What do you do in a weekend, build a deck?

We are going to have a really nice (large) rear deck (16x22 covered, with an 8x20 uncovered) but ran into some assumption/terminology issues.  When we started building, I told the framer I would take care of the deck to help keep costs down.  Now to me, that meant I would do the ledger, joists, decking and he would do the post and beams supporting the deck since they were required for the upper covered roof.  Well, that isn't how he took it, he thought I was building the entire deck (framing included) and he would build the cover on top of it.

To a non normal framer guy, I thought he was crazy so asked a builder colleague and he confirmed the same.  He said I should have clarified my intent but I never thought it needed to be.  So, lessen learned here is to always communicate and don't make assumptions, it can be costly.

The framer didn't want to do it because already behind (remember he has some other jobs going on) but would do it for a minimum of $1500 and if I brought all the materials down to the rear of the house.  I really didn't want to pay that much for the framing (although a good price for the amount of work that I realized later)

On the flip side, it was good opportunity to build a huge elevated deck, not something I had done before.  I already had poured the footings and piers so just needed to measure and set the posts using ABU66s (about $50/ea).

My dad arrived this week and will be staying for several months during the build which will be HUGE help.  We put up the main ledger that attaches to the house for the joists to connect.  Marked out all the joists so they would line up with the floor joists (inside the house) so the bolt pattern wouldn't conflict.  Plus, the code now calls for lateral bracing and I will be using Simpson DTT2 so having everything in line makes installation easier.

Brought Joe (friend of John who is a framer) in to assist with post layout and bracing.  This turned out to much longer than I had anticipated but good learning experience.

After we got all the brackets marked, we started installing the 6x6x10 posts and securing them to the brackets.

 Then we established our reference mark from the ledger and used the transit to mark all the posts.  Measured up and then cut all the posts.  Pulled a string line and four posts were exact and two posts were less than 1/8" off so not bad.

We put the first beam (5 1/2" x 12" x 9') up and marked the long and short edges.  I used a skill saw set to 45 degrees and scored around the beam.  Then used a reciprocating saw to finish the cut all the way through.  This will provide a nice corner join vs having them butt up against each other on the post.

The next beam (5 1/2" x 12" x 23') would sit across four posts and join at the 45 degree in the corner.  Used the same technique above to get the angle before trying to place.

Trying to pick this 500+lb beam up with two people wasn't an option but luckily I had the trusty Cat.  After slinging it, dad guided into place and I maneuvered it up on top of the other posts.  Pretty tough trying to be careful not to knock him off the ladder and get it up and over the saddle brackets.  It was great when we got it in place and 'pinned' it.

 Repeated the process for the other two beams and the main deck is now framed out.  We'll start the joists tomorrow.