Mark the 1-1/2-in. notches for the six 4x4 corner posts to fit over the joists and decking. First, cut them with your circular saw. Pry out the cutout piece and clean up the notch with a sharp chisel.

Q: I’ve never worked with metal joist hangers. When I hold one in my hand, I question whether it’s actually strong enough to support all the weight that will be resting on it. Are they safe?

Hidden clips hold the decking to the floor joists. ... I happened to use two 2x6s that extend from the corners of my deck and meet at the center forming a huge letter V under my deck.

And if you want to build your own deck or renovate one, you’ll find much of the advice centers on building codes and topics like laying out floor joists or how to lay out a set of stairs on a ...

I’m going to build a deck. Don’t try to stop me. I’ve got many questions for you. First, what’s the smallest size a deck can be and still have a table on it for eating?

Catastrophic deck collapses have occurred, typically happening when there is a party with a lot of people on the deck. “Although Arthur noticed the joist hanger itself rusting, it is possible ...