Carpentry & Building Construction

Chapter 35: Decks & Porches

Chapter Summaries

Section 35.1 Deck Materials
In addition to traditional softwoods, decking materials include hardwoods, plastic decking, and composite decking. The materials should be weather and decay resistant. The hardware used to install decking must be corrosion resistant.

Section 35.2 Planning & Construction
Construction of a deck calls for several layers of structural support. All construction details must be installed to minimize decay caused by trapped water. A ledger is a very important element of an attached deck. It must be installed with great care. Porches are built with framing, roofing, and concrete-slab work that is similar to parts of a house