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Building a deck requires many components. Grade beams, digging, post holes, joist hangers, ledger bolts, nails, stairways, deck plans and layout... there are so many things to keep in mind. Here are 15 labor-saving tips on building a deck.

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Vinyl decking and plastic decking have maintenance advantages over wood decking. Virgin vinyl decks are better than recycled material decks because they both last longer and won't lose their color. Use a synthetic deck sealer for maintenance.

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Synthetic deck material manufacturers make a wide variety of decking products. The following is a list of manufacturers along with the kind of material they use to make their deck: virgin vinyl or recycled content.

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Vinyl decking costs more than wood decking. Synthetic decks or plastic decks are low maintenance and for the person who thinks sealing a deck is a hassle. But in the long run, your wood deck might actually save you money.

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The deck post railing and the way it connects to the deck and adjacent stairs is very critical. If it is not done properly, it can be dangerous. Over time the deck posts can wobble and become very unsafe. There are several ways to install railing posts that will be secure for many years.

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Decks that need piers or footings must have them installed below the frost line. This will keep the piers from heaving up out of the ground from the strength of the freeze. Reinforcing steel will help keep the piers from cracking.

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Decks can be constructed out of many materials. My deck construction choices would be chemically treated pine for the structural aspect and construction grade redwood. This will look gorgeous in anyone's deck plans.

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Building a ground level deck is not as hard as it seems. Ground level decks will need concrete beams to take the place of wooden beams that would be installed in a deck built off the ground.

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Decks don't have to be made of wood only. You can find many types of alternative decking material. Virgin vinyl, recycled plastic, plastic resin mixed with wood fibers and aluminum. Sealing many of these materials is not necessary. Read this column to see the pros and cons.

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