Installing Vertical Support Posts and Horizontal Beams

What happens here

For additional structural integrity and to support the outer sections of the deck, large vertical support posts (visible as treated lumber) are installed. These posts are typically anchored in concrete footings below the frost line for stability and uplift resistance. Once the posts are cut to height, plumbed (checked for vertical straightness), and secured, heavy horizontal beams are lifted and placed onto the tops of these posts. These beams, often doubled or tripled for strength depending on the span, run perpendicular to the joists and act as the main carriers, transferring the deck's load to the posts. Precise measurement and careful alignment, guided by the laser level, are crucial to ensure the beams are perfectly level and spaced correctly to support the joists above, thus forming a robust and stable sub-structure.

Goal: Large vertical posts are set into the ground or footings, and substantial horizontal beams are mounted atop them to provide the primary support for the entire joist system.