Buckinghamshire Landscape Gardeners
  • Home
  • Landscaping
    • Decking
    • Driveways
    • Patios
    • Fencing
    • Turfing
    • Planting
  • Design
    • Landscaping Ideas
  • Resources
    • Garden products
  • News
  • Contact
    • landscaping apprenticeship jobs buckinghamshire
    • landscaping labourer jobs buckinghamshire
  • Home
  • Landscaping
    • Decking
    • Driveways
    • Patios
    • Fencing
    • Turfing
    • Planting
  • Design
    • Landscaping Ideas
  • Resources
    • Garden products
  • News
  • Contact
    • landscaping apprenticeship jobs buckinghamshire
    • landscaping labourer jobs buckinghamshire

20 Best tools for building decking

2/1/2022

1 Comment

 
Best tools for building decking
this article contains affiliate links


Decking is a fantastic way to create stylish seating areas in the garden. Decks come in such a wide variety of sizes, styles, colours and materials. Decking does have some advantages over paving as they are much faster to install.

Patio installation requires a certain amount of ground excavation when preparing a laying base. This results in having to dispose of large amounts of soil which can be expensive.

Deck frames can be built so they hover over existing ground features. This makes them very popular providing an extra opportunity to raise seating areas for an elevated view.

Decking is relatively simple to install for DIY enthusiasts and can be very satisfying to build yourself. Hence we have listed the best tools for building decking in your garden here.  
​
Picture

1. Spade

​
Spades are a fundamental hand tool when building garden decks. Most commonly they can be used to dig up weeds and chip off vegetation to the decks location. Spades can allow you to dig out post holes and leaver timbers into position. If you are mixing concrete mixes yourself spades are the perfect tool for filling in post holes.
​ 
Spade

​Spade

2. Shovel

​
​Shovels can be effective for loading up loose aggregates for concreting around support posts and support frames. These can be used to clear loose ground during digging in preparation for joisting work. 
​

Shovel

​Shovel

3. Graft

​
Grafts are a long digging tool with a central shaft and a small, forged spade at the end.  This tool, is popular during fencing operations and perfect for thrusting deeply into the ground. They are perfect for digging out post holes loosening tough sub soil with mechanical leverage. 
​
graft

Graft

4. Post diggers

​
Post diggers are essentially two spade like tools fastened together in a scissor like formation. Their long handles and pivoting spades enable them to collect the loose soil at the base of post holes. When used in partnerships with grafts these make digging post holes very efficient. 
​
Post diggers

​Post diggers

5. Wheelbarrow

​
Wheel barrows can provide a very useful accessory when building decking in the garden. These robust carts allow you to easily fill skips with ground clearance vegetation and spoil. Wheelbarrows also allow you to wheel in aggregates and concrete mixes to site. 
​
Wheelbarrow

​Wheelbarrow

6. Folding set square


​Decks are very typically square or rectangular in shape. This means they require accurate setting out and careful measuring when building. This is so deck boards fit neatly within the perimeter of the frame with no angle cuts. Folding set squares allow you to mark out and check right angles accurately. 

folding set square

Folding set square

7. Sting line


Very often joisting timbers and decking boards can be slightly bowed due to natural variations in the timbers grain. This makes string lines a great way to both set out and check straight edges to proposed decking projects. They can also be used to set in anchor posts in a straight line for straight, vertical, steps and sides. 
​
string line

string line

8. Handsaw

​
Having a good, sharp, hand saw to hand will enable you to tackle nimble cuts around obstacles. Handsaws are always good to have for general cutting while joisting and bracing. 
​
Hand saw

handsaw

9. Circular saw

​
​Circular saws provide a fast and portable way to cut boards quickly and efficiently. These power saws also enable you to score at variable depths for bending boards and shallow notch work. 

circular saw

​circular saw

10. Chop saw

​
Chop saws are a much larger and stationary power tool which can deliver accurate and powerful cutting. These are extremely useful tools for larger decking projects where numerous square cuts are needed.  
​
chop saw

