Customer Reviews

Black & Decker The Complete Guide to Decks: Updated 4th Edition, Includes the Newest Products & Fasteners, Add an Outdoor Kitchen (Black & Decker Complete Guide)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First off, I'm not a builder. I'm a guy with an office job who sits behind a desk all day long. I think the last thing I built was a birdhouse in third grade and it didn't even last long enough to hang it on a tree. So, I knew building a deck was a BIG project. But, this book made it SO easy! The photos are incredible. They don't use sketches and drawings, they have actual photos. The steps are easy to follow and the instructions are clear from the tools needed to the types of screws to use. If you're looking for a how-to guide on decks, this is the best one!

This book has nice pictures and some helpful information. However take it from someone who has purchased to many "how to build a deck" books. If you are actually going to build your deck, and if it is anything other than a basic 1 level deck out the back, if you want to do some really nice finish work, there is only one book I have found that even comes close to telling you how to do it and the tips and tricks. If you are serious save your money and buy Building a Deck: Expert Advice from Start to Finish. It is the only good book on building. You will be glad you did.

Don't build a boring deck because that is all you think a DIY can handle. With this book, anyone can add some architectural features. This book has the perfect mix of examples and how-to. The color photographs are fantastic. Black & Decker book series have definitely mastered the picture = 1,000 words.

I am in the midst of building my first deck which is in fact the first major home project of my life and this book is just perfect. At all levels, especially for beginners! I spent 2 weeks researching almost half a dozen deck building books before I bought this one and so far no complaints.

Pros:
1. Step by step directions with tons of glossy magnified photos (not sketckes but actual photos).
2. Complete list of materials required before each project.
3. Gradually increasing difficulty level of projects..the chapters are layed out perfectly with an individuals learning curve.
4. Comprehensive chapters on how to care and repair your deck. I can already see using the care section once my deck is built.
5. Includes everything on decks - design, posts, framing, decking, stairs, railing, hot tubs, levels, simple to complex designs. You name it and this book has it.

Cons:
The section on mixing and pouring concrete for posts is a bit thin. I also bought the Quickrete Concrete Guide, which I would also recommend highly by the way, and it has made up for this minor shortcoming.

Overall a great book on deck building!!

This book is fabulous for anyone who wants to build a deck but doesn't know where to start. My husband and I used this book to build a deck even though we had never built anything this complex before. After looking over the detailed pictures (not drawings) and easy descriptions, we constructed a 16'x22' deck with angles. This book was a great help and I would recommend it to anyone looking to save money by doing it yourself.

Of all deck books, this is the best deck book if you want to build your own deck. It has step by step instructions and clear illustrations. I built two beautiful decks with this book. I have also built a screen porch and referenced this book often to do it. If I can do it with this book, you can do it. I would give this book 6 stars if I could.

Superb book on how to build a deck, found it very useful and could follow it easily even though this was my first attempt at building one. Would recommend it to anyone. Only problem I found was it's obviously American, so all the dimensions and wood types didn't match what I was buying in France, so a few conversions and fudging were required, but I survived in the end.

This book provides the beginner or experienced handy-person with the fundamentals they will need to design and build a safe and enjoyable structure. There are also lots of good ideas for those who want to be a bit more creative. Good photos and step by step instructions.

The reviewers were right on this one, this is a great book for anyone and everyone wanting to build a deck on their own. Everything is step by step with everything explained in layman's terms so you'll feel comfortable taking on the project.

The last time I did much carpentry was 30 years ago, so not being much of a carpenter, I'm having a deck built for me, but I still wanted to get some information on how its done, so I'd have some idea of what to look for in a well designed and built deck, and how to maintain it. This book was fine for that. It covers all the basics, the different parts of the deck, siting the deck, materials to choose from, design ideas, important things to consider, plus of course how to actually go about building a deck. I learned that many decks these days are actually more of a particle board or composite material, which is low maintenance, which lasts longer and is easier to maintain. I had always liked the idea of a cedar or redwood deck but decided that the other material was the way to go. It doesn't have the nice grain of natural wood, but better resists stains, water, and the elements. Overall, a helpful book, especially for a beginner with not much previous knowledge and expertise. I also liked the book: Building a Deck: Expert Advice from Start to Finish. These two books were the best of the many that I looked at.