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

Also, if you do build this deck or another one, we'd love to see it. Just head over to our submissions page and share your work with us. Now, get to work! -- Ryan Van Bibber, executive editor ...

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 ...

So if you plan on throwing large parties, you will need a large deck. But if your idea is to carve out a little space where you can unwind at the end of the day, plan on a smaller deck.

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.

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.

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.

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 ...

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.