​chop saw

11. Tape measure


Tape measures allow you to set out your decking accurately so support posts and frames are positioned correctly. These also allow you to mark and cut down decking boards perfectly so edges are neat and tidy. 
​
Picture

tape measure

12. Spirit level 

​
Spirit levels are fundamentally one of the most important tools for building garden decking. These enable you to accurately plumb in anchor posts and level joisting as you work. The straight edges of levels can help you to identify and correct bowed boards as you fix them. 
​

spirit level

​spirit level

13. Carpenters pencil

​
Building a successful deck requires accurate marking and cutting. However, building outdoor decks can be challenging with unpredictable weather and thick, external grade, timbers. Carpenters pencils are much more robust than normal pencils perfect for accurate marking. 
​

Picture

​carpenters pencil

14. Carpenters square

​
Joining joists to brace work and cutting deck boards neatly requires perfectly square cutting. The best way to mark out square cuts is with a carpenters square like the one below. 
​
carpenters pencil

​carpenters square

15. Claw hammer

​
Claw hammers can allow you to lever up boards which have not fixed down perfectly and tap timber into position. These hammers are also effective at taping in long wire nails for joisting and fixing in noggins. 
​

claw hammer

​Claw hammer

16. Crow bar

​
Crow bars can be very effective at levering deck boards straight which have bowed horizontally. This is a very common issue especially with soft wood, decking boards. Crow bars are also great at forcing joisting timbers into position before fixing.  
​
crow bar

​Crow bar

17. Extension lead


​Any external timber work including decking will require the use of electric power tools. Therefore it is very important to have a consistent source of power. Most of the time the best option for this is obtaining suitable extension leads. For garden decking projects a minimum of 25metres in length is optimum. 

extension lead

​Extension lead

18. Power drill


Power drills will allow you to fix wall plates to buildings where decking fits tightly against the home. These drills are also effective at fixing heavy amounts of joisting work or with particularly bulky frames. 
​

powertool

​power drill

19. Cordless drill


For decking projects cordless drills are the go to staple, electrical, power tool. These are perfect for nimble fixing between joists and for the quick fixing down of deck boards. Cordless combi drills are useful for extra tough materials like hardwood decking. Here one drill can be used for pilot holes while the other can be used for fixing. 
​
cordless drill

cordless drill

20. Drill bit set


Building decking requires a lot of drilling, screwing and fixing across a range of durable materials. Hence it is always useful to have a full set of drill bits and fixing attachments to hand. This can allow for organised working and the mitigation of any drill bit breakages during the project.  
​

drill bit set

​Drill bit set
Thank you for reading our article on best tools to build decking. If you are starting your very own landscaping project why not check out our resources page?
Picture
Picture
Picture


'As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases'
1 Comment
Eli Richardson link
12/1/2022 09:45:34 am

Last week, I visited my brother's house and talked about how he wants to build a deck in his backyard to host BBQ parties for the family. That's why I'm glad you described what tools are must-haves if we want to build a deck, so I'll email this to my brother right now. I appreciate your information on different types of saws and their features.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    The
    ​Author 

