Introduction
With your plans drawn, you can write up a list of the lumber and other materials you'll need to complete the project. The list at right shows the required lengths for most of the lumber for a typical 12x20-foot deck. Because lumber generally is sold in lengths of even-numbered feet (beginning with 8 feet), however, your final lumber order will be different.
Plan your order for the most efficient use of lumber. For example, the decking requires two boards to complete each run. You could buy a 14-foot board and an 8-foot board for each run, but you'll have less waste if you buy all 14-foot boards and cut some of them in half. Allow at least 10 percent for waste. With the lumber and materials list, shop around for the best prices and delivery fees. Be sure to find out if you will be able to return unused lumber.
Chart: Materials List for 12 x 20-foot
Basic Deck
Foundation (for 3-foot frost line)
Premixed concrete: 4-2/3 cubic feet
Fiber-form tubes: 4----8x38"
Gravel or sand: as needed for drainage
Rebar: 8----No. 4 L-shaped pieces
Framing
Ledgerboard: 1---2x8x10' or 1----2x8x9'9"
Metal flashing: as needed
Posts: 4---4x4x needed deck height
Beams: 2----2x10x13' or 2----2x10x7'
Plywood spacers (for beams): 11---1/2x3x8'
Joists: 16---2x8x11'9"
End joists: 2----2x8x12'
Header joists: 1----2x8x6'6" or 1----2x8x13'3"
Decking
Decking boards: 39----2x6x14'
Nails and Fasteners
Joist hangers: 12----2x8
Post anchors: 2----3-1/2x8
Post caps: 4----4x4
Bolts or anchors for ledger: 4----4x4
16d common nails or 3-inch decking screws at 1,000/lb: as needed
Optional
Stairs
Railings
Sealer/stain
|
Planning for outside lumber storage
Store wood outside by "stickering" it with strips of wood in between layers to create air spaces. Use scrap pieces of 2x4s or 4x4s to keep the stack off the ground. Weights on top of the stack help prevent warping. Cover the stack with a tarp.
|
|
