When we last left off in our deck project, I was battling the summer heat while attaching screws across the center of the deck. Since then, I kept working steadily, moving from the middle toward the ends and making real progress.
At this stage the middle of the deck was fully laid and screwed down, which felt like a huge milestone. It’s always a relief when the surface changes from a field of gaps into something solid and safe to walk on.
From there it was mostly more decking boards to attach, but the ends required extra planning. When you reach an open edge — especially if you’re installing a picture-frame border — it’s best to cut the boards after they’re laid in place. That approach creates a cleaner, more even edge than cutting each board individually and trying to fit them later.
I placed the miter-cut frame piece against the edge and traced a clear line where the deck boards needed trimming. That line served as my cutting guide and helped ensure a uniform edge for the picture-frame detail.
Before cutting, I set the depth on the circular saw to 1 3/4″ so the blade would cut through the decking boards without gouging the joists below. Setting the correct depth is a small step that prevents costly mistakes.
I ran the saw along the pen line, pausing for a quick photo and then finishing the cut. I left the last board for the picture-frame end because it had already been mitered before installation.
After sanding the cut edges smooth, I fitted the end piece into place. The result looked clean and felt sturdy — a satisfying payoff for the careful measuring and cutting.
That half of the end was straightforward, but the next section required an angled cut. My geometry skills needed a quick refresher, so I tested angles on scrap wood until the miters matched perfectly.
Once I dialed in the angle, I marked the board with a clear pen line and made the cut. The clean edge looked great — a small detail that elevates the whole deck’s appearance.
With all the cuts sanded and the frame boards screwed down, the finished edge looked professional. I’m proud of how it turned out — no ruined boards, just a few sacrificial test pieces that taught me what angle to use.
Seeing the completed end made me glad we chose the picture-frame trim. That border gives the deck a polished, high-end look that makes a big visual difference for relatively little extra effort.
With the deck boards all installed, the space finally reads like a finished deck. We ended up with two zipper-like seam details and plan to center the dining table between them, which will highlight that built-in look once everything is sealed and furnished.
The next tasks are the railing and the stairs — both will require precise measurements and likely more careful inspections. They’re the components that typically demand the most attention to code and safety, so I’m gearing up for more planning and math. Stay tuned.
Anyone else tackled a DIY project recently — even if the victories felt small but heroic?
Psst — If you want to catch up on the whole deck journey, we documented the process from design and demolition through material selection, post setting, joist installation, board layout, and every step of the decking process in earlier posts.