Decking Guide

This is a measuring guide to help when building a deck. This is especially helpful when using hardwood deck boards which require many pilot holes to be drilled.

The guide is printed as one piece and you insert a nail into each of the four guide holes. To use the guide, place it on the board needing pilot holes. One end of the guide is for drilling holes over the middle of a joist (i.e., the deck board goes fully over a joist). The other end of the guide is for when two boards butt together (i.e., each deck board is on half a joist). Line up the guide as is needed, then use a hammer to tap the two nails which mark where the pilot holes need to be drilled.

You may be wondering why use nail marks, which adds an extra step in deck construction. Alternative designs may take screws or drill bits directly. However, those alternative designs quickly wear out. The extra nailing step pays for itself when installing many hardwood deck boards.

The print profile comes with many plates - one plate for each standard size of nail. Only print the plate corresponding to the size of nail you are using. I recommend printing the guide in a tough plastic, like PETG. 

The photos show using the guide for a butted board and over-joist board. The guide in the photos was printed in PETG HF, with 3.8mm nails. The model is designed so that inserting nails will be a tight fit. Expect to use a hammer to insert the nails, but ensure you have a backing block of wood before hammering or you may break the guide.

The guide published here is for 90mm boards on 45mm joists. If there is demand, I can publish for other sizes.

Drop in a comment if you find this useful or have suggestions for improvement.