how high can a deck be

Full Answer

How high can you build a deck?

In the United States, a floating deck's maximum height is 30″ above grade if not attached to a house or in front of an egress door. In Canada, a floating deck can be no taller than 24″ (0.6m) above grade.

What is the maximum height a deck can be without a railing?

30"All decks greater than 30" above grade must have a guardrail. If you choose to install a guardrail on a deck lower than 30", you must still meet code requirements.

How high can a deck be with 4x4 posts?

eight feet4, which limited the height of a 4x4 deck support post to eight feet, without any consideration for how much area of deck the post was supporting. The engineering behind post sizing is based on how much weight the post can support without starting to bend out of plane. The longer the post, the less it can support.

How high can a deck be with 6x6 posts?

The DCA6 recommends minimum 6x6 posts with a maximum 12-foot height.

Is 42 inch railing too high?

For instance, California requires deck railings to be 42 inches tall. So, while 36 inches is the bare minimum in most locations, 42 inches is accepted globally as a safe height for your deck railing.

What is California code for deck railing height?

42 inches to 45 inches(a) A standard guardrail shall consist of top rail, midrail or equivalent protection, and posts, and shall have a vertical height within the range of 42 inches to 45 inches from the upper surface of the top rail to the floor, platform, runway, or ramp level.

How much can a 4x4 hold vertically?

Generally, you can expect a vertical 4×4 to support at least 4,300 pounds, but the amount of weight could be significantly higher than that in some cases. Even at 12 ft high, a vertical 4×4 made out of No. 2 Southern Pine will hold over 3,000 pounds.

What accounts for roughly 90% of all deck collapses?

About 90% of deck collapses occurred as a result of the separation of the deck ledger board from the house, allowing the deck to swing away from the house. It is very rare for deck floor joists to break mid-span.

How much can a 4x4 post support vertically?

Used vertically as a post, an 8' 4×4 can support about 6,000 PSI before buckling, and even more if correctly braced.

Do you need a permit to build a deck in PA?

Yes, any deck constructed under 30” above grade requires a Zoning Permit, and if the deck is 30” or higher, a Zoning & Building Permit is required.

How far can a 6x6 span?

A 6×6 softwood beam may be able to span 20' with limited loads. However, for structural building and compliance with Building Codes, the span ranges from 3'-5” to 8'-6” depending on a variety of factors.

Do freestanding decks need footings?

According to the main code provision for footings, the only requirement for building a deck that is freestanding is that it must have a minimum footing depth of 12 inches below the undisturbed ground surface. There is no need to extend a footing below the frost line, as is required for standard decks.

Can you build a deck without railings?

If your deck is below 30 inches, a railing is not required. With that said, if you choose to build a deck, even if it is only 24 inches off the ground, that is still high enough that even an adult could injure themselves.

How high can a platform be without handrails?

29 CFR 1926.500(d)(1) requires every opensided floor or platform 6 feet or more above the adjacent floor or ground level to be guarded by a standard railing or the equivalent on all open sides, except where there is an entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder.

Do I need a handrail for 3 steps?

Building Codes Handrails are an important element of stair safety. So when is a handrail required? The building code does not refer to the number of “steps” but it does require a handrail when there are two or more “risers”.

Do I need a railing on my deck?

When is a Deck Railing Required? If your deck is lower than 30 inches from the ground, a railing is not required for your space. It's still important to keep in mind as a homeowner and DIY deck builder, however, that a deck railing system can still be beneficial even if not necessary by law.

How high should a deck be above grade?

All other decking should be a minimum of 7″ (180mm) above grade or at least of drain rock and landscape fabric under it.

How high can a floating deck be?

In the United States, a floating deck’s maximum height is 30″ above grade if not attached to a house or in front of an egress door.

How many square feet are there in a floating deck in Edmonton?

In Edmonton, the maximum floating deck can be understood to be 592 square feet.

How big is a floating deck in Canada?

North of the border in Canada the maximum floating deck size is 55 sq m (592 sq ft).

Can a floating deck be a permit?

If the deck requires a permit, it cannot be floating.

Is floating decking universal?

But this is not universal. Here are two Canadian exceptions for floating decks, both height and attachment.

Can a deck be attached to a house?

But one stipulation is that the deck cannot be attached to the house.

Why does my deck end up higher than 30 inches?

