Building a deck by yourself might sound intimidating, but with the right plan and a few smart tricks, it’s totally doable. In ...

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 ...

The cost to build a deck is $14,000 on average but can cost as little as $1,500 and as much as $23,000. A 20x20 deck costs $16,000 to $24,000.

The deck post must be fastened to the concrete pier. It’s best to place a long half-inch anchor bolt in the wet concrete that will be used to bolt down a galvanized-metal deck post base.

If you’ve hired a deck designer to draw up the plans, chances are they can manage the build as well. Most designers are either employed by or networked with builders.

A quick rule of thumb for deck sizing is to allow for 5 square feet for each person who will be using it. So if you have a family of five, you should plan for at least 25 square feet.

There have been more than 1,100 injuries and 20 deaths in the last 10 years because of dangerous decks. If you are getting a new deck built this summer or if you plan to get yours redone, there is ...