Dress Up a Wooden Deck with an Inset

The Hammer Heads crew shows how to create an inlay in a wooden deck.

Hammer Heads : Episode HHEDS-101 -- More Projects »
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Create a distinctive detail for the center of your deck with three redwood "diamonds" that nest inside each other.

Materials and Tools:

redwood
stain
screws
carpenter's square or tape measure
circular saw
cordless drill
pencil

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Figure A
Steps:

1. Determine the location of the inset, then measure and mark the finished dimensions on the decking (figure A).

2. Cut 4 pieces of redwood to create the largest diamond, with a 45-degree angle on each end of each piece. One side of each piece will be shorter than the other.

3. Cut 4 more pieces; the longer side of each of these will be the same length as the shorter side of the previous set. Repeat for the third diamond.

4. Assemble each diamond, then fit them inside each other to create one unit (figure B).

5. Stain each individual piece.

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Figure B
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Figure C
6. Cut out the marked section of the deck with a circular saw (figure C).
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Figure D
7. Assemble the inset in the space (figure D).
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Figure E
8. For a seamless diamond pattern, screw the diamonds from underneath the deck using a cordless drill (figure E).
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Figure F
Now sit back, admire the finished inset (figure F) — and enjoy the compliments!
Also in this Episode
Hammer Heads : Episode HHEDS-101
•Dress Up a Wooden Deck with an Inset