Land settling: If you’re building over dirt, that dirt could sink. Rain or snow could pool up under the deck, washing away the dirt and essentially lowering the ground. That alone can magically make your deck end up higher than 30 inches.

What is the wrong way to measure deck floor?

Bad measuring: A common mistake for some is to measure from the bottom of the floor, when the measurement should include the thickness of the deck floor. If the wood is thick, this can throw off your measurement by a few inches.

How high should a balustrade rail be?

The International Building Code says that your railings must be 36 inches or higher, but that isn’t the only consideration. There are specific regulations on everything from the distance between your balustrades to the screws used to anchor the railing. That’s why I recommend buying railing panels.

How far can you leave railings off a deck?

While most codes allow you to leave off the railings on decks lower than 30 inches, there are lots of reasons why you should still consider one.

Do railings have to be installed on decks?

Increased code liability: If you install a railing on a deck that isn’t required to have one, the railing is still required to meet code. But this is another easy fix. Most trustworthy companies will only supply you with railings that meet all code requirements.

Is it safe to have a railing on a deck?

Gravity doesn’t stop working just because your deck is lower than 30 inches. A well-made railing is always the safer option, even if it’s not a long fall. On top of that, they just look better.

Is above grade higher on a slope?

Slope: If you’ve built on a slope, in that you slightly tilted the deck to allow for water run-off, your actual above grade measurement may be a little bit higher than on other parts of the deck.

How high should a deck be above grade?

All decks greater than 30" above grade must have a guardrail. If you choose to install a guardrail on a deck lower than 30", you must still meet code requirements. Decks attached to single-family detached homes are regulated under the rules of the International Residential Code (IRC). The IRC requires guardrails to be at least 36" in height ...

How far apart should rail posts be?

Rail posts need to be properly fastened and should not be spaced more than about 6 feet apart to prevent a saggy or bouncy rail. Many builders run a 2x6 top cap continuously over the top of the posts and top rail to provide a clean finished edge and the practical purpose of providing a surface to set glasses, etc.

How much space between deck railing and bottom rail?

The sweep space between the deck surface and the bottom rail must be less than 4".

How tall is a guardrail?

The IRC requires guardrails to be at least 36" in height, measured from the deck surface to the top of the rail. Note that some local jurisdiction or state require higher, such as 42" in California.

How strong are guardrails for stairs?

The guardrails must be strong enough to withstand a concentrated 200 lb. force anywhere along the top of the rail.

What are the requirements for a handrail for stairs?

Handrails are required for stairs in many applications and must meet standards as specified by R311.5.6.3 in the IRC code. The top edge of the handrail must be placed between 34” and 38” above the nosing of the stair treads. Handrail ends must be returned and terminated at rail posts. The handgrips must allow a minimum of 1-1/2” space between the handrail and the guardrail or wall. A variety of gripping shapes may be acceptable but must meet requirements for the gripping surface. Flat 2x4 and 2x6 handrails do not meet the requirements for graspable handrails. If you are using a circular cross section, then the handrail must have an outside diameter of between 1-1/4” and 2”.

How tall should a post be?

According to the American Forest and Paper Association, or AFPA, a four-by-four post made from Douglas fir or southern pine should be no higher than 10 feet, and at that height the post can support no more 36 square feet under a load of 50 pounds per square foot. A 4-foot-high post of the same dimensions can support an area of 256 square feet under the same per-square-foot load.

How many square feet can a six by six post hold?

A 10-foot-tall six-by-six Douglas fir or southern pine post can support an area of 256 square feet under a load of 50 pounds per square foot, which is more than seven times as much as a comparable four-by-four post.

How much weight can a 10 foot post hold?

A 10-foot-tall six-by-six Douglas fir or southern pine post can support an area of 256 square feet under a load of 50 pounds per square foot, which is more than seven times as much as a comparable four-by-four post.

How deep should a block be for frost?

They must have a sufficient bearing area (the area of the block that sits on the earth) and be a minimum of 12-inches below grade, or below the local frost depth. They cannot, however, be simply placed at grade level.

Is there a physical connection between a deck support post and a block?

Some regions with high winds and concerns of uplift forces may not approve them, as there is typically no physical connection between the post and block.

Can pier blocks be used on a deck?

Overall, pier blocks are best suited for low- or ground-level decks, where smaller framing materials are common and additional posts and blocks are not an eyesore.