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DAY ONE - Continued

You'll now have three rows of piers installed: one along the house and one coming out from each side of the deck. Lay in all the joists, level them and install the intermediate piers (photo 3).

3. SET THE joists into the slots in the concrete piers, then carefully check each one to ensure that it's perfectly level.

John Nasta

Next, screw a band joist across the ends of the floor joists at both the left and right sides of the frame (photo 4). Move to the joist farthest from the house and screw short outriggers - 12-in.-long 2x6 blocks - in place. Install one at each of the five piers, then attach the final band joist at the end of the deck (photo 5). That detail allows the decking to extend past the piers so they're less conspicuous.

4. FASTEN THE band joist with 3-in. galvanized screws. It continues past the intersecting joist to support the decking.

John Nasta

5. SCREW THE band joist farthest from the house in place after installing short 2x6 outrigger blocks that extend past the concrete piers.

John Nasta

Check that the frame is square and each joist is level. Don't be afraid to make minor corrections. Unlike decks with concrete footings, this system allows all the parts to be easily repositioned or adjusted after the understructure framing is completed. Once you're satisfied with the framing, backfill around any piers that were dug into the ground (photo 6).

6. SHOVEL SOME dirt around the base of any precast piers that were dug down into the ground after all the 2x6 joists are installed.

John Nasta

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