see a new video from you coming out. I always know its something that i can learn in the video. Thank you, and have a nice summer. Best wishes from Jan in Norway

[@jessicagarrison1385]

Greg is very lucky to have a friend like you! 😊

[@rkerby6375]

Great job! We have a deck on the back of our home that is in disrepair/rotting after the previous home owner failed to apply a proper finish. I believe that our deck needs repairing or completely replaced, and now I feel empowered to do it.

[@tannenbaumgirl3100]

Follow your cities building code.

[@shutterbugg5217]

4:15 - No Z flashing? You had all that material off, seems like it would have been a good opportunity.

[@chadpatrick5112]

April, I have been a fan for a long time and this video is so timely! I am planning to put a deck underneath my existing second-floor deck It will be very close to the ground like Greg's porch here. Thank you for this video!

[@davidmckay1772]

Great video! You guys are so lucky to have the space around you.

[@undefined40]

first thought: Is she really sawing off the roof she is standing on?

[@vaalrus]

The the boards on the deck + wheelchair ramp that wraps two sides of my house are run that direction for similar reason… wheelchairs and mobility scooters don’t really like a zillion gaps. To overcome the footing and ledger board issues, the whole thing is actually built on a freestanding steel tubular frame not attached to the house, and sits on screw piles...

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Great video April, you did a great job and sharing your skills and information is a big help. Thanks to the both of you for sharing with us. Fred.

[@redouaneyahiaoui2970]

thank you

[@FyberOptic]

This is giving me some Hometime nostalgia. I love it.

[@bothellkenmore]

Aw I miss that show!

[@matthewlaberge]

I completely forgot about that show, you're totally right.

[@dtemp132]

Loved Dean and his various cohosts over the years

[@grandmazinger73]

Matthew LaBerge m

[@twagner6155]

I also would not make a deck perfectly level since it might cause water to run into the house for massive down pours of rain, for a deck, DIY people assume there is no pitch for a deck. One very important step is to upgrade the water proofing while you have everything apart with asphaltic, modern materials as per the code or informed practices.

[@FredMcIntyre]

The deck looks great April, awesome work! 😃👍🏻👊🏻 ..... Looking forward to the porch build!

[@CaperCountry]

Should use nails made for joist hangers , they are heavier than ordinary nails and have the shear strength.

[@barryirby8609]

As others have mentioned I am concerned about the depth of the "footings" under the front end of the beams. I am in a climate similar to Nashville and we would have to go 14" deep IFRC. When I built a huge porch for a cousin I screwed the boards on alternating sides at each joist to limit the number of screws driven into the top edge of the joists. Over the years I found a number of deck joists that had split end to end because of so many nails or screws. My cousin couldn't tolerate the "missing" screws, went back and drove in the rest. Probably fifteen pounds of screws, it was an 80' long 8' wide porch. I have a nailer specifically designed for nailing joist hangers. The tip of the nail is exposed so you can insert it directly into the hole in the hanger. Only drives 1 1/2" and 2 1/2" nails. Being retired I seldom use it. If I had known I would have loaned it to you.

[@WillysPerformanceCycleCtr]

Barry Irby .... minimum by code in Nashville is 12”. So, 14-20 is pretty normal to use here too.

[@EngineerMikeF]

U can rent a "collated screw gun" for production floor or deck screwing, its 3ft long, takes magazines of collated screws, allows installation of tons of screws in minimal time, & saves bending over/working on knees- you install from a standing position. To get screws in a perfect line- temp nail a "fence" to the deck & butt the nose of the screw gun against it.

[@t1mb0t]

YES! I just rebuilt my deck about 3 weeks ago and I saw a video with one of these about 2 days later. I really wish I would have known about these beforehand. :)

[@kaissm9240]

Nice and thoughtful work that deserves appreciation. I really like this type of work

[@rickysafer2895]

Thanks April for another quality video.

[@mgbeck98]

Demo is so much easier with tractors with forks!

[@nordyfamily]

Great work, thanks for taking the time and sharing.

[@Neceros]

I'm so glad for this channel. She just shows you how to work and how she does things. She doesn't try to sexualize everything to garner views. Wholesome and honest.

