Laying the Decking

Sort seven or eight decking boards and place them good side up on the framing. Orient each board with its crown facing the house. Choose a straight board for the first one, which in this plan goes up against the house.

Snap a chalk line that is the width of a decking board plus 1/2 inch on the joists. The siding may be a little wavy, so check that the line is at no point closer to the house than the width of a decking board.

Cut the first decking board to length; you cannot cut it when you trim the edges (Step 8). Align the board with the chalk line and attach it with only as many fasteners as it takes to keep the board straight; you'll drive the rest later (Step 7). Drive the fasteners into the centers of the joists.

Allow succeeding boards to run wild -- install them longer than they need to be so you can cut them off later. Use spacers between the boards. Install only as many fasteners as it takes to keep the boards straight; the fewer, the better. Drive the fasteners into the centers of the joists.

To bend a warped board, drive a fastener partway into the decking (but not into the joist). Have a helper push the bent board into position and finish driving the fastener. Every seven boards or so, sight along a board or use a line to make sure the decking is straight. Make adjustments if necessary.

When you are within five or six boards of the edge, measure to see whether the last piece will overhang the header an acceptable amount -- 3/4 inch to 2-1/2 inches. If not, you may need to rip-cut the last piece or gradually increase or decrease the spacing to make up the difference.

Once all the boards have been installed with the minimum number of fasteners, snap chalk lines over the centers of joists. Drive the rest of the fasteners along the lines. This will produce lines of fastener heads that are straight, with only a few exceptions -- a crisp finishing touch.

Snap chalk lines 1-1/2 inches outside the framing. Cut the lines with a circular saw. If any waste piece is longer than 16 inches, have a helper support it as you cut. Otherwise it could splinter near the end of the cut. Cut freehand or use a guide.