Construction. The deck of a house is generally a wooden platform built above the ground and connected to the main building. It is generally enclosed by a railing for safety. Access may be from the house through doors and from the ground via a stairway. Residential decks can be constructed over steep areas or rough ground that is otherwise unusable.
How do I choose the right decking for my project?
DECK BOARD SPAN Avoid a bouncy, soft deck. The decking span you choose will effect the feel and potentially the safety of your deck. Your selection of decking material will determine the maximum spacing of your joist. 4. DECK POST SIZE Deck post size is important.
Is there a building code for a deck?
Covenants and easements. There is no building code for decks. Instead, what you find is a single code for residential building and all the rules fall under that. A deck is merely one part of a residential building project.
What are the main components of a deck?
The following terms define all of the important components of a typical deck. Beams or girders: Hefty framing members (usually 4x, 6x, or doubled or tripled 2x stock) attached horizontally to the posts to support the joists.
What are the parts of a deck Foundation?
Deck Foundation 1 Deck posts: Main posts to which the deck attaches. 2 Intermediate joists: supporting joists in the middle of the deck. 3 Noggins: Spacers for intermediate joists (keeps them straight and true). 4 Support beams: beams under joists for additional support. 5 Deck board: The deck surface.
What is the purpose of the deck?
The great thing about a deck is that it gives you functional outdoor living space. Once you build a deck, you'll probably consider it an extension of your indoor living space. In all likelihood, it will be accessible from your main level and can therefore be used for relaxing, reading, eating, and more.
What does deck mean in engineering?
A deck is the surface of a bridge. A structural element of its superstructure, it may be constructed of concrete, steel, open grating, or wood.
What is a deck floor?
Definition of deck floor : a floor that serves also as a roof.
What is deck?
Definition of deck (Entry 1 of 2) 1 : a platform in a ship serving usually as a structural element and forming the floor for its compartments. 2 : something resembling the deck of a ship: such as. a : a story or tier of a building (such as a sports stadium) the upper deck.
Why is it called a deck?
The term was perhaps first used in Silicon Valley. As a little bit of history and to clarify on the above, the term slide deck comes from old technology. It goes back to times when we used those old slide projectors facing a wall. For those machines to work, the slides piled up as cards, just like a deck of cards.
What is concrete deck?
Concrete is versatile and you can make a variety of designs from it. Unlike other decking materials, concrete decking can be custom made to fit any design and to look like stone pavers, concrete pavers and even ceramic pavers. The fluid nature of concrete before it cures allows it to be formed into any shape.
What are parts of a deck called?
Parts of a DeckFlashing. Flashing is a sheet of material cut into strips and affixed over any cracks, joints, or exposed areas to prevent moisture from getting through. ... Ledger. The ledger is the most important part of the frame of the deck. ... Joists. ... Rim Joists. ... Bridging. ... Railing Posts. ... Footings. ... Support Posts.More items...
What is the base of a deck called?
Footing: Any concrete base embedded in the ground in order to provide the main support for the deck.
What is deck slab in building?
What is Deck Slab? Deck slab is the part of super structure of bridge which is constructed over the Girder that transfer the live load of vehicles to the sub structure and substructure further transfer the load to the foundation.
What is deck in a house?
A deck is a structure generally made from wood that is usually located adjacent to the house. When most people think about a deck, they think about the structure located at the rear of the house. A deck can, however, be located anywhere on the property. A front porch may be a deck.
What's on deck meaning?
Available, ready for actionDefinition of on deck 1. Available, ready for action, as in We had ten kids on deck to clean up after the dance. [ Slang; second half of 1800s] 2. In baseball, scheduled to bat next, waiting near home plate to bat, as in Joe was on deck next.
What is a design deck?
The Design Deck is a deck of playing cards that doubles as a practical guide to graphic design. Each of the 52 faces contains a useful piece of information about graphic design, including typography, colour theory, design techniques, history, and more, with beautiful visual examples.
Do you need engineering for a deck?
