How To Make Your Deck Sturdy With V-Bracing || Dr Decks

The Doc shows you how to keep your deck from wobbling by creating a V-Brace underneath your framing.
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[@Luke_lnl]

Just did this to my deck yesterday due to severe swaying in the wind. Solved my problem instantly! Locked everything down like Fort Knox. Thanks Dr.!

[@majermike]

what kind of decking and decking fastening did you have? I would think the decking would perform the same function as V bracing

[@briannovak1611]

I just did this to my deck. Wow what a difference. Rock solid now.

[@tetesukkosodok5469]

Thank you, this method addressed our issue. The deck is rock solid now!😀

[@karlshomeremodeling123]

I have found when using g tape in either damp conditions or cold temps, that I use a heat gun to go over the board before I put the g tape down and then after the g tape is applied. When you do it this way, the g tape adheres very nice and makes a good bond. Good job

[@bradeley6409]

He already knows that. I believe he uses a Metabo heat gun.

[@mariagdesjardin1000]

That stuff seems kinda weird to me, here in central NV. It's like you expect water to fall out of the sky or something!

[@mattgera7162]

Huge thank you! We had a new deck installed in November and it had some sway, added v braces after finding this video and it’s solid. 🙏🏼

[@jasonahrens1138]

Dude. I’m trying to get into the deck business. I am a general contractor and I’ve learned so much from you.! Thanks.

[@bobcougar77]

Haven't watched the video yet but 100 percent agree. Do this on any deck I build of any size and have retrofitted a number of decks this way. It's an unbelievable return on your investment. Easy to do.

[@majermike]

in your experience does decking with 2 screws fastened to each joist provide insufficient stiffness?

[@bobcougar77]

@@majermike on most decks absolutely. On a small 4'x8' deck 1' off the ground. You don't need any sway bracing at all. But as decks get larger and higher off the ground, resistance to racking or swaying forces get more and more vital. You can also run your deck boards diagonally and get incredible racking strength: at the cost of more waste and increased labor.

[@RevivedBuilds]

Good to see this done by Builders! We spec. this out on almost every deck, yet we would orient the V in the other direction. Thanks for the content!

[@majermike]

in your experience does decking with 2 screws fastened to each joist provide insufficient stiffness?

[@RevivedBuilds]

@@majermike that is correct. With most decking being composite and installed as planks there is very little stiffness in the floor diaphragm.

[@caml17]

Thanks so much, just installed our new second-level deck and was discouraged how there was still sway… going to try this out

[@charlesschaffer9468]

Great video!! This was just what our deck needed. It’s solid now and has no sway! Thanks for the great advice, and a great video!

[@michaelnitzel4738]

Excellent tutorial. Thank you!

[@citywide550]

Thank you I just had to brace my deck yesterday and your video was a blueprint to a successful project.

[@dcole7092]

I use 3M heavy duty glue to both surfaces to secure the g tape. It works great, particularly when boards are dusty or dirty

[@donscott2359]

After watching your video we were able to remove the swaying of our deck. Thank you

[@alonsocorrujedojr1527]

44 degree angle instead of a 45?!?!!? Wow! You are good my friend! I appreciate your attention to detail!

[@neelk7952]

Hello - this video was super helpful. Thank you. Had a quick question. Is it necessary for the v brace to align flush with the ledger board of the house? One of my v braces is sitting flush with the ledger but the other leg of v is slightly off. Thanks for your help.

[@redwood1957]

Nice job. Do you sail in that rain gear😅

[@MrAgatto2]

this is great.... i have this exact same issue and was hoping to find a good looking solution....tks

[@alonsocorrujedojr1527]

Thanks for the info!! Needed this information!

[@pakmandan]

Thanks for the knowledge! Why and how are those beams so giant?!

[@alejandrocuellar15]

another great video, would this help to stabilize older decks that wobble? Asking for customers who are only willing to pay an easy fix.

[@drdecks]

Yes. It will help

[@ricardoviana5059]

Thanks brada

[@MrDougfunny7]

would it be somehow wrong or worse, if you did the V in the other direction? Would it make a significant difference? EDIT: okay, i did some thinking and i understand. the far end is like a lever, so the force is more extreme there, hence you want the far ends of the brace to be there. I'm sure there is a better way to explain it but I grasp it.

[@gary24752]

Where is your code required lateral tie backs to the existing structure?

[@NATIVESUNSETS65]

How were the posts attached ? What size 4x4 ?

[@Mckenziebwood]

Would 2x10s be frowned upon for v bracing? Asking for a friend

[@jaxjaxson]

@drdecks The tape on the V brace wood is good, but any concern for rot on the actual joist --> V brace connection with water sitting on the tape? Are you taping the bottom of the joist to? Or am I overthinking

[@vl4n7684zt]

Could you do a diamond shaped pattern if you can't get 20 ft boards?

[@Bryon-bq4ft]

I’m just starting to research information on deck building. I’m wondering what the thoughts are about using concrete block piers versus 6 x 6 vertical wood posts?

[@majermike]

concrete block piers are generally more expensive unless your deck is very close to the ground

[@john5150t]

What would be the best way to do this for a freestanding deck? Maybe an X pattern?

[@rsitch1]

Excellent!!!! Bob

[@bubbles8851]

Do I have to use those screws? Or, can I use framing nails?

[@X6530-z3l]

Doesn’t blocking between the joists accomplish the same thing?