[@mrkrharris]

Another nice thing about running the boards perpendicular to the front of the shop is you have no butt seams or having to stagger the boards. You didnt mention it, but Im sure you snapped a line to mark where you were going to screw the field down.

[@garynovak7977]

Whew! Thank goodness for the hand wave. I was nervous after last time.

[@2H80vids]

I was half-expecting a Laurel + Hardy moment at 1:03 with the roof overhang creaking loudly and slowly tipping forward, away from the house. Using the tractor was a smart move but a slapstick opportunity missed.😁

[@dgoode-ys3nx]

As to be expected, AW puts on another fine clinic. All the best April & Greg Great episode!

[@talladegadude4852]

Beautiful Deck! I love the new look and look forward to the Build of the Porch.

[@WisconsinWanderer]

Awesome video thanks April ☮️😎🙏

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

That was an excellent production Hats off

[@bobniles1928]

Why did you start running the joists perpendicular to the house then go to perpendicular beams with joists parallel to the house?

[@rrswitch48]

Working harder than ever!

[@mlubecke]

April.... you are amazing!!! I love how excited you get went doing these projects. Thank you for sharing... I’m a life long fan. I wish I would have bought one of your mallets that you sold... please batch some out one day. I would cherish it. Best regards, Mike from Florida.

[@chrisreibold1634]

I'm not familiar with all the framing lingo, so please forgive me. Where the deck joists are doubled up coming out perpendicular from the house, do these need to be positioned so the decking covers them? Basically to prevent dirt and water from filling up that gap between boards.

[@brewster102]

4:06 Some tack the joists in place and fit the hangers after to get the top transition perfect because of wood width variations

[@simonr6793]

April is Greg giving you a handmade Rocking chair as your payment, they do look pretty cool and oldy worldy !

[@thomasarussellsr]

Should be a good sturdy deck using 2X instead of typical 5/4 decking boards. Looks nice. However, even though you're planning to cover it, did you put any cant to it for water run off? Even a 1/4 inch per 4 foot would help. Just a thought.

[@MCsCreations]

Really fantastic work there, April! 😃 It turned out beautiful!!! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@twagner6155]

I think pier blocks are fine for Texas since I lived in Corpus and did construction there, however I don't believe they are good enough for Tennessee. I, personally would dig a foundation about 2' down. I have seen a lot of porches built on top of the ground like yours that failed because of failure to plan for freeze/ thaw cycles appropriate for the place and elevation the building is. Though joist hangers are popular, I would not use them unless it is required by the code where the building is.

[@stytos]

Our home is currently being built (we take possession between January and March) and will come with a tiny deck (think Blue Collar Comedy Tour skit). Instead of paying the builder $6k to build it, it'll be more fun for me to build it and videos like this help. :D

[@janell19]

Keep in mind it might be better for code that you have them build it. Might cost you more if it’s done wrong.

[@augustreil]

@@janell19, All Michael Landen has to do is read the code book, simple.

[@stephenwilson7641]

In addition, go to PBS/This Old House and look at some of the decks built by Tommy and his crew. They show the proper way to build a deck that will last 50 years.

[@rico1319]

Damn woman, that’s the quickest demolition I’ve ever seen! Another job well done!! 👍👍👍😎🇨🇱 U 2 ROCK!!!

[@thememnock]

Great looking deck. One comment though when installing hangers use the correct and manufacturer specified fasteners. Typically this would be the correct length galvanized nails or heavy duty structural screws. Home Depot carries Simpson strong tie screws rated for hangers. Also install all the fasteners into the correct hanger holes. They are designed to provide shear thru the nails only so the fastener orientation and number is critical.

[@samueldaniels8197]

What’s y’all’s take on using a drill instead of a impact for screwing in screws? Personally I like the Impact because it does not try and spin out of your hand and it can counter skink.

[@stanroberts4820]

That was great! Totally enjoyed it.

[@Recovering_Californian]

Love my Makita tools AND the Diablo blades.

[@Saddlebum042]

How does this construction method prevent water from seeping between the header and the deck?

[@augustreil]

The future roof.

