Adding Curves to a Steel-Frame Deck
It’s easier than you think to bend steel and dress it up with flexible PVC trim Read more
A Path to Safer Balconies
These tricky cantilevered structures demand careful framing and waterproofing details. Read more
READERS’ TIPS
Night Lights
A deck builder creates a little romance with a $50 string of patio lights hung from a simple valance surrounding the perimeter of his clients' deck. Read more
Connecting a Deck to a SIPs House
You can't fasten a ledger to most structural insulated panels, so if you want to add a deck to a SIPs house your best bet is to build a freestanding deck and anchor it to the structure or foundation with special metal brackets. Read more
STRUCTURE
Railings for Grade-Level Decks
Even when a guardrail is not required by code, build it as if it were Read more
TOOL KIT
Review: Collomix Xo 4 Portable Power Mixer
The Collomix Xo 4 is a heavy-duty low-speed drill that can be used to mix up batches of mortar, concrete, and other heavy materials Read more
DAY’S END
City Lights
Subtle lighting optimizes nighttime views of New York City's skyline from this ipe deck. Read more
While not required by code, deck framing and metal hardware that is primed and painted prior to installation will be better protected from rot and corrosion Read more
Product
Hollow-Core Vinyl Decking
EverNew deck planks from CertainTeed have a non-slip raised-ridge surface Read more
Product
Thicker Trim
Kleer 2x PVC boards and sheets are manufactured in 2-by lumber dimensions Read more
TOOL KIT
Cord Connectors
This clever system consists of a hardened plastic shell and a pair of rubber cord stops, and will prevent you from accidentally disconnecting from an extension cord. Read more
Product
Flexible Light Strips
Lengths of up to 165 feet of Outwater's LED Brite Lite Flex ribbons can be run with a single power cord Read more
Product
Slim Aluminum Rails
Kits for Fairway Building Products' Slimline railing come in 36-inch and 42-inch heights Read more
Rebuilding a Brick Patio
Brick pavers installed in a mortar bed over a membrane-protected concrete slab are an attractive and durable hardscaping option for warmer climates Read more
Ground-contact PT lumber is becoming more widely available, thanks to the AWPA's new rules for treated lumber. But the industry is divided on how the new rules apply to deck framing. Read more
