Fasteners

• Using the correct fasteners when building your deck can be the difference between a safe structure and a dangerous deck collapse. The North American Deck and Railing Association says that you should use bolts, not nails, especially when attaching the deck to the ledger board on the house. This is the point where most of the stress from the weight of the structure is focused, and tension can easily pull the nails out, resulting in a collapsed deck. Screws are good choices for areas with less stress, such as where individual boards connect to joists.
  
  

Concrete

• Concrete footings are sections of concrete embedded into the ground that provide a stable support for the posts of the deck. You must pour these footings deep enough to withstand any ground changes when frost occurs in the winter, according to Virginia Decking and Remodeling. You can also use pre-formed concrete piers. Piers go underground as well, but are already shaped and cured. They feature special openings designed for the installation of the posts and don't allow shifting like freshly poured concrete does.
  
  

Lumber

• High-quality decking boards resist curling or warping that can occur due to moisture and sun exposure, leaving your deck's surface as even as the day you installed it. Hardwoods are generally the best choice for wooden decking boards, especially cedar and redwoods that have natural rot resistance, says Ask the Builder. Plastic-based composite boards are also available that hold up well to weathering, but you can't re-stain them when they fade like you can with wood. Also, many homeowners do not like the look of composite materials, which do not mimic natural styles very well.
  
  

Support Plates

• Joists and piers are the support structures of the deck, and you must attach them to each other securely for safety. A variety of support plates, including T-shaped brackets and joist hangers, are used in deck building, according to Ask the Builder. Damage can occur when the chemicals used in treated lumber come in contact with the metal of support plates. Look for joist hangers and brackets designed and approved for use with treated lumber, or choose a different deck-building material.