I was recently asked to build a replacement deck for a family on Lake Luzerne NY.
Their previous deck was not built on solid footings and the snow load was pulling it away fro the home.
It had been removed and the house was re-sided.
I stripped the siding where the ledger board would be located, move a spigot further down the home away from where the deck would be and got started digging!
Easy digging with the exception of the stones!! It was hard work but it is worth the effort! In the Lake George area the frost can get deep and if you don't dig deep enough by spring the frost could push your deck up and ruin your efforts! I installed 3 8" sonotubes to support the deck beam.
I used wet set post holders to secure the posts to the footings. These are a great way to ensure your deck is permanently attached to the footings. I have run into some issues with the bolt in post holders not biting well to the concrete and allowed for a slight wiggle in the deck. These wet set fasteners worked very well.
The framing was completed using 2x8 joists attached with joist hangers to the ledger board and toe nailed + hurricane tied to the beam. 4x4 posts were notched and attached to the deck with three 5" ledger lock bolts. My original plan was to use thes posts for the railing system, but the color was way off.
A simple deck is installed by running the deck boards in one direction across the joist form front to back with the ends of the decking exposed on the sides of the deck. I used a double boarder around the fron and sides of the deck. It takes a little mor framing and time but adds a detail that stands out.
I picked up some appearance grade 1x6 pressure treated lumber. I used these to wrap the off color 4x4 posts. Added some 6x6 post caps and some base molding made from scrap deck boards! I love it.