My EPIC Deck Build - How to Install Composite Decking // Episode 4

This is video 4 of 5 in our EPIC Deck Build series in which we show you how to install butyl tape to increase the life of your framing, install composite decking, picture frame your deck, and the two types of hidden fasteners I use for a clean, crisp deck apperance. As a bonus I show you how I added a little more detail to my facia that can set your deck apart from your neighbors.

[@user-eg8hb8xt3j]

A good trick for looks is to paint or run more tape to cover the rim joist , then it’s black between the gaps instead of that bright wood colour . Great job . My frame is built , planing tomorrow , tape the next day and ready for decking ,

[@chucke756]

Nice video. Thanks for sharing - very informative.

[@DIYDeclassified]

Thank you!

[@roberthalstead4772]

Good work ! You think along my line of thinking. I am wanting to see the finished stairs to the ground with the facia and the stringer boards showing the fix for that cut edge on the stringers.

[@DIYDeclassified]

When I edited this video, I actually thought I lost the footage. Recently I was going through some files and found them! This summer Im going to release an update video where I address some questions, and possibly add lighting to the deck.

[@dennissmith5837]

Pretty good video, you do a nice job of showing most things but no final shot of the completed deck or the blocking. Over all a nice job. You didn’t talk too much and you were clearly understood the subject. Good job.

[@DIYDeclassified]

Thank you. I tried to keep the final shots for the final video. This being my first project I recorded, I was really bad about focusing on the footage. Its a fun balance that I am still learning.

[@sgtlind428]

Looks good! Did a great job with this build. One tip for anyone who runs short a few plugs, or doesn't want to buy them, is to use a pinch of the drill shavings and cram them into the hole and hammer them in flush. Does a decent job of hiding the screw hole. The way you did it with premade plugs is better, but this works in a pinch too. Keep up the great work man!

[@DIYDeclassified]

Thanks for the tip! Those plugs are pretty expensive, and you deffinitly pay for the convienece of them. Did you put any glue in the hole first to hold it all in over time?

[@sgtlind428]

@@DIYDeclassified I never have, but that could be a smart move to add a drop of CA glue or something. Just push in a bunch of the shavings and tap it flush with a finish hammer and it seems to hold up ok. For what it's worth, I haven't had to go back and fix one yet and it's been about 6 years since I built my place.

[@hj8607]

YOU CAN use groove clips on back edge of non- grooved frame board . A router can EXTREEMELY easily put a notch at each frame location in just a few minutes after the frame board is secured on outer edge. (don't rout entire edge) AND that outer edge can be secured in place from underneath OR by pocket screwing the facia board into as a 'T' and then locking that in place by screws through the facia only.

[@DIYDeclassified]

Thank you, good to know.

[@user-eg8hb8xt3j]

Great ….now I need a router ….😂😂

[@eugeneanderson8884]

Great video. Making the fence to guide the saw was brilliant

[@DIYDeclassified]

Thank you. I can't take all the credit. I saw others use track saws to do this, and just thought of another way to copy their result.

[@dennissmith5837]

Also, your deck came out beautifully

[@DIYDeclassified]

Thank you!

[@davidpalmer8419]

Killed it!

[@DIYDeclassified]

Thanks man

[@jlt7793]

Wow. That’s a lot of effort making this video series just to brag about being 6’2”! Ha (joking aside, mostly) appreciate the effort. Some very helpful tips in there. Looks good!

[@DIYDeclassified]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mikejoyce7157]

04:01 You are using a 3/4 fascia and wanted the deck board to overhang that but..... 11:08 It looks like the picture frame deck board is flush with the fascia. Change of plan? ? 04:35 Use a router bit to cut a groove in the inside edge of the square edge. Then you only have screws on the most outer edge of the outer picture frame. Yep, I have OCD issues.

[@DIYDeclassified]

Thanks for the tip. The overhang didnt really work out like I had hoped. The decking material was about an inch shorter than I had planned, which made it so I didnt really have an overhang on the sides. So I had to change my plan and just remove the overhang. I still recommend the overhang to help keep water off the face, and I think it looks better. Good eye!

[@mikejoyce7157]

@@DIYDeclassified Some people have the skills to measure and measure and measure to get the overhang just right. Some people just cut the ends of the joists at the very last minute to get the overhang just right. Fudging a little more or less. As long as it looks good from the street.

[@pierre_desbiens]

Well done!

[@DIYDeclassified]

Thank you.

[@matthew87ism]

Great content! The music is too loud and repetitive though mate.

[@DIYDeclassified]

I appologise. I took some bad editing advice on these deck videos. Thank you for lett me know. Its comments like this that help my editing journey, and provide better quality videos for everyone.

[@toodlican]

Pretty amazing work. Looking fantastic

[@DIYDeclassified]

Thank you very much!

[@panjrobarobaipanj7259]

Great 👍 video nice and informative keep up the awesome work and just subscribed✅👍✅

[@DIYDeclassified]

Thank you. I have a lot of projects in the pipeline coming your way soon.

