The Complete Guide to Decks: A Step-By-Step Manual for Building Basic and Advanced Decks (Black & Decker Home Improvement Library)

Rating:
Summary: Best of the lot. Joist the book you're looking for!!!
Review: I checked out many books from my library (which did not have this book). This book beats all other deck books I've seen for the following good points: * Awesome pictures & drawings: B&D accomplishes with a picture what others can only do with a drawing. * Great mix of design ideas with how-to detail for each design flare. * Very complete how-to teaching style with a level suitable for beginner to advanced. * Clear, consise writing style.

B&D has fast become my favorite home improvement book source. Their advanced wiring guide is also very good!

Rating:
Summary: Best of the lot. Joist the book you're looking for!!!
Review: I thought this book said it all. It delivers just what you need, for information. This book is great for the first timer and for the advanced deck builder.

Rating:
Summary: Most complete guide I've seen
Review: This book has great step by step instructions on how to build a deck in general. It also has several start to finish guides (with good pictures) for specific kinds of decks, and the special stuff you do for those.

The one complaint I would have is that the deck was tailored to building a deck with a cantilevered beam. I was building a corner-post deck, and some of the examples didn't show both. (Some of them did, but I could have used more detail.)

I've also heard the Home Depot deck book is good.

Rating:
Summary: Great guide for the whole deck
Review: This book has great step by step instructions on how to build a deck in general. It also has several start to finish guides (with good pictures) for specific kinds of decks, and the special stuff you do for those.

The one complaint I would have is that the deck was tailored to building a deck with a cantilevered beam. I was building a corner-post deck, and some of the examples didn't show both. (Some of them did, but I could have used more detail.)

I've also heard the Home Depot deck book is good.

Rating:
Summary: Most complete guide I've seen
Review: Tons of photos, very good step by step instructions. Great for the begineer to intermediate DIY'er.

However, be sure to check your local building codes before making any plans. It will save you a lot of money. This book (like most deck building books) are written with people in the North Eastern US in mind. Readers in the South East don't need such deep footers for example. It goes the other way too, the directions for attaching a deck to your home were insufficient for code in my local area.
This book, like most other deck books, focuses on tall decks and really doens't discuss much about ground level decks.