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The best way to level deck posts

2:21
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Video by Premier Outdoor Living

Premier Outdoor Living

What happens here

This project demonstrates an efficient and accurate method for determining the precise cut lengths for multiple deck posts (6x6s) using a laser level, a laser detector, and a story pole. By establishing a fixed reference height from the house (e.g., a door sill) and transferring individual footing heights onto the story pole, precise measurements can be obtained to ensure a level and structurally sound deck frame. This technique simplifies the process of cutting posts to varying lengths to accommodate uneven ground or footings.

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We got to figure out the height of 16 footings to cut 6 by 4 our deck. I'm going to show you the easiest way to do it. Got our laser set up. Start with this? No, first thing you do get rid of that. 2 by 4, that's what you want. First thing I'm going to do, get our seal height. You're in the way there, Steve. >> Oop. >> Right there? >> All right. >> Door. Boom. I need to be 19 in down off of that mark. So, what I'm going to do is just measure each footing. There's one. Next up, footing number two. So, on and so forth till we have all of our footing heights marked out on this stick, and then we can just get them all cut. We know exactly where they go and how high. Now, we got all of our heights marked out on this story pole. We've got our door right there. All of our footings marked there. Now, we've got inch of decking, 9 in for a joist, 9 in for a beam, that's 19 in. That's how we need to figure this out. So, make it even easier, I'm going to measure from our door to this mark right here. That's like our our control point. And now, all we need to do, measure from here 6 and 5 in to to footing number one. That's how long the 6 by needs to be. Number two's right here. We got 11 and 3/4. Number three, how long you ask? 13 and 1/2. Boom. Simple as that. We got the story right here, just waiting to be told. And I guess I'm the author. I'm like Ernest Hemingway or uh The Great Gatsby. I don't know. Uh time to get to work. Five beams, ton of footings, all perfectly level, done super quick, super easy. That's how you do it. You can do it like that or you can do it the wrong way. Honestly, I just came up with the idea to do it this way today and I've always done the other way every other time, but it worked out really good and I feel really smart for thinking of it, so. If it helped, give us a follow or something. I don't know.

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