Decks 1-2-3 (Home Depot ... 1-2-3)

List Price: $24.95 Discount Price: $1.49

Customer Reviews:

Great book for a beginner [Posted on 2002-05-03]
This book describes in a complete step by step process how to build a deck. All the information you need to know is contained within.

Can't believe I built it! [Posted on 2002-09-15]
Wonderful reference book. I had little experience building anything, and I built myself a deck with this book. I learned as much from studying the photographs as from the text. Hihgly recommended.

If you only buy one book . . . [Posted on 2002-12-26]
If you only buy one book, buy 'Decks 1-2-3' from the Home Depot series. This book tells you darn near everything you will need to know to build a deck. Their attempts to sell you every tool imaginable are pretty transparent -- there are several pages devoted to listing the "essential" tools, all of which are conveniently available for purchase at your nearest Home Depot. However, the technical descriptions of the construction tasks are clearly illustrated and explained, and that's really what matters.

I recently built a wooden deck in my backyard. For other suggestions and review, check out my 'So you'd like to...' guide.

Excellent book on all aspects of deck building [Posted on 2005-08-10]
This is quite simply an excellent book on deck building. I have read many, and overall I think it is the best. It is probably best for those of intermediate skill level (those they call "handy" in their 3-level self-rating scale) because my guess is that people with absolutely no construction or design knowledge probably won't find enough information to really understand what the structural issues are. For example, the joist/beam/post spacing tables are rather sparse: enough information to do the calculations if you know what you're doing, but probably difficult to figure out if you don't.

However, for many of us, it's just the thing. One of my favorite parts is all the Work Smart hints scattered throughout the book. These are tips from pro builders giving ideas and information that us non-pro wouldn't know. There are even tips in there about what to do if you make a mistake in building.

The pictures are great too, better than any other deck building book I've used. This is where the book really shines. They give you step-by-step instructions with full pictures of several different decks under construction. The concrete pouring sequence alone is worth the price of the book.

Despite all the tools they list that are mentioned in a previous review, it seems pretty honest to me: for example, they tell you, under mixing your own concrete: Pros don't mix their own concrete, they get trucks to deliver it. Pretty good, considering that Home Depot sells concrete mix and all the tools required to mix it yourself!

The only major thing I can think of that it doesn't cover is composite decking materials. These are all the rage nowadays, of course, but they require some changes in design. It would be nice to have information on these changes, and hopefully future editions will have this information.

Overall, an excellent book, and well worth its price.

OK book, glad I bought it used [Posted on 2008-02-10]
This book was so-so and I was glad I didn't pay full price for it. I don't think it covers the topic completely, as I was hoping for something that gave more examples and provided more pictures, descriptions of the different materials available, and a detailed discussion of estimated costs of building a deck, DIY or through a contractor.

Click here for more details and discount information...