The Ultimate Deck Building Materials List

A deck provides a comfortable outdoor space where you can lounge, play, work, or entertain friends in the warmer months. If you’re planning to build a deck, you need to know what kinds of materials go into this project. This deck building materials list gives you the rundown on what you’ll need to build the deck of your dreams.

Deck Building Materials List

Before you start researching how to build a deck and begin the project, you’ll need to check that you have the correct materials. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

• Structural-grade lumber: posts, rim joists and beams, and deck boards

• Ready-mix concrete

• Concrete tube forms

• Concrete bolts

• Galvanized structural deck screws or nails

• Exterior wood screws

• Decking

• Railings

Learn more about the importance of each of these materials to your deck-building project before you call a local deck-building pro for a project quote.

Structural-Grade Lumber

Lumber will comprise the deck’s foundation, frame, and stairs, making it one of the most crucial materials for this project. 

The foundation is comprised of piers and footings set into concrete (more on that below) to ensure strength and stability. The frame is composed of a ledger that attaches to the house, rim joists that connect the frame and flooring, inner joists that support the deck boards, a supportive beam and posts, and stringers that support the deck stairs. All of these elements are made from lumber.

You can also use composite or PVC decking materials as an alternative to lumber. These materials are resistant to rot and insect damage, making them a low-maintenance choice. However, composite decking materials are often much more expensive than wood.

Ready-Mix Concrete and Concrete Tube Forms

Concrete helps secure your deck to the ground and contributes to its structural stability. After you have cut the supportive posts to size, it’s time to set the posts in sturdy concrete. The amount you’ll need depends on the size of the concrete tube you’re using for the post bases. Here’s how many 80-pound bags of concrete you’ll need for different concrete tube diameters.

• For 8-inch tubes, use 0.53 bags per foot.

• For 10-inch tubes, use 0.8 bags per foot.

• For 12-inch tubes, use 1.2 bags per foot

• For 14-inch tubes, use 1.6 bags per foot.

Bolts, Screws, and Nails

You’ll need fasteners like bolts, screws, and nails to attach the different parts of your deck for safety and security.

Concrete bolts secure the deck posts to the concrete bases, ensuring the deck remains stable and sturdy. Galvanized structural deck screws or nails are used to form the deck foundation—you’ll use them to attach the rim joists to the deck posts and the inner joists to the frame.

Decking

The decking refers to the boards that make up the deck’s surface. The amount of decking you need depends on the desired size of your deck. First, measure your deck’s width, then divide it by the width of the decking board. For example, a 12-foot-wide deck measures 144 inches in width. If you use 5 ½-inch-wide boards, you’ll need around 26 deck boards.

Railings

Building codes generally require railings if your deck is 30 inches or more above ground level, though many people add railings to shorter decks for aesthetic and safety purposes. The railings must be at least 36 inches (three feet) high, with no more than four inches between spindles or between the bottom of the railing and the deck floor.