Pressure-Treated Deck in Westerville (August 2025)

This project features a ground-up pressure-treated deck build on a ranch-style home, covering 288 square feet with a clean, functional layout. Everything on this project — decking, railing, apron, stairs, and privacy screen — is pressure-treated lumber, making it a cohesive, all-wood build that the homeowner can stain or seal to their preference.

The frame is built on cement pier footings with 4x6 posts, beams, and joists at 16 inches on center per the 2019 Ohio Revised Code of Deck Building Standards. The 5/4-inch decking runs parallel to the house wall, fastened with ring shank nails and a picture frame border around the perimeter. A 1x6 vertical PT apron wraps the full base of the deck, and 36-inch pressure-treated railing runs the flat perimeter and down both sides of the 4-foot-wide stair.

The most notable feature is the 16-linear-foot section of 6-foot-tall pressure-treated vertical privacy screen installed along one side of the deck. As seen in the photos, it provides a solid visual barrier from the neighboring property while keeping the overall material palette consistent with the rest of the build. The screen's height and solid board construction give the deck a more enclosed, defined feel on that side without requiring a separate fence installation.

Why This Project Works

• An all-pressure-treated build gives the homeowner full flexibility to stain or finish the wood in any color once cured, rather than being locked into a factory finish
• The 6-foot privacy screen along the property line provides meaningful separation from neighbors without requiring a separate fencing project
• Ring shank fasteners provide a stronger mechanical hold than smooth-shank nails, reducing the chance of boards lifting or loosening over time
• The 1x6 vertical apron gives the deck base a clean, finished look that's consistent with the rest of the wood detailing
• At 288 square feet, the deck provides a generous usable area for a ranch-style home with a relatively flat backyard
• Keeping all materials consistent — PT throughout — simplifies long-term maintenance since everything weathers and accepts stain at the same rate

What Materials Were Used

• Pressure-treated 5/4" decking, parallel to house wall, fastened with 2-3/8" ring shank nails
• Pressure-treated picture frame border
• Pressure-treated 4-foot-wide stair treads, risers, and fascia
• Pressure-treated 1x6 vertical apron
• Pressure-treated 36" railing throughout flat areas and both sides of stairs
• 16 linear feet of 6-foot-tall pressure-treated vertical privacy screen
• Pressure-treated framing with cement pier footings, 4x6 posts, beams, and joists at 16" on center

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