A deck is a popular addition to many homes. It is a place to host family dinners, barbecues and watch the sunset or sunrise.
Building a deck requires careful planning and design. It’s also important to secure the right permits before starting construction. This will ensure that your deck is safe and up to code. Contact Deck Builders Baltimore County for professional help.
Posts are a critical part of the framing structure of any deck, so it’s important to do them right. Proper installation creates a sturdy foundation that can support railings and other features without buckling or shifting over time. The posts must also be strong enough to prevent people from leaning on them and causing the structure to collapse. The good news is that installing deck posts doesn’t have to be difficult, and it’s even easier when you follow a few best practices.
When building a wood deck, the most common posts are four-by-fours. However, you can choose larger posts if your local code requires it or if you want to create a more substantial look for the structure. The size of the posts will also determine how far the beams span from one post to the next, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead before starting construction.
Once the posts are set, you can install your deck boards and beams. Make sure to leave slight gaps around the posts so that they can accommodate any natural settling of the deck or swelling of materials in different seasons. The gaps will also help keep the posts from being pushed out of alignment by rubbing or increased pressure.
Another important step in deck installation is attaching the posts to the joists. This is done using ledger lock bolts, which provide a secure connection between the joist and the post. The bolts are installed through the joist and into the post, and they should be tightened well to ensure a secure hold.
When attaching the posts to the joists, be sure to use a level and a square to help you get them straight. Also, remember to leave a gap between the posts and the ground to allow for water runoff. This will help protect the posts from moisture and slow down rot.
When it comes to securing the posts, most experts recommend using concrete footers that are raised above ground level. This will prevent the wooden posts from coming in direct contact with soil, which can lead to rotting over time. It’s also a good idea to dig the footers below the frost line, as this will help prevent frost heave, which can disrupt the stability of your deck.
Joists
A new deck requires a sturdy understructure that’s built to support the weight of its surface materials. It also needs to protect the wood from moisture, which could rot and cause structural failure. The best way to do this is with a new wood substructure that’s made from pressure-treated lumber. This type of lumber resists water damage, is inhospitable to mildew and mold, and discourages insect infestation. Using this type of lumber is usually the most cost-effective.
The joists are the main structural elements of a deck that carry its load-bearing components. They can be made from wood or metal and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. There are two main types of joists: solid lumber floor joists and open-web floor trusses. Solid lumber joists are typically constructed from mature trees and have limited span distances. They also require careful use of fasteners to prevent warping. Open-web joists, on the other hand, are constructed from pieces of cantilevered wood and have natural openings that make it easier to route pipes and wires through them. These joists are often preferred by timber frame builders because of their strength and versatility.
Both types of joists have different load bearing capacities and will affect your overall deck cost. The cost of solid joists may be lower but will need to be supported with bracing and other methods that can increase their strength and stability. Open-web joists are more expensive but offer greater flexibility and can handle a greater range of loads.
In addition to the costs of wood and other decking materials, you’ll need to account for labor costs. This will vary depending on the season, complexity of the project, and contractor rates. Hiring a professional deck builder ensures quality workmanship and compliance with local building codes, but it will also add to the overall cost.
When calculating the cost of your deck, consider all the costs associated with the construction process, including permits and inspections. You should also factor in any costs for removal, relocation, repairing, or modifying existing framing, surface finishes, or plumbing and electrical systems. You should also consider the cost of cleaning, testing and remediation of hazardous materials. Also, don’t forget to factor in sales tax on all materials and supplies.
Beams
The deck beams are the solid structural members that take the load from the joists. They must be strong and sturdy to ensure the safety of the deck, and they can withstand weathering and decay over time. When installing the beams, you must first determine their size based on the amount of weight they will support and the distance they will span. Then, you must choose a joist size that is appropriate for the beams. You can also check the joist-to-beam connection requirements with the deck plans or your local building codes to ensure proper installation.
The next step in installing the deck beams is to install a ledger board. The ledger is the surface that will connect to the house, and it must be attached securely and at a proper height. The height of the ledger should be a minimum of 1″ below the bottom of the door, and it is recommended to use at least 2 lag screws at each end of the ledger.
Before you start to install the deck beams, it is important to carefully mark where the ledger will be located on the house. The location should be where the deck will connect to it, and the level at which the ledger rests should match the level of the joists. You must also make sure that the ledger is not sagging or tilting.
If you decide to install a cantilevered beam, it is essential to ensure that the joists on both sides of the beam are anchored to the post. If they are not anchored, the joists will move and can cause the deck to collapse. To prevent this from happening, you must secure the joists to the posts with heavy-duty connection hardware.
Then, you must prepare the deck for the ledger board by digging footers and pouring concrete. Once the concrete has set, you can install the deck posts. When setting the posts, be sure to use a line level and temporary braces to plumb them. Once the posts are in place, you can attach them to the ledger with bolts and post-to-beam connectors.
Railing
A railing adds safety and a finished look to any deck. It’s also required for some decks, depending on local building codes. The railing consists of top and bottom rails plus balusters (pickets). The height of the top and bottom rails, and the size and shape of handrails, are dictated by local code requirements. The railing posts must be able to support the weight of the railings and balusters, so they are usually made from weather- and insect-resistant wood. Alternatively, they can be metal.
If you choose to use a ledger board to connect the deck to your house, make sure it is securely fastened with structural hardware. A sloping or loose ledger board can be one of the leading causes of deck failures. In addition, the flashing above and behind the ledger should be installed as recommended by the fastener manufacturer or your local building officials.
Joist blocking, which is also called bridging, consists of blocks installed between the joists. These are typically of the same lumber as the joists and help distribute the load more evenly across the deck. This reduces the deflection of individual joists and makes the entire deck feel more solid and sturdy.
Start by marking the location for your post holes on the bottom of the rim joists and fascia boards. If you want the posts to hang several inches over the joists, draw a line up the side of the post that you plan to cut. For example, if you want the 4×4 posts to hang 2 inches up from the bottom of the deck, mark a line along the length of the post that will be cut. Then use a saw to remove the section of the post that extends up from the deck by 2 inches.
Once the deck frame is built, install the fascia and joist blocking. Then, you can begin installing the decking boards. April used a wide variety of slats, including 2×6 boards and 3×6 “planks.” The wide range of sizes allowed her to create a unique pattern in the decking and to match up seams when she installed them.