    Paul Nicolaides 
    BA (Hons) Dip

    Paul Nicolaides has over 30 years of recreational gardening and 20 years of professional landscaping experience. He has worked for landscape contractors including design and build practices across London and the South East. In 2006 he qualified with a BA Hons degree and post graduate diploma in Landscape Architecture. In 2009 he founded Ecospaces an ecological landscaping practice which aims to improve social cohesion and reduce climate change through landscaping. In 2016 he founded Buckinghamshire Landscape Gardeners which designs and builds gardens across Buckinghamshire and the South East. This blog aims to provide easy problem solving information to its audience and encourage others to take up the joy of landscaping and gardening. 
Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from graibeard, UK Prime Minister, Maggie Hoffman, Aaron Volkening, Darlene Roelofsen, David Paul Ohmer, denis.zabin, Permaculture Association, Bill Selak, The fixed factor, The Garden Smallholder, Tauralbus, nan palmero, Lee Cannon, Monkeystyle3000, Darlene Roelofsen, nicolas.boullosa, Bryn Pinzgauer, cattan2011, Center for Neighborhood Technology, Matthew Paul Argall, tdlucas5000, Acabashi, Ronald (Ron) Douglas Frazier, Gilles Gonthier, Martin Hesketh, Owen P, alljengi, steve p2008, romana klee, Bennilover, *_*, blumenbiene, Julianna, Daryll90ca, Wendell Smith, Acabashi, Decorative Concrete Kingdom, Permaculture Association, MizGingerSnaps, Tjflex2, wuestenigel, travel oriented, Aaron Volkening, shixart1985, SupportPDX, pete. #hwcp, MostlyDross, Local Food Initiative, Ronald Douglas Frazier, Torquay Palms, Oregon State University, perfectgrassltd, aarongunnar, Acabashi, Actual Brian Crawford, jeans_Photos, alh1, Darlene Roelofsen, Rromani from Romania, docoverachiever, tawalker, markfountain52, Maria Eklind, treegrow, deckerme, Kevan, richardghawley, Ivan Radic, Mark Wordy, garryknight, Matt Lavin, greger.ravik, Capt' Gorgeous, LWT Gunnersbury Triangle, Wonderlane, Rudi1976, stonescape, Dinesh Valke, troutcolor, Acabashi, Juhele_CZ, Darlene Roelofsen, pikkuanna, tdlucas5000, Jocey K, Acabashi, focusonmore.com, BethinAZ, zoetnet, kurt.stocker, Monkeystyle3000, ell brown, Bryn Pinzgauer, Mark Wordy, infomatique, Linda N., Armcon Precast, Tinkers Moon, AnnSophieQ, mikecogh, Bob Klannukarn, Aiko, Thomas & Juliette+Isaac, ChrisHamby, Alessandro_Corsoni, Stiller Beobachter, GLVF, denisbin, MizGingerSnaps, garryknight, goforchris, Dick Thompson Sandian, Paul Comstock, Kelowna09, Decorative Concrete Kingdom, Kanesue, BlossomPDX, Wonderlane, alh1, PAUL (Van de Velde) -Fotografie, Paul and Jill, Gilles Gonthier, katunchik, thinkactlove, gidlark, jugreen_de, Henry Hemming, Ivan Radic, tompagenet, corsi photo, www.to-tuscany.com, Mark Wordy, UC Davis Arboretum & Public Garden, Aaron Volkening, Mark AC Photos, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, arripay, denisbin, alans1948, wallygrom, Frank.Vassen, alh1, Scottb211, LenkinDesign, wallygrom, Mike Bonitz, Aaron Volkening, juliamaudlin, dwblakey, Jocelyn777 Love Europe, HerryLawford, mikecogh, jeans_Photos, Corey Leopold, Jeremy Levine Design, Kaibab National Forest Photography, Ciarán Mooney, onnola, 35mmMan, longlabcomms, nc.hort, Jamiecat *, pom'., Puddin Tain, Acabashi, tompagenet, Loz Flowers, Alan Stanton, Darlene Roelofsen, denisbin, Darlene Roelofsen, zakzak7, Center for Neighborhood Technology, wht_wolf9653, LenkinDesign, HerryLawford, FoodCraftLab, Miranda J Wood, Key West Wedding Photography, Montgomery County Planning Commission, bienen-nachrichten.de, zaphad1, SupportPDX, Ronald (Ron) Douglas Frazier, itmpa, Judy Gallagher, SteveR-, kylehase, simonmgc, treegrow, garryknight, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, el cajon yacht club, cattan2011, Ed Bierman, mikecogh, Mike Prince, photofarmer, M. Martin Vicente, Darlene Roelofsen, La Citta Vita, Mary Gillham Archive Project, Puddin Tain, sustainablejill, mikecogh, ScotGov Rural, Macleay Grass Man, Andesine, denisbin, *_*, samsaundersleeds, onnola, James St. John, Pixelteufel, www.twin-loc.fr, The359, F. D. Richards, berniedup, Monkeystyle3000, Mark AC Photos, Mark Wordy, Swallowtail Garden Seeds