Building a deck frame with angled or clipped corners also helps you avoid a boxy look by softening the edges. The angles make it more challenging to lay joists and give your deck the support it needs, but it’s not an impossible task. We’ll walk you through the entire process, including how to level the beams and attach angled joists. Follow the steps below to learn how to angle corners and joists when building a deck frame. To mark the angled cut line, measure out from the corner an equal distance in both directions. Align a straight 1x4 with both measurements, and mark the header and the rim joist. Transfer the marks to the faces of the boards with a square. Because the width of the joist has been reduced, it must be reinforced. Cut a scrap piece of 2x lumber to rest on a lower step and reach the top of the joist. Attach the support to the joist with several screws. If the obstacle is in the path of a joist, you’ll have to frame around it, as shown above. Install ledger pieces on either side, taking care that the pieces are at exactly the same height. Install joists on either side of the obstacle, then cut and install a piece of blocking between the joists. Cut a joist to run from the header to the blocking piece.
