Fast, Accurate Cuts Around Posts
A post-sized hole in a scrap deck board serves as a template for installing diagonal decking.
One of my recent projects required the installation of diagonal decking. When I got to the first of many posts, I realized that measuring and marking the post locations on the decking would take a while, so I developed this trick. I used a scrap deck board and cut out a post-sized hole at the proper angle in relationship to the rest of the decking (in this case, 45°). I put this template around each post and then measured from the closest deck board to the edges of the template. I transferred those measurements to the deck board that meets the post, then put the template on that board and traced the cutline. It was much quicker then plotting different points on every deck board that needed to be trimmed around the post.
—Matt Baker, Freeland, Md.
Edited and illustrated by Charles Miller.
From Fine Homebuilding #312
Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products
Metal Connector Nailer
Flashing and Joist Tape
Standard Marking Chalk
