How To Plane Your Deck - Colorado Custom Covers & Decks

Learn about the importance of planing your deck joists before laying down the decking boards. This crucial step ensures a smooth, flat surface, preventing any unwanted hills and valleys in your finished deck.

Key Points Covered:

- Why Plane Your Joists: Avoid uneven surfaces by planing joists to ensure all boards lay flat.
- Step-by-Step Process:

Initial Setup: Start by leveling your outside boards.
Using a Level: Work systematically from one end, marking and planing high spots.
Rechecking: Continuously check with a level to avoid creating valleys.
Final Checks: Ensure the entire surface is even by sliding a level across the joists.

Following these steps will help you achieve a professional-looking deck with a flat and even surface.

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Colorado Custom Covers & Decks builds luxury decks and patio covers for homeowners in Morrison, Evergreen, and nearby locations throughout Colorado. We know what it takes to get the job done on time, within budget, and to your specifications.

[nigelwillson]

Well done mate. Thought I was the only one that conscientious.

[Axenicsecond]

Damn dude. Quick, concise, and easy to understand. Thanks for the knowledge!

[Ultramiles]

Great video! Short, simple, and good key points.

[tertys]

Thanks showing the professional way of doing this. I was about to get them planed but wasn't sure it was a proper way of fixing

[brikshoe]

Excellent video -- straightforward explanation and demo.

[adambeck]

Thank you for the info! I've been wondering how to do this.

[youdagoob]

You are probably the only professional that takes the time to do this. Most crews will not take the time to do that.

[dougnutt]

Timely video! I'm right at this stage and I have a few high spots on a couple of deck joists! thanks for sharing.

[fredsmith]

Never knew an electric plane existed. Will look into one.

[Solidbuilthomes]

Hi, thanks for the tip... what if you have a much larger deck that is 10 feet off the ground? Would you just have to walk the joists and then bend over throughout the whole deck and perform the same technique?

[glenthomasrealtor]

Great video. To start, how much are you taking off with each pass of the planer? What is it set at?

[rsz]

I have searched high and low. You're the only one who does this! I thought I was crazy! Thanks for the explanation. What about the low beams? Do you Sister them?

[MerchantNation]

It seems like if this level of precision is required then it would be more worthwhile to invest in dried lumber and a portable jointer to refine the lumber edge before install.

General build-grade lumber which typically has more moisture than it's own structural permanence allows, will have the potential to twist, move and warp in unpredictable ways after install.

Any superficial tweaks, to me, seem like they would only benefit the initial appearance but I'm no professional either.

[ah-lez]

What depth is your planer set to? What if you have a low spot in the middle?

[strokerace]

If a joist is 1/16 of an inch high, won’t the weight force the joist down to equal the rest?

[MrSbjchalmers]

What about board shrinkage. I get boards that very all the time in height. and usually the bigger they are the wetter they are. I worry that if I Plaine a Wet board to match the height of the dry board I worry that over time when that board drys It will shrink to be to small. I usually just clasify my boards by dimension and crown. Build small to big then back to small so that I have a gradual hump over time that should flatten out.

[chowsman]

What depth do you set your power planner?

[richardb]

How much variance in height is allowed before its noticeable?

[alchemista]

I'd like to see how to correct a valley on an already completed deck (bad contractor).

[jacm]

what if i have spots that are too low? say 1 joist in the middle of 5 joist. What do I do? Do I then add a blocking between that low joist to level up with the other joists? thanks