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How to Add a Little Mood Lighting to Your Deck

Use energy-efficient LEDs to cast a warm glow on the deck, stairs, and trees, and you can extend the party (safely) into the night

Deck Cleaners, Stains & Sealers

Looking for the best decking treatment? A guide to the cleaners, finishes, and techniques for making your wood deck look new again.

How to Restore a Weathered Deck

Read these techniques for refurbishing an old deck.

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How to Build a Simple Deck

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva's method for constructing a handsome on-grade deck.

Read This Before You Build Your Deck

Don't lift a finger without our time-tested guidance on making all the right choices for this popular outdoor project

Protect a Deck with Pot Feet

This quick fix will keep your deck and your plants happy

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How to Repair Rising Deck Boards

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva helps diagnose a problem with composite decking coming loose

S20 E29, Mauro Henrique helps refinish deck railings
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How to Refinish Deck Railings

This Old House paint expert Mauro Henrique shows a homeowner how to breathe new life into those old, splintery handrails.

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How to Clean and Restain a Deck

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva breathes new life into a weather-beaten wood deck

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How to Install Deck Rail Lighting

Ask This Old House master electrician, Heath Eastman, installs undermount, LED deck railing lights for a homeowner whose only deck lighting includes a single, bright spotlight.

How to Build Storage Under Your Deck

Need more storage? Here’s how to use the area under your deck to create additional storage space for all kinds of items.

S9 E21, Tom Silva shows Kevin O’Connor how to replace deck posts
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How to Replace a Deck Post

Shoring up an old deck with new supports with This Old House general contractor Tom Silva

Tom Silva and Kevin O’Connor install decking
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How to Install Decking

On a new front porch, Tom Silva shows Kevin O'Connor how to install mahogany decking with hidden fasteners and perfectly mitered joints

Ask S5 E6, Tom Silva builds deck stairs
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How to Build Deck Stairs

In this how-to video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shares his stair-building secrets

Go From an Old Deck to New in 4 Steps

There's no secret to deck maintenance—repair the deck, clean it and protect it. But learning tricks the pros use can make the job go faster and the results last longer.

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Prepping to Stain Like a Pro

Nick Slavik demonstrates how to prep and clean two very different decks—one old and weathered, and one brand-new pine— in anticipation of restaining and finishing with two very different coatings from Behr.

Add a Drainage System Under Raised Decks

Keep the area dry for storage or added living space

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Build It | Cedar Deck Box Planter

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva and host Kevin O’Connor build a deck box planter using western red cedar.

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How to Install a Shade Sail

This Old House host Kevin O'Connor has two simple sun-blocking solutions for keeping a deck and home cool during the summer

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How to Install a Cable Deck Railing

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva installs a cable railing on a deck in Greenwich Village, New York

How to Revive a Beat-Up Deck

Coat cracked and dried-out boards with sand-impregnated paint to bring them back to life

All About Hardwood Decking

Ipe is the gold standard, but plenty of other species stack up quite nicely on looks and longevity, often at a lower price

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How to Restore a Deck

Follow the prep instructions carefully and paint on a specialty coating to preserve weathered boards for years to come

16 Ways to Customize Your Deck

16 upgrades and add-ons to create a more attractive and usable backyard deck

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How to Pour a Concrete Deck Footing

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows how to dig and pour concrete supports

How to Build a Durable Backyard Retreat

Composite decking is a beautiful, high performance, and environmentally-friendly way to create the outdoor oasis you've always wanted

With Deck and Patio, a Backyard Fully Built for Family

Forget grass: For this young family, a handsome wood deck that steps down to a brick patio comprises the ideal chilling, cooking, playing, and entertaining space

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How to Choose a Deck Finish

In this instructional video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva and host Kevin O'Connor discuss picking the perfect wood-deck finish

Deck Design Ideas

From built-in planters to shade-producing pergolas to railings and more, explore innovative decking ideas.

Fix Now, Save Later

Our experts help you address 9 little trouble spots around your home before they cause big—as in big bucks—damage down the road

How to Square Joists for a Deck

TOH general contractor Tom Silva gets joists square by using the Pythagorean theorem

How to Place Piers for a Simple Deck