Things You'll Need

Instructions

1

Use a tape measure and pencil to mark three pieces of the 6-by-3/4-inch pine at 20 inches and 3 pieces of the 1 1/4-by-1 1/4-inch pine at 20 inches each.
2

Place the marked pine lumber in a vise to hold it. Carefully cut the six pieces. These six pieces, when put together, will form one 20-inch deck square. The wider pieces will form the top of the deck square and the smaller pieces will be the back supports for the deck square.
3

Using a medium-grade sandpaper block, sand all the wood pieces' edges until smooth.
4

Lay the wood pieces across the scrap wood and paint both sides with an outdoor wood stain. Allow the stain to dry overnight before continuing the project.
5

Repeat steps 1 through 4 for as many 20-inch deck pieces as needed to make the desired deck size. Use coordinating stain colors for a patterned effect.
6

Lay the three larger pieces on a working surface face down. Position the three pieces of smaller pine perpendicularly across the larger boards. There will be two even spaces between the larger boards and the pieces will form a square.
7

Mark and drill six countersink holes in each back support piece -- two for each wide board that the support piece crosses.
8

Use a screwdriver and wood screws to attach the top front piece to a back support piece, keeping the corners square. Screw the top back piece in a similar fashion.
9

Screw another back support piece to the opposite side.
10

Position the last top piece in the center and screw it to the two back support pieces.
11

Screw in the final back support piece in the middle of the square.
12

Repeat steps 6 through 12 for all stained deck pieces. When all deck pieces are complete, lay in an alternating fashion to form the deck.