Almost every deck project involves some demolition, whether it’s the surgical removal of siding and trim to install a deck ledger and lateral bracing, or the wholesale removal of an entire deck. Having the right tool to do that efficiently—such as a specialized pry bar instead of a generic crowbar—can cut hours of frustrating labor from the process.

Once framing begins, efficient production is the key to a profitable job, especially for a short-handed crew. For example, most deck frames are put together with dozens of metal connectors, each of which requires a half-dozen or more fasteners. Some deck builders are now attaching metal hardware to the framing with structural screws, but most still use nails, in which case air-powered or battery-powered metal-connector nailers will save hours in installation time.

There are specialized tools for installing decking as well, including pneumatic hidden-fastener systems and specialty drivers designed to accept collated screws. These tools will keep you up on your feet instead of down on your knees, saving time … and your back.