What a deck work order is for
Deck crews build from a sketch more than a set of plans. A work order that fixes the layout off the house, footing spots, beam and joist sizes, ledger flashing, decking direction and stair location means the inspector sees what the permit shows and the owner gets the deck they signed for.
What to put on a deck work order
- Layout dimensions from the house.
- Footing locations and depth.
- Beam, joist size and spacing.
- Ledger fastening and flashing.
- Decking direction and fasteners.
- Railing height and stair location.
A worked example
Day one, layout and footings. Prices are hidden.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lay out 16 x 20 off kitchen wall | 320 | sq ft | Your price |
| Dig footings to frost depth | 9 | each | Your price |
| Ledger with flashing, through-bolted | 20 | ft | Your price |
| Joists at 16 inches on center | 320 | sq ft | Your price |
Put the inspection booking in site notes. Pouring footings before the footing inspection can mean digging them out.
Line items deck builders use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Footings, dug and poured | each | Depth to your local frost line and the inspector's rule. |
| Framing: posts, beams and joists | sq ft | Lumber grade and joist spacing. |
| Ledger with flashing | ft | Attached to the house with the fasteners code calls for. |
| Decking, pressure-treated | sq ft | Board width and fastening. |
| Decking, composite | sq ft | Brand, color and hidden or face fasteners. |
| Railing | ft | Wood, composite, aluminum or cable. |
| Stairs | each | Per step; width and landing. |
| Tear-out of old deck | sq ft | Demolition and haul-off. |
| Post caps and lighting | each | Low voltage or solar. |
| Skirting or lattice | ft | Around the base. |
| Permit and inspections | each | Footing, framing and final. |
| Stain and seal | sq ft | For wood decks, after the wood is ready. |
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer, the site and the date.
- Add who is assigned, the arrival window and access.
- List the tasks and materials in the order the crew will need them.
- Put gate codes, pets and anything to protect in the site notes.
- Print it for the truck or send it to the crew's phone as a PDF.
Free tools for deck
The same work order for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpentry, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, duct cleaning, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, glass, gutter, handyman, holiday lighting, home inspection, hood cleaning, hvac, insulation, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, masonry, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, property maintenance, remodeling, restoration, roofing, security system, septic, siding, snow removal, solar, tile, tree service, water treatment, waterproofing, window cleaning, window and door.
More for deck builders: how deck builders run on Koira.