And remember: no matter the size, a permit complete with engineering plans is usually required before you start work. The frame of a deck is like that of a floor. Its primary components include deck boards, joists, rim joists, and beams.
What is steel deck?
What is Steel Decking? Also called metal decking, steel decking is a structural panel made of corrugated metal sheeting that's used as a structural roof deck or composite floor deck.
What is deck type bridge?
Definition of deck bridge : a bridge whose supporting elements (as trusses, girders, arches) are below the track or roadway — compare through bridge.
What is a deck truss?
A deck truss is a type of bridge on which the road deck lies above the structural parts. The supporting beams of the truss structure are arranged in triangular patterns to distribute loads and ensure the bridge stays stable.
What is decking in construction?
A deck is essentially an outdoor floor supported by a frame, posts, and footings secured in the ground; assembled in stages; and built from the ground up. The following terms define all of the important components of a typical deck.
What is header on deck?
A header is fastened to the ends of the deck?s interior joists. Rim joists or end joists are the outermost joists perpendicular to the ledger. Joist hangers: Metal fasteners that allow you to fasten the joists in place without notching the ends of the board. A joist hanger secures a joist to a ledger or rim joist.
What is bridging in framing?
Bridging: Short pieces of lumber between joists that strengthen the framing. They are designed to prevent the joists from twisting.
What is a railing?
Rails: Horizontal components of railings that provide a safety barrier and handhold for stairs or along the sides of the deck.
What is footing in concrete?
Footings: Concrete columns below grade that support the posts and, thus, the deck. On sites where the soil freezes and thaws, concrete is poured in an above-grade form and a cylindrical hole. Ask your building department for footing depths in your area.
What is a ledger board?
Ledger: A board (usually 2x stock) attached to the house to support one side of the deck.
Can you use posts on a deck?
Posts are used on all but the shortest decks. The posts can be cut off below the deck surface, or they may rise above the surface to provide support for the railing. Posts may rest on top of concrete footings or they can be set plumb in the hole before the concrete is poured.
How much does a deck cost?
Pressure-treated wood is generally the least expensive material, Darin says. "Typically, a wood deck will cost around $15 a square foot , though prices always vary depending on where you live. Some cedar will cost around $20 a square foot."
How do deck posts and beams work together?
Beams and posts work together to support the weight of the deck. Beams (horizontal) rest on the footings, carry the joists and offer support to the surface decking. Posts (vertical) determine the height of the deck and — provided they're installed properly – support the beams and offer the deck stability. A couple of loose posts will leave you with a very unsteady deck. The higher a deck is, the more important the beams and posts become. But no matter how high or low to the ground your deck is, you want to be careful, thoughtful and methodical during every step of the deck-building process.
How much does it cost to add stairs to a deck?
Adding steps to the deck staircase will bump up construction costs. "The average staircase can cost $5,000," says Darin. It's not the stairs themselves that add extra digits, he says. It's the fact that an additional level requires more joists, beams and posts – more of just about everything. And along with additional levels come railings, which can add about $2,500 to a deck.
What is a pier on a deck?
A pier, dug into the ground and attached to a footing pad on the deck, is a heavy piece of material — sometimes wood but often made of concrete — that stabilizes your deck. Think of how much weight a deck needs to support: you, your family, your furniture and additional guests, if you throw a party.
What is a baluster railing?
Balusters, or posts that are attached from the top of the railing to the bottom, are another component to consider. Wood posts are a traditional choice, but cable and glass balusters are growing in popularity because they provide unobstructed views.
Can a deck be attached to a house?
Not all decks are attached to houses , but if yours is, the ledger is a crucial component. If the ledger is not properly installed and pulls loose from the wall, the entire deck could collapse and gash your home’s exterior. A good builder will add what's called flashing to the ledger.
Can you forget the ledger on a deck?
Of course, you can forget the ledger and go with a freestanding deck. Although about "80 percent of homes have ledgers," says Mel Karlson, senior marketing manager and head of contractor development at Trex.com, the nation's largest manufacturer of wood-alternative decking, railing and fencing products, there are some good reasons to build a freestanding deck.
