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Posts Tagged ‘Deck’

10 New Deck Building Planning Considerations

Are you considering building a new deck onto your home? Be sure to plan ahead to find the best possible deck design to perfectly match your home aesthetics.

Review the following deck planning considerations.

1 Deck Location Design the new deck location area similar to building a room onto your home. Would you end a room in the middle of a window? No. Remembering to keep your deck away from windows by up to two feet will prevent your looking out the window at a railing. Many decks have an entrance to the home by the kitchen through the dining area. In areas of the country with heavy snowfall, you may want to step down a step or two to keep standing snow away from the door threshold and laying against your door. 4″ lower than the door is a common minimum height in snow country.

2 Site Plan When you purchased your home your realtor should have included a copy of our site/ plot plan in your contract. Your local zoning department may have a copy on file if you do not have a plot plan. This plan shows you the property setbacks and easement lines that require you to not build past certain parameters. Your local building department can help you with this when you apply for your new deck building permit. In some townships and counties you may not be required to apply for a building permit.

3 Deck Layout and DesignBegin by getting a feel for the size of the new deck you will be building. Use two foot increments when deciding your deck size. The reason for this is lumber is cut to 8′, 10′, 12′, and 16′ lengths. This will reduce scrap materials and save you money. Remember that decks are NOT symmetrical to the back of the home. Decks are most common to to one side or the other. This is an important consideration in the layout of your new deck. To get a feel for your deck layout try using scrap lumber or a garden hose to layout the new deck shape.

4 Deck Size To determine your deck size list the uses of the deck. Then ask yourself how much room will I need? The average outdoor area is between 12% – 18% of the square footage for the home. Most people use their deck for dining or entertaining outside. Built-in hot tubs, spas, screen rooms, and outdoor kitchen areas are becoming more popular in modern deck designs.

5 Consider a Deck Dining Area Will you be dining on your deck? One modern trend is to build a bump-out (It may be an octagon) to push the table and chairs off the main deck floor and give the dining area a designated space.

6 Privacy Walls Is privacy needed from your neighbors or your street? Deck builders offer a privacy wall option. If this is limited to the sides of the deck it avoids the “feeling of being trapped in a fish bowl.”

7 Deck Access How will you get off and on the deck? The side of the house where you walk to get to the back yard may be the best spot to enter the new deck. Stairways are heavily regulated by your local building department. A width of 36″ is as narrow as you can build. The rise (height between steps) should be between 7″ – 8″. The run or “tread” of the step should b between 10″ – 12″ deep. Large staircases are nice to look at and are appealing to quickly access your backyard, still most staircases are 36″ – 48″ wide. If you have a two story deck consider a landing midway in the stairway. This will minimize a fall and reduce injuries. Each township or county will have specifications of how a staircase is attached to the deck frame and whether or not it will need a railing.

8 Grill Location Where will your grill go? Keep your grill by the door but not next to the house. You also have the option to run a permanent gas line run under your deck to your grill. This will save you the trips to refill your propane tank.

9 Shade SolutionsWill you need shade? One solution is to install a custom awning over your deck. This can be very costly and may even exceed the price of your new deck. One popular alternative choice is to build a pergola or arbor into the design of the deck. A pergola can be installed n one of a number of different styles, shapes, and materials. Pergolas and arbors provide some shade to the area they cover. If you need total shade consider a roof covered deck or a screened in porch option.

10 Deck Seating Would you rather have a railing around the deck or seating? In many areas if your new deck is higher than 18″ off the ground you will need a railing around the deck perimeter. A typical railing height is 36 inches. If your deck stands higher than 10 feet off the ground a 42″ – 48″ tall railing may be needed. If you are building a wooden deck and you would like to have seating built into the design an option is composite lumber. This composite (plastic) lumber helps to eliminate splintering and warping that happens over time with wood seating.

Bottom Line – Be sure the deck fits your needs and desires before the process of building the new deck is started. Then check the deck builders list of references to ensure the quality you desire for the construction of your new deck will happen.

1 Determine if the Deck Size Blends Your Home Refer to our deck planning article to size your deck correctly. Use a deck plan approved in your area or have a building designer or architect to design your deck.

2 Who will Build the Deck?Do you have the skills needed for the deck construction or will you contact a contractor for this project? If you choose a contractor working with a quality deck builder is recommended. Ask for a list of references. Your deck builder may take care of the below requirements and your job is over after you select a builder. If you are building the deck continue to read.

3 Contact Your Local Building Inspector Most areas require building permits for deck construction so be sure to review requirements with your local building inspector. You may need your plot/site plan with the new deck design drawn onto the plan. Apply for the required building permits. You may also be required to submit a deck building material list to the inspector.

4 Deck Building Materials To ensure an accurate material list for your area and also obtain the best possible pricing consider contacting three local building material suppliers or lumberyards for your deck pricing. Note the height above ground for your new deck as this will change the stairway materials and your post length. We live in Michigan and build our decks with 12″ – 16″ footings 42″ below grade. With the 20′ wide deck three posts may be sufficient although four posts will keep the spacing under 8′ which may be required for two story decks. You may need to update your post and stairway materials.

Note: Use good quality treated or equivalent materials.

4 8′ 4×6 Support Posts 6 12″ Concrete Foundation Cookies (Two for Bottom of Stairway) 4 Bags of Concrete Gravel Mix 24′ J Channel matching the home siding color24′ Deck Z Flashing 24′ Deck Waterproofing/ Termite Shield 21 10′ 2×10 or equivalent Deck and Rim Joists 60′ 2×12 Double support beam and stairway stringers 440′ 5/4 Decking Materials 40′ Decking Materials for Stairway Decking Fasteners 12 5/8″ x 8″ Carriage Bolts for Beam 30 Lag Screw Fasteners to fasten rim joist to the home2 Corner Support Brackets 16 Exterior Grade 2×10/ Equivalent Joist Hangers 5 4x4x8 Posts – Handrail Supports 36′ Hand-railing 8′ Stairway handrail (May flex pending on your height above grade) Grass seed or landscaping plantings to repair around your support posts.

5 Deck Footing & Foundation There are various deck footing options. The most common method in the northern country here in Michigan is the post and beam method. We keep our beam 16″ from the front of the deck and our side posts 16″ in from the left and right deck edges. With the 10′ deep deck the measurement to the center of the deck footing is 100″. Dig and place the two outside footings 42″ below grade with concrete mix placed under the footings. Set and brace the two support posts and then run a string line to set the additional intermediate posts. An good alternative option is to install temporary supports and place your footing and support posts after your deck frame is constructed.

6 Attach Your 2×10 Rim Joists To the Home Cut away the siding where your deck will be attached. Place ice guard or termite shield behind the area where the rim joist will be attached. Cutting the siding 1 1/2″ above the rim joist will leave a 1/2″ recommended gap with 1″ decking material. Install your J channel at this point.

7 Build the Deck Frame With a single rim joist on each end your joists will be cut to a 117″ length. Level and attach the two outside joists with an L metal hanger. Be sure to square the outside corners. Then install and support the intermediate joists with joist hangers.

8 Install the Decking Boards Install the decking leaving around a 1/8″ gap between the deck boards. If the material is treated and is very wet the boards may be installed tight as they will dry leaving a sufficient gap. Be sure the frame is installed square prior to installing the decking.

9 Construct your Staircase

10 Install the Railing Support Posts and Railing

Remember: Check with your building inspector about required inspections. They may require a footing inspection prior to back-fill of soil.

Tip: To help settle the soil around the posts consider using a garden hose after compaction. When the soil is completely settled add grass seed or decorative landscaping to complete a finishing touch to your new deck.