How to Lay Out a Deck Frame

Measure the width of your home to determine the size ledger board you need to begin your deck layout. Remove any vinyl siding at this location. The ledger board should be the same size you intend to use for your deck floor.

Drill pilot holes in the ledger board for the screws. Insert a small amount of silicone sealant inside the holes to create a moisture barrier. Insert the screws and tighten with the ratchet.

Screw a metal deck joist hanger into the left corner of the ledger board and one every 24 inches apart until you reach the end of the board.

Measure the desired layout of the deck with the tape measure. Mark spots for two corner posts and one post in the outside center. Make a note of the height of the posts to ensure the deck will be level with your home. Mark the dimensions with string and wooden stakes to use as a guide.

Dig holes with the post hole digger 3 feet into the ground in the spot indicated in your layout for your deck posts. Insert three 4-by-4-inch wood posts into the holes and fill the holes with concrete. You can use quick-drying concrete from your local home improvement center.

Set concrete anchors every 6 feet from the left corner of the ledger board around the circumference of the deck layout if you are not building an elevated structure. The concrete anchors ensure a low-lying deck is level with your home. Set one to three more anchors in the center of your deck to help prevent sagging.

Screw metal post anchors into the tops of the posts adjacent from the hangers on the ledger board. Screw metal joist hangers on the insides of the corner post and on both the left and right side of the center post.

Set the first wood joist inside the first metal hanger on the ledger board and the post anchor on the corner post. Insert another wood joist into the metal hanger on the inside of the corner post and connect it to the center post. Continue to connect the wood joists to the posts and finally the other end of the ledger board to from the square or rectangular layout of your deck.

Install metal joist hangers into the wood joists adjacent to the ledger board.

Insert wood joists vertically from the ledger board directly across to the wood joists that make up the outline of the deck. Use a level to ensure the deck layout is square with the house.