Build a Redwood Deck

The addition of a deck on a house creates exterior floor space for recreation and leisure activities so it's a worthwhile improvement. Redwood is a premier choice because of its long-lasting quality - it resists rot and mildew, and withstands the forces of Mother Nature. A contractor will charge $2,150 to build a 180-square-foot single-level redwood deck. You can buy the materials and build it for under $1,000 and pocket more than half of what he charges.

It's hard-earned money because deck building is labor intensive. Figure on spending several long weekends to complete the work. Because the materials are expensive, it's a job for someone with carpentry experience. The materials include redwood lumber, cement for footings and galvanized nails and hardware. You'll need a shovel and basic carpentry tools, a circular saw and electric drill.
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Take your time laying out the deck on graph paper or a computer software program before digging and pouring the footings. If you're intimidated by this part of the job, hire a carpenter to build the foundation and framing, then you install the decking

Tip: To prevent splitting the lumber pre-drill nail holes near the ends of the decking. Use a decking nail in an electric drill to make the holes instead of a standard drill bit.

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