[@panjrobarobaipanj7259]

@@DIYDeclassified Awesome looking forward to it, I need all the help I can get, I need to replace allot of Joists, Header boards and beams and deck boards. I’m contemplating should I go for it, or pay someone. Everything cost an Arm and a leg now days with these inflation haha lol

[@DIYDeclassified]

​@@panjrobarobaipanj7259 I did have my deck priced out before I decided to do it myself and record it for KZbin. Doing it on my own saved me $10,000 from what I was quoted. This was no quick weekend project, (took me two months to build) so you really have to decide how much your time is worth.

[@shanhoneycutt4305]

Great video man!

[@DIYDeclassified]

Thank you for watching. I appreciate the feedback.

[@louislachapelle3157]

Great job! Since I leave in Quebec my concern for my futur project is the ledger board flashing protection. Not obvious😅

[@DIYDeclassified]

Thank you for watching. Good luck on your project!

[@LuisUgarteUSA]

Good job !

[@DIYDeclassified]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@chrisy6412]

So picture frame after, not before? Just curious as all the other ones I've seen picture frame after. Working on subframe now and will be laying deck boards soon. Thanks

[@DIYDeclassified]

I picture frame after. You can do it before, but you will have to cut each board individually. The way I do it allows me to cut a straight edge on all of them at the same time. This is just one of those "my way isnt the only way," kind of things.

[@benjaminbunny99]

I’m new to deck building. Is it standard procedure to make fascia boards flush with the deck boards? I would’ve thought you’d want like a 1” overhang. It is just personal preference?

[@DIYDeclassified]

You do want overhang. That way when it rains it can drip off the deck instead of running down the facia. This is where I mismeasured and get to live with the consequences.

[@benjaminbunny99]

@@DIYDeclassified I appreciate your honesty. Keep up the good work.

[@DIYDeclassified]

@@benjaminbunny99 thanks man!

[@javillanueva67]

Nice work but I dont like those screws. I prefer the ones with plugs that cover hole. Also the way you finished step threads, I would have done something else to cover those ends and exposed grooves which don't look attractive at all.

[@victoryak86]

Sorry if I missed it but what brand, series of decking is this? Thx.

[@DIYDeclassified]

This is Fiberon Composite Decking. They actually changed up their series and names of the colors since I did this deck. When I tried to order more for another project I couldnt get it anymore.

[@ozgultekin6100]

ran outta battery to subscribe, like, and hit the bell... sorryyyy

[@howtodoitdude1662]

You probably need more backing to do picture framing, correct?

[@DIYDeclassified]

You do need more backing. On my framing video you will see I added back blocking every 12 inches around the border to support it. Thank you for watching.

[@karljackson6371]

great clip - how far distance should the deck boards be apart to allow for expansion and what distance should be the maximum for stringers - thanks in advance for reply

[@DIYDeclassified]

The boards are spaced about 1/4 inch apart. The allows plenty of room for expansion. The stringers are spaced 12 inches on center. If you are going the route of composite decking, you will need to do 12 inch on center for the stringers.

[@andycron9885]

Question- loved your video. My wife especially like the double picture frame and the colors you used. What were they? You mentioned expresso, what was the gray and is it Fiberon?

[@DIYDeclassified]

You are right, I used Fiberon. For the center I used "Beach House" and the picture frame I used "Espresso." DO NOT USE ESPRESSO! The company updated their color scheme. The one I put down was more of a black/brown, and now when you look at the company site, it is 100% brown. By the looks of what is online, "Graphite" is more in line with what I have.

[@nateiowa3359]

Is it normal to do the picture frame last? I thought the picture frame went in first???!? I’m about to build a deck and that’s how I thought it was done.

[@howtodoitdude1662]

If you do the picture frame first, then you have to cut all the decking boards one piece at a time. The way he’s showing you, you cut all the boards while they’re installed, this way the cut is straight.

[@DIYDeclassified]

@howtodoitdude1662 you are absolutly correct! @nateiowa3359, you can do your frame first but I felt it was easier to lay them all down and then straight edge cut them all. If I did it the other way I know I would cut slightly short on some and it wouldnt look as sharp.

[@DanielOliveira-nn6tf]

Very great content learning a lot thanks for this 🙌🫡

[@DIYDeclassified]

Thank you.

[@ZeroCarbDaddy]

Only took 12 minutes to do all that! lol, KZbin magic!

[@DIYDeclassified]

It’s funny how these videos always make projects seem faster than they really are.

[@0906danny]

Did you use regular pine lumber or pressure treated pine?

[@DIYDeclassified]

I ended up using regular lumber. I purchased this material during the lumber shortage a couple years ago, and had to finally settle for standard lumber. In my area, we get no humidity and its a very dry state so I wasn’t too worried. I did prep each board by coating them with a sealer, and I re-coat them in the spring.