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Stesso

Installing Floor Joists and Blocking

9:51
18:31
57.6K views

At 9:51 in

Most Decks Are Over Complicated. (Do This, It's Easier)

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What happens here

Position the 2x10 pressure-treated floor joists into the installed joist hangers on the ledger board, running perpendicular to the house and resting on the main support beam. Secure the joists to the hangers using 3-inch exterior-grade nails. At the main beam, back-nail the joists by driving nails or screws through the side of the joist into the beam for added lateral stability. The main beam is designed to handle the vertical load, so no hangers are needed on this side. Once joists are installed, cut and fit blocking between them along the perimeter of the deck. This blocking provides a solid attachment point for the perimeter decking boards and prevents lateral movement.

Goal: Create the structural framework for the deck surface

Tools and materials

  • 2x10 Pressure-Treated Lumber — Floor joists and blocking
  • 3-inch Exterior Grade Nails — Securing joists and blocking
  • Circular Saw Ryobi — Cutting blocking to size
  • Hammer — Driving nails
  • Impact Driver Ryobi — Driving screws (if used instead of nails)

What they say

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We got our hangers all up. They're 12 inches on center. We're doing more than expected. This is going to give this a really strong feel. We're securing them in their hardware with 3-in exterior grade nails. And we don't have to use any hangers on this side because our big old beam is going to be doing all the heavy lifting for it. It's hanging time. Hangers are on. This beam is going to be supporting everything here. So to keep this stuff from moving left to right, which you know the the decking is going to secure enough, but just for added support, we're going to uh back nail it on the side. I'm all out of nails, so we're going to switch the screws, which is even better. All right, let's tie in the end cap or the front ledge or whatever you want to call it. Exterior hot dip nails. Nails right here. Throw it in about two per board. Run them all the way across. This will stabilize this thing from buckling on us and kicking us off our chair as we're drinking our morning coffee. All right, last bit of blocking is done. Reason we have blocking is to make sure that when we have our perimeter piece of tracks around or the decking you choose to go with of your choice, it has something to lay on cuz it's going to run this way and the rest of them are going to run this way. And I'm going to go that way to go pick up the track stick. We are on day three of this deck.

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