Procedure for Wood Deck Bracing

Bracing a wood deck actually involves a simple installation process that requires deck piers. Deck piers do not have to be located at the very edge of the deck, and if they can be hidden, then so much the better. Local building codes and infrastructure will usually determine the number of piers for the two sides, and it is also helpful to nail the two outermost joists to the header board before any digging is done.

To set up the deck piers, temporary braces must first be set up to prop the outermost joists. Ensure that these two joists are level at both ends, from the front to the back along the same joist, and also across the span from one joist to the other. Use the joists as the reference point while working on the pier holes. Use a carpenters square to check if the joists form right angles with the header board so the rectangular frame can be built with perfect right angles. Once the joists are installed, run a tape measure along each joist; start down from the header, stop at the distance where the piers should be located, then mark it. Run a string tightly between these two marks from joist to joist, spanning the entire deck width. Use this string as a guide to determine the location of the piers by running a plumb bob down from the string to the ground, then marking that spot. Once done, digging can now be started.

To prevent the piers from heaving during freeze and thaw cycles, extend the pier holes below the frost line. Use the plumb bob as a guide in order to dig the same depth for each hole, then apply a layer of crushed stone at the bottom. For the footing, mix concrete and build a small square concrete footing form in accordance with local building codes. Making the house-end the same height as the opposite end of the deck will be one of the biggest challenges that will be encountered in this deck building project. For this step, just apply the do-it-yourself carpenters golden rule as best as you can.