A Question For The Pro's

bjg5240

With the hidden fastener system on a deck, I need to install the facia board over the decking boards to cover the ends. Can someone share with me the best way to cut the deck boards prior to installing the facia? The deck is 21', so it is difficult to find anything long & straight enough to use as a guide. Thanks for any suggestions.

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Garrett

The way i have done it is let the boards that you can run long, use a blue chaulk line(wont stain) and snap a strait line and cut once, othe ideas i have heard were to cap the ends of each board and let the decking hang over and butt the wrap under the decking

bjg5240

My biggest issue with using a chalk line is I'm concerned about the wavyness of the cut. Once the facia board is put on, any deviation will stand out like crazy.

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Garrett

maybe snap a line use some2x4 and screw through the gaps into anohter 2x and use that as a straight edge? im outta ideas good luck!

BuiltByMAC

Board next to house - Cut ends to length
All other decking run wild
Pop line 1" away from actual cut line
Set foot plate of saw so cut depth is thickness of board plus 1/8"
Position saw blade 1" in from popped chalk line (at actual cut line)
Pull blade guard back and hold it open (so there's less chance of the "thunk" of the guard hitting each piece screwing your cut up)
Cut slow and steady while using saw's footplate inch guide to "sight" along popped line...

Mac

Bone Saw

router with 5/8" solid carbide spiral downcut or compression cut with bearing, flawless everytime

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Garrett

bone, i like that idea but have you ever hit a knot or a bad spot in the edge of the framing and messed up the decking or are you very aware of that because its how you do it

bjg5240

Will it work with TT composite??

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Jason Whipple

Then maybe you should hire someone that can run a circular saw

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Garrett

before hidden fasteners or decks that get screwed throught the face i would snap a line and cut the decking then push the outermost joist in and out and then screw the deck boards down made for a pefectly straight edge and railing

deckman22

I'm working on a Amerdeck re-skin job now that had a couple of curved facia boards & I did exactly that, worked like a champ. Otherwise I would agree with Jason for straight lines.

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Bone Saw

it will work with any meterial, even ipe, slow and steady, nice straight as an arrow or perfectly uniform gaps, obviously you'd work from right to left and it helps to be cutting ends that are in excess of the bits diameter so as not to have blow outs on the left edge of every piece, but if I'm capping end cut, router all the way baby

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Bone Saw

ceartainly will, word of caution regarding routers, composite router shavings and "edge" work. I'd like to consider myself having ninja like reflexes, however this combination is a dangerously slippery mix (bannana peels come to mind), trust me. take your time and be mindfull of your surroundings and your footing and weight shifting, or you will go down to chinatown

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Greg Di

How do you work around posts with a router?

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Bone Saw

I don't

how do you work around posts with a saw

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bjg5240

Bone,

How much material to you leave before starting your router cuts??

Also, which bit do you prefer & where can I get it.

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Stone Mountain

At the risk of insulting you, if your hand isn't steady enough to cut a straight line when using chalk, and if you don't know what to do with the posts, then maybe you should reconsider your vocation.

I can identify my best carpenters this way. Most of them can cut a straight edge so perfectly that the bullnose fits on without any gaps anywhere. A few of them simply can't get it perfect. Those are the ones who do just the basic builders decks and such for me.
We used to have a guy who was incredible. Not only was he impressively fast, but he had an eye and a hand that could cut perfect lines without chalk lines or pencils. You couldn't fit a piece of newspaper between his mitres. Unfortunately, he had a drug problem.

Bone's idea with the router is a great one. I'll have to mention it to my carpenters.

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bjg5240

No insult taken. I dont have a super steady hand (which is why I gave up brain surgery), so thats why I'm here asking for advice.

The snapping a chalk line was a given, I was just looking for a trick of the trade (Bone Saw's post) that might make my edge turn out better. Typically when I have done decks in the past, I have left a slight overhang of the boards. This deck is composite, which is my first, and don't want to butcher it.

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Greg Di

My posts are always set inside the rim, thus giving me at least 1.5" from the edge of the rim. The saw plate fits in fine. I've always wanted to use a router, but the post issue left me guessing.

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Bone Saw

i read you now, i always put mine in after decking is down weather they're innies or outties

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