[@tannenbaumgirl3100]

I didn't see them install any drip edges up against the house

[@twagner6155]

These are DIY guys who don't account for rain blowing sideways.

[@TheMadJester159]

Ledger... not header.

[@jaredshearer7989]

@@TheMadJester159 I said that ten times during this video!

[@joelongrid7625]

Love the front porch. Every home should have one. With one of Gregs beautiful rockers too.

[@Jeff-jg7jh]

Is the porch the same sq. footage as the house?

[@Catch333FL]

Super nice, job well done

[@balljar7546]

April, I love your work. But so many things wrong with this build I don't even know where to start.

[@Grunt49]

April power!

[@ronalddean4834]

Beautiful job. I wish when I do things like that they would go that smooth. Seems like every time I do these kind of jobs something goes haywire. Thanks April great video

[@yellowmuginc]

I'm inspired to move faster on big projects like this after originally watching how fast you guys built this deck! So efficient! 👍

[@jodirauth8847]

Everything you do is so inspiring

[@Jen-es8cg]

Great video April. Huge fan here 😊

[@hassanal-mosawi6049]

Thanks for sharing that, good work!

[@jamesryan5181]

That's a shop? Haha. Looks better than my house. Nice work!

[@davidmcduffie1398]

Lookin good so far !

[@gregorythomas333]

@1:20 This looks so much like a Wile E. Coyote moment in the works :)

[@youdqtube]

OSHA would be having a field day. :-)

[@garyhaber333]

Love how you make it so simple! Love your channel

[@tmackie1694]

Yay April! Been waiting eagerly for your next video 😀

[@ronadkins8997]

You make it look easy and fast!

[@bobbonham4823]

Good job! I'm looking forward to the roof build. Thanks!

[@BigmoRivera]

Nicely Done Great Job Guys 👍

[@aligale5015]

I think deck screw just implies to fastening the boards to the joist box, not to use for structural applications like on hangers, where shear strength is kind of a big deal.

[@briturner11]

i cant believe you can move around that much wood without gloves. i guess i have not developed the tough skin on my hands yet! few more years of woodworking and ill be hardcore like you.

[@JohnWilliams-hn3wn]

Man I wish I would have known you were in my neck of the woods I would have loved to come help you all! That would have been fun to work with April!

[@barrybirkey3282]

"bounce" = deflection. One of the most critical elements of a deck is how it's attached to the house. You really should have given time to this element.

[@jayhitek]

Looks amazing. I am surprised you didn't put a small gap between each deck board to allow for water drainage..

[@ballinxalex]

The wood will naturally shrink a little bit from the sun so the gaps will form naturally

[@RENETTE2525]

Your just wonderful. I enjoy watching your videos. I have learned alot from you. Thank you

[@hazembata]

The demo makes me wish I had a tractor and an April.

[@hazembata]

Also, are you wearing a jacket...in the middle of summer?

[@GeneWaddle]

@@hazembata This was filmed months ago.

[@francisbertolini2590]

Or just an April. :-)

[@Dale-ko9kc]

how about a video on board picking for decks. Love to know if you have a trick to that beside eyeing straight..

[@dionseenath50]

Nice work

[@jackmiller3628]

I'm no engineer so I can say for sure if your footings are adequate or not. That said given yhe dize of the deck, the span between footings, the heavy material used due to limited footings, and the fact that you will have a big roof on it, I would not recommend this in many areas , due to frost line, rain, ... especially if the roof has to bear snow in winter.

[@augustreil]

Ain't going nowhere.

[@davidmcneely7921]

Greg love the new deck. I remember the old deck.

[@jgrow15068]

You make it look easy.

[@ontheroadwithralph1530]

Errr, did I miss a step - starting around 04:00 you are attaching a number of single joist hangers directly to the shop's front rim/header joist. But later the porch joists are actually run parallel to the front elevation of the shop - bridging between beams that are set perpendicular to the plane of the front elevation - and the hangers aren't used. Did you change your mind about the orientation of the structure after starting construction?

[@bobsbarnworkshop]

That’s a rugged deck! But up here where it freezes we have to put in foundation pillars at least 48” below grade. We’re in the middle of building a 12x 24 shed and the building inspector required twelve 12” diameter sono tubes full of concrete! Getting above ground here is expensive! Nice work!

