The Complete Deck Book by Sunset Books Review
Sunset Books’ The Complete Deck Book (TCDB) makes a pretty audacious claim in its subtitle: “Everything You Need to Plan, Build, or Buy the Perfect Deck for Your Home.” My opinion: it pretty well lives up to its claim. If you’re looking for a one stop shop for all things decking, Sunset’s TCDB is a great place to start. It includes inspirational pictures, how-to guides, and great information on building accent pieces like benches and planters. Below I give a chapter-by-chapter overview & review with some of the highlights and drawbacks from each section. If you own this book, feel free to weigh in with your own critique below.
If you happen to be looking for a decking book, you can pick up The Complete Deck Book on Amazon. Note that my review is of the prior version of this book. Amazon is now selling the updated version. So, the chapter titles may be slightly different. Amazon’s got a cool feature on some books (including this one) that will let you browse the book online.
Chapter 1: Deck Possibilities (Inspirational Picture Gallery)
The Complete Deck Book opens with 36 full color pages of inspirational decking pictures. Pictures include multiple decking types (cedar, redwood, southern yellow pine, fiberglass composites, and other non-wood materials), elevated and ground-level decks, decks built on hills, decks cantalevered over the side of a precipice, large and small space decks, poolside decks, rooftop decks, and more. There’s a subsection devoted to all types of railings (wood slats, glass, iron bars, patterned railings, etc), and a subsection devoted to stairs. The chapter concludes with mini-subsections on benches, under-deck storage, planters, and wind screens.
Some of the designs are truly breathtaking, and obviously very expensive, while others are simple and elegant and (perhaps most importantly) will fit inside a middle class budget. The pictures are so great, it leaves you wishing it were a whole book filled with nothing but inspirational views.
Chapter 2: Planning Your Deck
Chapter two focuses on deck planning. I enjoyed TCDB’s approach to planning, which starts with an evaluation of your wants and needs. What’s the primary purpose of your deck? Will you entertain? Dine? Garden? Each of these impacts how the deck should be constructed. This chapter offers guidance on picking the shape of a deck, integrating it into your overall house plan, and choosing the right finishing touches. For instance, one suggestion (among dozens) that this chapter makes is to use interesting angles to lessen the harshness of sharp corners (e.g. make octogons from squares). We chose to do this on our deck and are really please with the result.
The chapter continues with an overview of common legal restrictions related to deck building (e.g. zoning requirements & restrictions), how to draw and read deck blueprints, and some considerations in planning the work (including things like the pros and cons of hiring a designer or an architect).
Chapter 3: Deck Components
Chapter three introduces the basics of deck builing. It covers the deck structure, the substructure (including poured and precast footings, joists, joist hangers, and beams), stairs and ramps, railings and screens. Interesting content here includes a discussion of whether you should lay wood perpendicular to joists or diaganally across them, and what end-joint pattern should you choose if you decide on a perpendicular lay. The substructure subsection dives further into bracing and blocking techniques and span calculation for determining beam and joist requirements for the build.
Chapter 4: Deck Materials
Chapter four delves into perhaps the most talked about aspects of decks – the materials. This section covers the pros and cons of all different types of surfaces: wood decking, nonwood boards, outdoor carpeting, concrete, tile and pavers, and more. I like that TCDB doesn’t stop with a discussion of surface materials (which is very in depth). They discuss substructure materials, including the most common (dimensional lumber) and also less common substructure elements like timbers, steel, and concrete. The only drawback to the general materials section is TCDB’s lack of sufficient discussion of the vast number of new composite decking materials available from many vendors [this may be updated in the new version].
The chapter continues with a large four-page section on choosing lumber and understanding common lumber problems (like warping, splitting, and twisting + 6 more ways wood can be defective).
The chapter concludes with a discussion of fasteners of all types. Before reading this section, I had NO idea how many different fasteners can be used in deck construction – from common nails and screws, to more complicated fasteners like expansion shields for masonry.
Chapter 5: Building Your Deck
After walking through four chapters of planning techniques, The Complete Deck Book finally puts hammer-to-nail, so to speak, and gives step by step instructions on how to build your deck – from the ground up (quite literally). The section opens with tools and safety tips, explains how to prepare the site safely, and gets you started on mounting the ledger board. It proceeds through building the foundation (pouring footings), installing posts and beams, installing joists, constructing stairs, laying decking boards, and building railings. It also examines some complicated deck-building scenarios, like how to build over an existing patio.
Chapter 6: Building Overheads
Chapter six provides detail on how to build fancy overheads for your deck, including specialized lumber designed for accenting overhead components. This chapter covers how to anchor the overhead structure to the deck, the beams and rafters that should be employed, and potential roof coverings for overheads (like shingles, for solid roofs, or spaced boards to only allow direct sunlight during peak hours).
Chapter 7: Finishing Touches
Chapter 7 is the reason why a deck owner might purchase this book instead of just borrowing it. Once the deck is complete, finishing touches can be added for years to come. This chapter opens with lighting options, including how to build in low-voltage solutions, post lamps, recessed lighting, overhead lighting, under-bench lighting, and path lighting. This chapter continues with sections on plumbing, bench and planter construction (including several designs that integrate benches with planters), tables, storage compartments, and even sand-box construction.
The section concludes with the application of stains and sealers to the deck to preserve the decking surface over time. While it provides a good overview of some stain considerations, it falls short of making specific recommendations since those should be made with a complete understanding of the climate and environment a deck is in.
Chapter 8: Maintenance and Repair
As all homeowners know, homes don’t maintain themselves (and neither do decks!) This chapter covers common problems like resetting popped nails, cleaning and refinishing a deck, shimming boards to level the surface, adding braces to failing railings, repairing stair stringers, joists, beams, ledger boards, and posts. Overall, the section is very comprehensive and offers some good, practical tips for homeowners facing serious decking challenges.
Chapter 9: Decking Plans
Finally, The Complete Deck Book concludes with 60 pages of actual decking plans you can use to design and build your own deck. The plans span the range of decking types and are meant to be modified to suit the needs of your landscape, house, and needs (remember Chapter 1!). The plans range from beginner level square and “almost square” designs, to very advanced multi-level, round layouts that will require an advanced builder.
Overall Review – The Complete Deck Book
The Complete Deck Book covers every major topic needed to build or buy a great deck for your outdoor space. It is an excellent reference for someone who’s just in the planning phases of a deck, or for someone looking to build finishing touches onto an existing structure.
What do you think? Do you own this book or another that’s an excellent deck building, buying, and maintaining resource? Let us know!
Comments & Conversation on this Article...
One Response to The Complete Deck Book by Sunset Books Review
Wait! Got a question on your own project?
Ask your question in our Home Improvement Help Forums.
Otherwise, leave a note here!
July 8th, 2008 10:23 pm
Sunset books have always been the bees knees.
I never met one that wasn’t worth the price.
Several of my favourite cookbooks come from this series.
Will keep my eye out for this one. Cheers!