If you have plans to build a deck that will have more than one level or will be more than about 15 inches above the ground, you'll need stairs.Stairs can be one of the more challenging aspects of a ...

DEAR TIM: I read your recent column about building stairs for a deck. I can handle that, but I’m worried about how to make all the complex cuts required for the deck stair railing. Can you give me a ...

Picture a stair slope in your mind to estimate about a 40-degree slope and guess at a landing point. Rest any straight piece of deck lumber on the deck and level it over to the landing point. Measure ...

Building a staircase is a job for a master carpenter, but an experienced do-it-yourselfer can usually construct a simple set of stairs for a back-yard deck. Cutting the pieces and assembling them are ...

We’ve got the frame, the boards, and the weatherproofing—now it’s time to finish strong! In Part 4 of Building an EPIC Deck, we tackle one of the most important (and satisfying) parts of the project: ...

There’s a lot to building a deck. And if you want to build your own deck or renovate one, you’ll find much of the advice centers on building codes and topics like laying out floor joists or how to lay ...

Buying a home with an enormous backyard is a definite thrill. So much space! There’s room for your dog, a swingset for your 5-year-old, and a deck! For many of us, this is the holy grail. And you—you ...

If your backyard is split level or terraced, you can use decking steps as a link to help you make the most of your space and access different areas smoothly. Meanwhile if you already have a raised ...

There are horror stories of months-long wait times to secure a roof-deck permit in Washington—and of illegal monstrosities erected by less-than-considerate neighbors. But building a retreat among the ...

If your project will use a popular deck wood like cedar, redwood or pressure-treated lumber, and you’re not looking for a bunch of extras, you can assume a deck cost per square foot of about $30 to ...