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Deck Stairs: Guide to Layout, Cutting, and Installation
Stairs are one of the trickiest parts of any deck build, and I have cut my share of stringers, good and bad, over the years. Quick answer: Deck stairs are made of stringers, treads, and risers that carry people safely from your deck down to the ground. The basic rule of stair building is simple…
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Deck Beams Guide: Sizing, Building & Installing Them
I have built small beams for little platforms, and big triple-ply beams for large multi-level decks that carry a lot of weight. Quick answer: Deck beams are the heavy horizontal members that sit on top of your posts. They collect the weight from all your floor joists and send that weight down through the posts…
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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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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.