Cordless drills are now the most popular choice when it comes to any type of drilling. The fact that they have no electrical lead makes them very portable, and also easier to use.
You don't need to worry about having an electric socket, and if you get one with a good battery life, then that will be able to drill through all type of masonry.
If you are taking on the task of building or even repairing a decking, then you will need a powerful strong drill to achieve that. Decking screws are anything between 60-80 mm long (2.5-3") and you need plenty of power to drive those home.
All cordless drills actually come as drill/drivers so they can both drill and also be used as a screwdriver to drive in and remove screws. The drill function will have its own setting, and if it is a hammer drill, it will have an additional setting for that hammer function.
For decking the hammer function is of no real importance unless you are attaching any of the sub-frame of the decking to a wall. Some deck builders also may build a foundation for the frame made of brick or block, and then attach the frame to that.
However, most people will simply want a cordless drill to put together the frame, the joists and then lay the decking boards.
I would strongly recommend that you get a rapid bit holder to use with any drill for putting in screws. They are so handy once you get one you'll never be without one again! Also I have recently bought a right angle drill that's very useful for getting into awkward areas. It's well worth reading a bit more about them.
Know Your Decking Screws
You can buy decking boards in different quality of timber, different lengths, widths and depths. For the purpose of driving screws, the two key considerations are the type of wood and the depth of the board.
Decking screws are sold in different lengths and a box of 100 screws costs around £10-15. They almost always have a Pozidriv style head, and they are usually a single threaded type.
These are also used for fencing and in any exterior timber as they have been green treated to resists corrosion.
Our Recommendation for the Best Cordless Drill for Building a Deck
Bosch PSB 1800
With a buyer satisfaction rating of 95% from over 6,000 online buyers, those two facts show that this one sells very well, and buyers rate it highly. This is the biggest selling cordless drill/driver on the UK market right now.
When we did our top 10 list of cordless drill/drivers, this PSB 1800 came out as our number one choice. I would say this is definitely the best cordless drill for decking or fencing.
This is an 18 Volt cordless drill that comes with 2 batteries, a 1-hour charger and a carrying case. It can drill into wood, metal and concrete.
It has a keyless chuck, LED work light, 2-speed gearbox and 20 torque settings. Buyers loved the long battery life, the fact that is comes with 2 batteries and a charger, and was amazing value for money.
Just below we have included the pros and cons of what real life buyers had to say..
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
There are more expensive options out there for drill/drivers that are suitable for working on deckings, or building a base for a hot tub, but we think this one is the best value for money and will not disappoint you or leave you frustrated. I have this drill myself.
Our Runner Up
Dewalt 18V Cordless Combi Drill
This is a top of the range, 18 Volt cordless drill that comes with 2 batteries, a 1-hour charger and a carrying case. It can drill into wood, metal and concrete. It has a keyless chuck, LED work light, 2-speed gearbox and 15 torque settings
Obviously this is a much more expensive choice and it's really a professional standard drill and driver. If you want the very best and money is no object then this is as good as it gets.
In our overall ratings this drill gets 94% and over 80% of all buyers gave it a 5 start rating. I expect if it was a bit cheaper it would get 100%. It is absolutely perfect for screwing down decking , fencing or any project, no matter how big.
Just below we have included the pros and cons of what real life buyers had to say..
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
This is a high end drill and the price will definitely tell you that. This drill is all about quality. Everything to do with it gets top marks and its a tool you will enjoy using for life. If you want the best that money can buy, then look no further, this is it.
The Cheapest Alternative
Mylek MY18VCB 18V Cordless Drill Driver
We also understand that many people have to work with a smaller budget so we like to include where possible a cheaper alternative.
Overall this impact driver has an online buyer satisfaction rating of 88% so we know it's a good quality drill that works well. Although it's not a high end drill and the brand is not that well known, hundreds have been sold and it works really well.
It's a powerful 18 Volt cordless drill/driver. Comes with 1 battery and a charger, has 19 torque settings, has forward and reverse gears and variable speed. It's the perfect budget model for decking and other large driving jobs. You also get a few acessories with it to get you started.
Just below we have included the pros and cons of what real life buyers had to say..
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
At around £40 we would class this as a budget model but don't let that put you off. If you want something that will do your deck and you don't want to spend a fortune then this drill is perfect. It works, and I mean it works very well. We have no hesitation in recommending this drill as a cheaper model.
More Helpful Information
Building a deck of any size is considered to be a big project for any DIY person. You can get someone in to do this for you, but that can get expensive as you are typically looking at a 1-2 day build. That will not come cheap.
If you fancy taking this on yourself, then it will take you longer, simply because you don't initially have the expertise, the time or all the professional tools. Most DIY people with good skills can easily build a deck.
Getting the posts in place and making sure they are square is the key thing to get the entire structure right. If they are put in properly, then constructing a 2 x 4 frame is the next step, and then screwing in the joists. Laying the deck boards is the fun part.
I have a Makita magnetic bit holder that i use when I am putting in a lot of screws and I can't recommend this type of accessory highly enough. Everybody should have one of these tools. Just makes any job so much easier.
Two Heads are Better than one (sometimes)
We all like to work in slightly different ways. When aligning posts and squaring them up, then two heads are a good idea. Getting help from someone at this stage can be very useful. You can do this part on your own, but it is much better if you can get help from a friend.
Likewise building the frame is faster and easier when you have someone to help. Holding joists in place etc is just far easier with 2 people.
Drilling Pilot Holes
When laying down deck boards there is really no need to drill pilot holes. It is easy enough to simply drive screws home.
However, when it comes to the ends of deck boards, then we recommend drilling a small pilot hole. That is because it will help prevent the end of the board from splitting. It only takes a few seconds to drill a couple of pilot holes before driving home the screw.
Split boards are weak boards, and water will get in there. Over a few years that then becomes a major weak point in your deck.
I hope this has been helpful for you. If you don't fancy any of these models you can check out our top 10 rated cordless drills by clicking here. There are plenty of options to choose from here but I always try to stick to a well known brand like Milwaukee, Makita, Ryobi, Black and Decker, Dewalt or Bosch when I am buying a tool like this.