Home Improvement Ideas Decks Deck Building How to Add an Angled Corner and Joists for Angled Deck Framing Create unique deck designs with our step-by-step instructions on how to add angled corners and joists to your deck frame. By Jessica Bennett Jessica Bennett Jessica Bennett is an editor, writer, and former digital assistant home editor at BHG. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on October 26, 2022 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Laurie Black Project Overview Working Time: 6 hours Total Time: 6 hours Skill Level: Intermediate A deck greatly expands your outdoor living space while adding a beautiful focal point to your backyard. When building a new deck, think beyond standard square or rectangular designs to create angled deck framing that suits your space and needs. Angled corners allow you to construct interesting deck shapes that follow the boundaries of your yard, work around obstacles such as trees and landscaping, or create more space for outdoor cooking equipment and patio furniture. Building a deck frame with angled or clipped corners also helps you avoid a boxy look by softening the edges. The angles make it more challenging to lay joists and give your deck the support it needs, but it's not an impossible task. We'll walk you through the entire process, including how to level the beams and attach angled joists. Follow the steps below to learn how to angle corners and joists when building a deck frame. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Shims Drill Framing square Measuring tape Pencil Circular saw Layout square Materials Screws or nails 1X4 beam Joists Ledger Joist hangers Skewed joist hanger Instructions Dave Toht Level the Beams The joint where the two beams meet doesn't have to be tight, but the two must be on the same level. Wedge a shim above the post of one beam, if necessary. Drill pilot holes and drive screws or nails to fasten the beams to each other. Dave Toht Mark the Angled Cut Assemble the outside frame as you did when you laid out the deck, set it on the beams, and attach the rim joists to the ledger. Check for square, then anchor the rim joists to the beam with screws. To mark the angled cut line, measure out from the corner an equal distance in both directions. Align a straight 1x4 with both measurements, and mark the header and the rim joist. Transfer the marks to the faces of the boards with a square. Dave Toht Cut Header and Rim Joist Use one of the temporary supports you made for marking the layout to hold up the header; the rim joist rests on a beam. Set a circular saw at 90 degrees and cut the header and the rim joist. Dave Toht Cut to Fill Corner Measure between the cuts on the header and rim joist and cut an angled piece to fill the corner. Hold the angle-cut piece in place and drill pilot holes. Attach it with nails or screws. Dave Toht Cut and Install Joists Cut and install the joists with the crowns up. Attach joist hangers at the ledger, or drive screws or nails through the header into the joists. To measure for cutting a joist at the angled section, hold it in place and mark it. Have a helper hold one end against the ledger, so its bottom edge is close to the top of the ledger. Mark the bottom of the joist while another helper measures it to see that it is parallel to the next joist. Transfer the mark to the face of the joist using a layout square, and cut at a 45-degree angle. Dave Toht Notch Joists Around Steps If a set of concrete steps is in the way, notch the joists. Cut a joist to length and hold it in place. Level the joist. Steps often slope away from the house, so there might be a gap under the joist. Mark where the joist meets the top of the ledger. Transfer that measurement to the joist where it crosses the edge of the step. Lay out your cut line between these two points. Because the width of the joist has been reduced, it must be reinforced. Cut a scrap piece of 2x lumber to rest on a lower step and reach the top of the joist. Attach the support to the joist with several screws. Dave Toht Attach Angled Joist Use a special skewed joist hanger to attach an angled joist to the header. This step is necessary even if you have fastened all the other joists to the header by backscrewing or nailing. Dave Toht Work Around Obstructions It's common for pipes, vent caps, and other obstructions to stick out of the house at about the same height as the ledger. If a vent falls at the top of a ledger, cut a notch for it. If the vent falls in the middle of the ledger, remove the vent cap and extend the duct by 1-1/2 inches. Use a hole saw to make a clean circular cut in the ledger, fit the duct through the ledger, and reinstall the vent cap.If the obstacle is in the path of a joist, you'll have to frame around it, as shown above. Install ledger pieces on either side, taking care that the pieces are at exactly the same height. Install joists on either side of the obstacle, then cut and install a piece of blocking between the joists. Cut a joist to run from the header to the blocking piece.