[@ssorum9719]

What do you use for a water barrier so that the lower patio can stay dry and be used?

[@khalidjaii2]

Thanks for the great tip. Can this method substitut the blocking beteween joists.?

[@drdecks]

No. The blocking helps with deflection and joists “rolling”. V bracing helps with sway.

[@timothyroe5020]

Great advice. However, it was not clear to me how the connection is made to the ledger and the next beam. I think you provide great advice but more detail would be helpful for us DIY kind of folks. Keep up the great content. Thanks.

[@caml17]

Pause at 5:26. It doesn’t look like he fastens anything to the ledger

[@kallejohnson1225]

Thanks!

[@rivernet62]

Never really understood why everybody insists on putting cross braces on the posts when this does the same thing and is hidden. Assuming you're anchored to the house or a wall of course.

[@drdecks]

Agreed

[@johnwhite2576]

why is that random joist diaphragm blocked under the deck ??

[@MyBigThing2010]

Stupid question because I can't wrap my head around it today for some reason. Would it be stronger or the same to end the v brace with angle cut laying on the beam or can I terminate it on the outside joist with the point of the miter being all that is touching the beam? The 45° angle leaves me on the joist and I'm 42 if I land the miters flat against the ledger and the beam. ..so rock.. meet hard place. Thanks yall.

[@RevivedBuilds]

There won’t be any significant difference. The V brace would be installed slightly differently when a beam is dropped vs if it is upset for example. I layout the V bracing so that the braces start at the corners of the deck and then angle towards the ledger. Connecting to each joist. With mechanical joist hangers and post caps the deck framing will be tied together to transfer any lateral load so that it shouldn’t matter if you end at the beam or the joist.

[@jgarb21]

What about using Simpson CS on the top of joists before decking in a "X" or "V" shape?

[@mikefilippo6498]

what if you have 2 beams, how would that work, ie 2 V's?

[@fakenewselon7759]

Dr decks if you weren't building decks what would you do?

[@JosephHuver]

Would this method work on a free standing structure like a wobbly lean to? Or does it need one solid anchor point like a house to tie into?

[@MrDougfunny7]

I think it would depend on the source of the wobble. it would definitley stiffen up the top of the structure.

[@gregorylucas8165]

Does the v bracing replace the need for knee bracing at the post connections with the deck?

[@denzel.ahquin]

I add both. There is no overkill with framework!

[@drdecks]

It does for me.

[@daviddavid1832]

Had an engineer draw plans to eliminate the knee bracing on an existing 12x49 deck that is 7' to 9' off the ground; a 12x19 section has a gable roof. He used (2) V braces; one for the covered deck section and 1 for the open deck. The braces are 2x4s. He specified that the ends of each diagonal brace should attach with blocking consisting of (2) 2x4x8" fastened together with 3" deck screws and screwed into the girders close to the deck band. Each diagonal is attached using (3) 3" deck screws into the blocking. The diagonal is attached to each joist that it crosses. Overall, very similar to drdecks with the only real difference in the attachment of the ends of the V brace diagonals. Have not begun the project yet as need to finish a couple of others.

[@MrDougfunny7]

I use the V brace with no knee bracing, as long as you have other ways to secure your beam and keep your posts in place. Knee bracing is known to not be a good way to transfer load. Does it work? sure, but it isn't a great method.

[@Sunnyside--Up]

I wish you would show your V-bracing and why playing with the camera an in-and-out zick zack weird recording while screwing? Anyway, I wish I could have seen what you really did. Thanks for your videos, I like watching them. This one made me scratch my head. Today is the day! 😆 I posted this 7 months ago and finally I got it, what you did. I apologize Dr. Decks! So you screwed the diagonal bracing to the joists. Duh! (I had given you already a thumbs up, so no change there)

[@SirThomasHarber]

Could you make a W pattern brace if you had a long deck?

[@scrager4]

you could do multiple v's, but really you only need one diagonal in each direction at each end of the deck. the support beam and rim joist ties the individual joists together laterally, so if you lock a series of them together diagonally, then the rest can't move unless they break their connection on the beam or rim. I'm not an engineer though, so take this with a grain of salt.

[@blameitonben]

Is it important how wide the v-bracing is? I have a deck that spans 11.5 ft, so I'm thinking 16ft v braces, but then should I use 2X8 or 2X10s?

[@MrDougfunny7]

2x6 is fine. I use 2x6 on a 26x14 with no issue.

[@eee2115]

Great channel. Couple of questions for you...What were you using to pain the end of the brace? What is the minimum screw size you would use for the v-brace to joist connection? Is #9x3.5 deck screw acceptable when using a 2x6 brace? Since this is an "add-on" to my current old deck, not to worried about code, doesn't apply. I was also thinking about GRK #10x3 RSS screws. I don't like the idea of a really thick screw going into my joists, hence the #10.

[@siraultman7631]

Few questions, If you are crowning all the joist up, and arranging them to give you a flat top side, wont this pull and push some of the uneven PT wood out of flatness up top? Also what would you have done if this was a bladder system deck that required a soffit underneath to finish it off?

[@drdecks]

Actually if the joists are graded to thickness, the v bracing would help keep things slightly more even. The soffit will act similar to v bracing especially if you run it on a 45 degree angle.

[@bradeley6409]

You would have to brace the support posts with 45 degree angle knee braces at each corner.

[@russellkeeling4387]

You call this a v brace but it's always been known for what it is. A diagonal brace.