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Deck Joists: Complete Guide to Sizing, Spacing & Installing
I have installed hundreds of joists, and I have replaced just as many that were done wrong the first time. Quick answer: Deck joists are the horizontal boards that hold up your decking. They run between the ledger board and the beam, and they carry the floor load down to the frame. Most decks space…
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Deck Framing: How to Build a Strong, Square Frame That Lasts
I have built decks for over the years. I have framed small decks and big decks. I have also fixed a lot of bad frames built by other people. Quick answer: Deck framing is the wood skeleton under your decking boards. It is made of a ledger board, posts, beams, and joists. A good frame…
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Deck Railings: A Complete Guide
I have installed simple wood railings and fancy cable railings, and I have fixed more than a few wobbly posts that were never blocked correctly in the first place. Quick answer: Deck railings are the guardrail system around the edge of an elevated deck. They keep people from falling off the side, and they need…
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Sam has spent years working with wood — from furniture building to fine finishing. The Wood Carpenter was built to share real, practical woodworking knowledge you can actually use in your workshop.