Premade pressure-treated wood lattice comes in 4’ x 8’ panels. Here’s how to cut and attach lattice panels around a wood deck.

How to cut and attach lattice to a deck:

  1. Rip the lattice panels to size using a circular saw. Be careful not to cut through the staples holding the lattice together.
  2. Cut the lattice panels to length so the ends meet over the deck foundation posts.
  3. Use deck screws to attach scraps of 2×4 to the back of the band joists running around the deck foundation.
  4. Attach the lattice to the 2×4 scraps with deck screws.
  5. Cover the seams between the panels by screwing vertical pieces of 1×4 lumber over the joints.

Watch the video above to find out more.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Danny Lipford: Installing lattice under skirting to mask off the area under a deck is a great way to improve its overall appearance.

Lattice typically comes in four-foot by eight-foot sheets, so you’ll need vertical supports for the lattice at least every eight feet if it’s four feet or less above ground. In this case, the deck is two feet off the ground and the four-by-four foundation posts are spaced at eight-foot intervals so they will provide that support.

You’ll also want horizontal support for the lattice along the lower edge of the deck. Here we’re creating that by screwing pieces of two-by-fours to the back side of the band joists. Three of these 16-inch pieces per eight-foot span provide plenty of support for the lattice.

Because the bottom of the deck joists are only 24 inches off the ground, we are simply marking the lattice panels with a chalk line and cutting them in half along their length. A circular saw is the best tool for this; just be careful to avoid cutting the staples holding the lattice together.

Now, getting a smooth fit may require a little excavation of the soil beneath the deck. And it’s easier to move a little dirt with a shovel than to custom-cut the lattice for every little bump in the ground.

Before driving the deck screws to secure the lattice, be sure to drill pilot holes. The individual lattice strips are thin and will split very easily.

Finally, camouflage the seams between panels by overlaying a piece of one-by-four and securing it with deck screws, which works really well because our posts are four-by-fours.

The result is a deck that looks as good as it functions.


Further Information

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Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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