I learned deck building from a production deck builder. While he could build decks quickly, he could have been even faster if he’d used more task-specific tools.
Related Posts
Easily Adjustable Toolbelt
A toolbelt is a lot like a spouse: If you choose one in haste, odds are you’ll regret it. MyFixitUpLife Mark & Theresa created this…
28 Feb 2010
MyFixitUpLife talk show: Decked out!
May 20: Decked out! Mark & Theresa are talking decks on this week’s show. They’ll be sharing what you need to know to make sure…
22 May 2010
Get rid of bushes & limbs while you build with a reciprocating saw
When I’m on a deck or porch site, the way I usually figure out that a scraggly bush needs to be limbed or removed isn’t…
09 Apr 2013
Check Out Mark’s ‘Miter Saw Workstation’ Featured in Professional Deck Builder
Miter-saw set-ups can range from just a couple of sawhorses and a truck bed to something so nitpickingly complicated that I would break it in…
19 Mar 2013
Mark shares what saw speeds up production with Professional Deck Builder
I learned deck building from a production deck builder. While he could build decks quickly, he could have been even faster if he’d used more…
02 Apr 2013
The New Preservatives
Confused by the alphabet soup of wood-treatment chemicals flooding the industry? Read on. In 2004, after dominating the market for more than 70 years, wood…
30 Oct 2008
Designing a Pergola From the Ground Up
I’ve heard people call a pergola anything from an arbor, a colonnade, or a trellis to “one of those garden things.” But regardless of what…
14 Feb 2009
How To: Time-Saving Deck Guardrails
No matter how you slice it, installing effective, good-looking guardrails takes time. Cutting, plumbing, shimming, and fastening the numerous individual parts is not full-speed, turbo-charged…
03 Aug 2008
Tool Kit: Lightweight Hammer
Today, of course, our hammers hang from our belts, and we drive most of our nails with pneumatic tools, so who cares if there is…
25 Oct 2011
Get Inspired: New Deck, New Door
For many homeowners, adding a deck can lead naturally to thinking about ways to connect the new outdoor living space with the inside of the…
20 Sep 2008
So what is new in decking?
I remember when there were roughly a billion fewer choices of deck boards and railing systems. The first decks I worked on as a carpenter’s…
28 May 2008
Tool Review: Bostitch LPF33PT Framing Nailer
TOOL KIT Light and Compact Framing Nailer By Mark Clement Stanley-Bostitch 800/556-6696 bostitch.com Street price: $250 As dependable as screws are for decking, about the…
06 Jan 2013
All About Fences
Three Fences Designing, detailing, and installing fences for looks, quality, and production speed Mark Clement If I said I didn’t like building fences, I’d be…
19 Feb 2011
Mark shares his work glove criteria with Professional Deck Builder
I have specific criteria for work gloves. First, the gloves have to fit, meaning that when I’m wearing them, the answer to the following questions…
16 Apr 2013
Safety Program
If you’re tempted to skip this article because you think safety is boring, consider that having a safety program might help you and your crew…
26 Feb 2011