How to Install Deck Joists | Trex Academy

Proper installation and fastening of deck joists ensures the structural integrity of your new deck. Learn how to install joists for composite decking with the Trex Academy's step-by-step video instructions.

Key moments in this video:
00:00 Intro
0:18 Crowning of Joists
1:11 Installing the Rim Joist
3:10 Installing First Beam Block
4:45 Installing Joist Hangers
8:46 Joist to Blocking Connection
10:27 Joist to Beam Connection
10:42 Installing Beam Blocking
12:35 Breaker Board Framing
13:37 Planning and Cutting the Cantilever
18:38 Front Rim Joist Install
21:01 Checking for Flatness

[sjam]

This is very thorough. It should have more views. Especially with calling out the hardware. Nice job. I'm impressed.

[fratchner]

Seems like there are a lot of opinions here. I find these videos to be extremely helpful and thorough. Thank you so much for putting these together!

[johnlee]

Glad to see you treating all the cut ends. So many people skip that step and try to blame premature failure/rot on something else.

[highvoltagehands]

Good info. IMO I’d also recommend grading your joists when checking crowns. Measure and group the joists by size and install them from shorter to taller to help avoid a wavy deck.

[davemiller]

Great videos... I can't count the number of times I have watched each one... The only thing that I did not see in the video was how the inner joist for the breaker board are connected or attached to the ledger board... I improvised using H2.5AZ hurricane ties at the beams and overlapped standard LUS28Z joist hangers with a wider joist hanger that encased both joist... May not be as pretty but I was in a pinch and had to get the connected... As a DIYer I appreciate all the detailed Well done Devin

[pkdp]

It would be nice if you could include list of hardware like fasteners etc used in the description in all your videos. That would really help DIYers. Thanks

[oenewup]

"Roughly a quarter" gap is right. I did a 14 foot deck, calculated 29 boards, did 5 3/4 as the width and ended up with a 2" gap at the house because the actual gap created with the universal clips was 1/16th less than that, compounded by 29 boards, ended up way off.

[chrism]

When framing for a picture frame border with facia overhang, need to subtract one of the .25" gaps, subtract 1.25" for the facia/overhang and subtract 1.5" for the rim joist when cutting the end joists.

[bryanjohnson]

Dudes never watched Larry Haugn before.

[patrickbinder]

Another way to ensure you don't have high joists is to grade them by size (where they land on the beam).

[jimmyjoe]

Yeah i would use a concealed joist hanger for that rim joist and 2.5 inch screws in the ledger.

[uuveeoz]

Did you account for the overhang and facia in your calculation when you figured how many boards?

[ivanbagual]

Talks more than works. We all already know the operating modes

[billybastar]

So….nice video series, but you are obviously in an area that requires hurricane mitigation. Spent all this time and additional cost for the hangers and screws and bolts yet you didn’t attach the posts lower foundations in the ground🤷 in a wind event the only thing keeping the deck, somewhat, from lifting up are the ledger boards. As we all know that is a temporary thing, as the pressure upwards will lift that beautiful deck and the structural ledger of the house to Kansas. Did I miss a step where you secured the posts to the footing in the previous video?

[jmackinjersey]

You should really have the long side of the shoe against the square, so that you'll have a straighter cut. You don't want to cut so that she long side of the shoe is hanging over the part of the stock that is being cut off.

[johnlee]

There are one less space than deck boards, so the length of the joists would be one space shorter unless you include a space the first deck board away from the house.

[SL-vwpm]

Since you are blocking as you install each joist, isn’t there a problem with the joists running outside of 90 degrees from the ledger? (Due to differences in blocking length - no matter how careful you cut them).

[ittech]

Materials list? Wood sealer info and fasteners, screws etc?

[jerseyjoe]

Great thorough video But, I'm confused about how to install the breaker board joist.s Are they two double 2 x 8 joist hangers? how do you have clearance to screw/ nail joist hangers to the ledger board??thanks for clarifying this

[brennangraves]

I'd check with the AHJ and make sure that the blocking being described here isn't to be installed at mid-span. I know it's that way in my county.