How to Build a Deck

How does one attach a deck ledger to a brick wall?

Grady,
The proper way is to use through bolts.

if i build a deck on 4x4 7x7 deck holding a jacuzzi i got 2x10 beam to each 4x4 with 2x8 joist on 16 inch center with exterioir grade plywood is that ok

Rob,
One cubic foot of water weighs 62.43 pounds. There are 7.48 gallons of water per cubic foot. You tell me how much weight there will be. I'll save you some time; pay the small fee of a structural engineer and get the right design.

Using metric might help. One liter of water weighs one kilogram. If the volume of the jacuzzi is shown in liters anywhere, that's how many kg the water will weigh.

I'm building a small Deck on my Shop. I'm looking to find how far apart do I put the pickets.

Lynn,
Whatever the code in your area says. Usually the spacing between the pickets has to be less than 4 inches.

does it matter if the decking boards run paralell against the side of the house or not?

Rick,
No. They typically run perpendicular to the direction of the joists.

How do i establish the footing for 6x6 post 12ft high,with a dirt foundation that slopes away from the house?

David,
By digging a hole and pouring the necessary concrete. You then place a code-approved metal connector between the concrete pier and the post.

Hello,

I am a first timer building a deck and need some help so I hope you can provide some. My deck will have no elevation and is cornered between the house and my sunroom. The depth is 16' and the width is 25'. 1. Any suggestions about where to find "how to" plans for constructing a deck with no elevation? 2. Do I need a ledger for both the depth and width? I am considering using the sunroom as the ledger, any concerns about this?

Thank you!

Mike,
You should read all of my Deck Construction columns. There are many tips there.

I am building a outdoor deck and someone told me that when you have concrete piers with metal brackets that it is ok to have the soil around it or built up around it for the purpose of preventing ponding of water. I thought that it would be much better to make sure that there is no soil covering the concrete piers and brackets that will be holding the beams. I am concerned the moisture might cause some type of break down of the materials long term. I would greatly appreciate your expert advise.

Is it OK to use lag bolts if you are screwing them to the band joist of the house?

David,
I would never bury that connection. The top of any piers I have poured in this situation were always above grade so that the wood and metal could dry out.

Derrick,
NO ! ! ! ! I tell you why in many of my other Deck Construction columns. You should read them so you know the right bolt to use.

I am process of replacing my deck off my second floor master bedroom. I would like to lay plywood down between the joists and decking so water doesn't come through the deck spacing. Do I need to use an ice shield (rubber membrane) or can I just use regular roofing material (the black rolled stuff)?

I am installing a deck up against a brick wall where the slab is solid concrete and there is no way to get a bolt through and nut on the other side. I know you don't recommend lag bolts but is this a situation its ok? The deck will be about 3 feet off the ground.

Les,
You need to hire a professional roofer who deals in rubber roofs. You are way out of your comfort zone.

Erick,
It is not okay to use lag bolts. They may eventually fail, and that end of the deck falling even 3 feet can cause serious injury to someone. You should make the deck free-standing. That is just a little more work. Read my past column about free-standing decks.

Our Condo Assoc. is suposed to be responsible for the deck skirt. What is the deck skirt?

Vic,

A deck skirt is the decorative covering the underside of the deck. It encloses the area under the deck. The Condo probably wants everyone's to match.

I am installing a (2) story deck. The major portion of my deck will be just below the interior floor level. Thus, I will be able to through bolt the ledger to the interior floor joist. However, the second story will be approx. 12" above the main floor level. How do I through bolt to an elevation above the floor? Should I use lag bolts? (the house has a brick exterior) Thanks.

1)We have a walk out basement with 12' tall semi circle retaining wall off the back of the house creating a patio space area off the first level.
2) The surface of the patio area is fill from contruction and has settled for 4 years. The plan was to use pavers, however I believe that they will continue to settle - we now are building a wood deck
3) since the area is fill, what techniques can be used for footings to create a freee floating deck surface ?.

I want to build a deck as a patio. What is the best to use as base, before i put the actual wood for the pation on it.

Can i attach a 2x10x20 ledger to a concrete wall,even if the concrete wall
is a foundation wall? ( The foundation
wall is 12H x 24W )



Thanks

Hi Tim, I am trying to find out exactly all of the pieces I need to build a deck out of composite wood. I know I need "wood" and I know I need screws...do I also need braces or any other pieces? I will be concreting it into the ground using the upside down cone you suggested already. Thanks.

I want to build a wooden deck NOWHERE NEAR my house. Can I dig a four-inch gravel pit, lay some beams and nail in some boards? I am not planning on railings, just a wooden raft on the dirt.

Post in concrete or over concrete?

I've been in talk with a few contractors to add a deck to our house. The ones that charge a reasonable price won't or unable to do post over concrete. The ones that does it charges an astronomical amount for a simple 12x16 deck.

I reason that when the time comes to rebuilt the deck in 10-15 years down the road, a decently poured concrete footing with anchor will be an assert as oppose to post in concrete which will be a liability. It would be worthwhile to spend some extra dollar to get the footing done right. But I can't justify spending 6 or seven grand.

What is your thought on this? Thanks!

I mean six or seven grand for the deck, not for the footing alone.

I want to build a freestanding deck to completely cover my backyard that currently is covered with grass. I intend to use the precast concrete piers, but i do not know what to do with the grass that is there now, because I am worried about it growing through the deck boards later. Do I dig it up and put down some type of gravel or what? Thank you in advance.

David Jones,
One way might be to work with smaller distances. For instance, mark off 3' out from the house while making sure of square and level. Then, do that again but this time from the 3' markings you just did. This way, you can work with 6' or 8' boards to help find plumb locations and can probably work with levels and squares at reasonable heights.

Hi! We own a rental property that is 100 years old. The front porch is cement, the cement is very cracked in multiple areas, deep cracks, cement has pulled away from the house in some areas. Is it possible to put a wood deck OVER the cement? Or is that asking for trouble? Should we remove the old cement porch? Thank you so much!

I'm replaceing my deck the footings are in good shape. Can I just attach an aditional 2X8 to the existing ones to give it added support?

Tim, I have s rather serious problem with my deck, one of the posts is always being pushed up by the frost and every year when the ground thaws you have to smack the top of rail and post to get it back down. Well over the past few years the deck boards have started to banana up toward that post. My deck is a large rectangle with an octagon and is 14 years old. (It is one of the outer octagon posts,4 posts away from the steps.) I wsnt to put the pvc post covers over the existing posts and replace the spindles with the pvc ones, but with this poblem I just don't know what to do about that one post. Please help us out. Thank You. Deb

I recently purchased a house with a large front porch (roof of house covers porch) and back deck. In both cases, the 4x4 treated supports extend into the ground (this was known at time of purchase). I need to cut off the treated supports and install concrete piers and stand-offs below the 4x4s. Since the front porch supports also support the extension of the main roof, I want to be certain there is little movement when I change support. I intend to use floor jacks to provide temporary support and use steel shims to take up any space between the concrete and posts. But, i would appreciate any advice the experts can give.

Thank you,

I was told that I can set my 4x4 post without mixing a ready mix bag of concrete. The theory behind this is that the concrete will set up by absorbing water from the soil. Is this true? Will using tube forms cause any problems? Thank you.