Free Standing Deck Construction Guide

If you build decks inspect decks are planning to build a deck or just want some great info on how to properly build a deck download this free guide from the american wood council reuben saltzman structure tech home inspections.

Free standing deck construction guide.

Of nailing surface fasteners will cause ends to split. Create your design so that the railings are clear of windows and out swinging doors. Joist span non ledger deck. Joist span joists attached at house and to side of beam.

We ll also give you ideas for furnishing and decorating your new deck. The prescriptive residential wood deck construction guide is fantastic. Mike m 7 17 2016 1 09 31 am reply. Here s a plan for both a freestanding deck and an attached deck that measures 8x10.

This guide covers how to build a ground level platform as well as a single story raised deck. This free plan is all ready to go in one pdf file that includes building instructions diagrams and blueprints. In fact for this kind of construction it s best to over build the deck. Learn how to create deck designs and how to build a deck.

Using 4 by 4 posts when building a freestanding deck. That can cause problems especially with wood decks. This series of videos and step by step instructions breaks building a wood or composite deck into manageable parts. When building a free standing deck adjacent to a house how close should the footings be to the homes existing foundation.

Thickness of each joist. Whatever you do don t skimp on materials i e. Most builders install a beam and a row of footings 2 feet from the house wall. Prescriptive residential wood deck construction guide 5 american wood council figure 1b.

Deck boards are typically 5 1 2 inches wide so try to plan a deck size that won t leave narrow pieces at the ends. It can also be a demanding job so carefully plan the amount of decking you ll need and enlist any helping hands that you can. Building a deck in your outdoor space can enhance your home s options for entertaining and relaxation. The result is that end to end deck boards share the 1 1 2 in.

For example i constructed each beam from 2 by 10 boards laminated together to form a big brawny 4 by 10. Improper deck building has resulted in a growing number of deck failures. Create a place to entertain or simply relax. While decks are a popular feature of many homes the construction and safety of decks have become a real concern within the building industry.

Deck framing connection guide 3 more than a million decks are built and replaced each year in the united states. Mike 7 28 2016 3 03 40 pm reply. The traditional way most builders go about building a deck is to randomly stagger joints.