[@waynerountree9284]

I have only recently subscribed to your channel loving the content watching from the uk thanks for sharing

[@davidgoldsmith8371]

Didn't hear you mention that the deck boards themselves needed to be placed so that if "cupping" occurred it wouldn't hold the water. End grain of the board shows this.

[@warrenmichael918]

if the huge roof they build over the top of the deck allows all this water to puddle up then something else went wrong in a major way

[@edd2771]

warren michael Something else is likely to go wrong in a major way. That huge roof may fail because it’s going to be supported by gravel and a pile of bricks.

[@warrenmichael918]

@@edd2771 If it werent Texas, i would agree due to snow load but not much snow to worry about. I would like to see at least a few posts set deep into the ground , just for wind alone .

[@hhanger1]

Somehow I think Kyle Stumpenhorst might have done his foundation a little differently. April does a fantastic job but maybe having an engineer design a proper foundation would have been worth it from a best construction practices viewpoint. I would think the supports at the end of the deck could have been poured piers with steel brackets. Bricks on gravel is probably not the most stable. It turned out beautifully but I'm afraid it's not going to last and having a roof over it could be asking for problems later.

[@edd2771]

warren michael The bigger picture is she is a woodworker not a carpenter, and “how to” videos for residential construction require the right expertise. At a minimum, she should be telling viewers to follow local codes and if there are no local codes to NOT assume what she demonstrates will work in their situation. It’s serious business and I think she’s a bit over her head on projects like this.

[@sandras.435]

Loving this April.

[@alexlapin844]

Great Job ! Hi from Russia!

[@chekymonkey4452]

grate job

[@remonel2354]

Those are some awesome tools: the saws and drills are topnotch.

[@edwardmedina1236]

Nice. Great job

[@yasminghani2073]

Enjoy watching your video

[@ImagineFreedom]

came here through reddit, cool video

[@jakobholzwarth1544]

I am thinking about building a shed.

[@abernard5253]

Was that his take on "Love Will Keep Us Alive" by The Eagles at the end? Because if so, that was SMOOTH

[@SimonPollock]

Or The Police, Every Breath you Take. Either way, nice touch!

[@trdoffroadguy1684]

I want to say it is an Alabama song but i cannot find it. I just spent the last 30 mins trying to figure out what it is.

[@trdoffroadguy1684]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaqqkoCljLGIiNE

[@jasonwalters4354]

What about spacing the boards to let water run off and expansion.

[@markusayt]

Jason Walters I think the green treated boards are fairly moist and will shrink as it drys. With dried lumber most leave the gap of the width of a pencil or large nail. My guess is that he will be adding a porch roof again.

[@WillysPerformanceCycleCtr]

Trust me.... there will be a gap soon enough!

[@Ribby00]

Yeah always butt them tight. A gap will form in no time at all.

[@thebuchanans2002]

Yes, with as wet as that wood is you surely want it tight. If you leave a gap at this stage, when the wood dries you would be upset at too large of a gap.

[@TheDirtCreature]

Read the manufacturer's guides based on the wood you buy. Also ask how long the boards have been sitting around. Big box stores burn through it pretty quickly, but smaller yards may have it sitting around and drying up. Generally, however, treated lumber, especially decking lumber, will have you put it in tight and it will dry to 1/8" inch.

[@BrookNBones]

I kept watching those trash pieces fall thinking, "yeah there goes that window!" Had it been me up on that ladder it would have taken out all of them.

[@johne9341]

Love the demo!

[@tonyabdalla]

April, I enjoy you work and this video! Just curious...I noticed there were not any set gaps between boards for expansion/contraction and water to drain through, at least that I could see. What were your thoughts on that?

[@dancrane3807]

That's my question. Looking thru the comments just for this.

[@billmiller7138]

Unless pressure treated deck boards are dried out, which they almost never are, they'll shrink and leave a gap when they dry. Screw them down with a gap, you'll have a huge gap when they dry. From experience.

[@diydaddoes9710]

I need to redo all my deck boards, unfortunately every is out of stock on them in my area