Calculate materials accurately.
Calculating materials is one of the toughest challenges for the do-it-yourself builder. A lot of time can be wasted making additional trips to the lumberyard for more material. Conversely a lot of money can be wasted on materials that may not be returnable if too much is ordered. In order to accurately calculate the needed materials you will need a plan including dimensions and a list of the various materials you will be using. Calculating materials by the 8-foot-square gives you a simple way to get an accurate estimate of how much you need.
Instructions
1. Start with your posts. You will need one 4-by-4 inch treated post for each location. Typically posts are placed every 4 feet. You will need nine posts for each 8-foot-square section. Plan enough 3-inch lag bolts for attaching framing members. Calculate an average of three per post with fender washers. Plan for a half of an 80-lb. bag of cement for each post. Add the listed quantity of each material for each post.
2. Count your joists and hardware. You will need 72 linear feet of lumber for each 8-foot-square. This includes an outside frame and cross members every 16 inches. Calculate 14 joist hangers for each 8-foot-square. You will need six 1-¼-inch deck screws for each hanger. Add the listed quantity of each material for every 8-foot-square of deck.
3. Calculate your decking. Each typical 8 foot 5/4 -by-6 inch deck board will cover 4square feet, 2 per 8 foot square. You will need 28, 1-5/8-inch treated deck screws for each 8 foot square. Add the listed quantity of each material for every 8 foot square of deck.
4. Add up all raised edges and the sides of your stairs for railing. For each 8-foot section you will need 8 feet of top rail, three rail posts, 22 balusters and 8 feet of bottom rail.
5. Calculate materials for your stairs. For each step of your staircase you will need 4 feet of 1-by-12 inch lumber for the stringers and enough lumber to cover the width of the stair. For a 4-foot-wide step you will need 8 feet of 1-by-12, four 2-inch L brackets and 16 treated deck screws, size 1-¼ inch.
6. Calculate the total square footage of your deck and divide by eight, round up to the nearest whole section. For example, a 326-square-foot deck has 40 full 8-foot squares and 6 square feet extra. Round up to 41. Calculate post, framing and decking materials by multiplying the quantities by the number of 8-foot squares needed to complete your deck. Add the materials for railings and steps.
Related posts
Decks all have the same basic structure.Decks can come in all shapes and sizes. However, the basic form of a deck is universal; there are footers, posts, frame, decking boards and railing. With a...
Lumber-framed construction allows for straightforward load calculations.Many of the structural calculations involved in wood-frame construction are relatively simple. Naturally, there is no substi...
Calculate How Much Soil Is Needed in a Raised Bed Planter BoxPlanter boxes come in all shapes and sizes. Raised bed planter boxes may be located adjacent to a building, encircle the base of a tree...
Build a DeckAre you thinking about building out a deck for your house? If you are handy with tools and like to build things yourself, this article will provide you with enough help to finish the p...
Build a Dog House With Scrap MaterialsBuilding a dog house with scrap materials is an inexpensive way to provide shelter for your pet. Many standard building materials can be used to construct a d...