How many inches of framing for decking?
The advantages are many. It’s faster than random seaming; all decking ends have a full 1-1/2-in. of framing, so it cuts down on fastener splits; and you can leave 1/4-in. gaps at the ends so end grain can dry out after it gets wet.
What is seaming on a deck?
We use a faster, more material-efficient method we call seaming. It’s simply strategically placing a seam (or seams, on bigger decks) and using the same length boards for each section. Each seam is a sandwich made of an elevated vertical decking board with joists on both sides.
Why do you order tens of 4x4 lumber?
When we order 4x4s over the phone and need eights, we always order tens to reduce the chances of getting 4×4 leftovers from peelers. Here’s why you should be careful when selecting 4×4 lumber.
Can you lay out deck footings with string?
Home improvement books and TV shows always recommend laying out deck footings with batter boards and string, but I gave that up years ago. It’s faster and easier to build a layout frame from deck boards or joists. And unlike string, a frame gives you a solid guide to mark footing holes and align post bases.
Can you seam a 16 ft deck?
lengths might be the only options. For a 16-ft.-wide deck, I might seam it to have a four foot “sidewalk” down the middle for zero waste. Of course, everything depends on the design and the homeowner. But think about it next time to figure out the best approach. Here’s our guide for all things treated lumber.
Can 3/4 in deck boards split?
The result is that end-to-end deck boards share the 1-1/2-in. thickness of each joist. That can cause problems, especially with wood decks. With only 3/4-in. of nailing surface, fasteners will cause ends to split. And since the board ends have to be tight, untreated wood will rot.
Can you use a notched stair jack on a deck?
Simple notched stair jacks are fine for interior stairs. They get nailed to wall studs for stability and are hidden once the house is finished. Not so with deck stairs. Naked, notched treated-wood stair jacks are unattractive and wobbly. And because there isn’t much meat to attach posts or pickets to, you’ll have wobbly handrails, too.
What is a deck post?
Deck posts: Main posts to which the deck attaches.
How many different types of deck railings are there?
Click here for 16 different types of deck railings.
What does everyone want in a deck?
Everyone wants the investment they put into their deck to last.
How many guards are required for a deck in California?
California is the one exception where they Require 42 "guards. Guards are required when then deck is 24 " (60 cm) above grade. The minimum height of the railing varies based on the height of the deck. Decks 24 "to 5-10" (180 cm) need 36 "guards and anything above 5-10" requires a 42 "high railing.
What load a structure may bear upon itself and its foundation must involve?
Any analysis of what load a structure may bear upon itself and its foundation must involve the support post network and soil bearing capacity.
How tall is a house?
HEIGHT DIAGRAMS: US and Canada. Thirty-six inches is the most common residential height, but some jurisdictions vary.
Is there a specific deck code?
What you will notice from this checklist is that there is not really a specific deck building code per se. Rather, there are sections of the Residential CodeThat Apply to building standards related to structures such as railings, stairs, stringers, treads, footings, framin and ledger boards . We've tried to summarize them and put them all together for you.
Do decks need footings?
Decks not connected to ledger need not have footings extending below frost line.
Why is it important to have a deck?
And while it’s important to have a deck that’s aesthetically pleasing to you, the most vital part about your deck is making sure it’s structurally sound. That includes knowing the difference between a joist and a beam and what purpose they serve to your deck and its functionality and safety.
What is a joist in a deck?
Joists are the repeated structural members that are used to build a deck frame. The minimum size joist to be used in deck construction depends on the number of footings and beams that will be installed.
What Is a Beam?
A beam is the main load-bearing element for the structural soundness of your deck’s roof. It’s not only responsible for supporting the weight of the joists, but other building elements, as well.
What is center to center spacing for deck joists?
The layout term for joists is “On Center,” which is the center-to-center measurement from one joist to the next. Most decks use 16" on center spacing for joists. Most decking is not strong enough to support longer spans than 16". Some builders reduce joist spacing to 12" on center to strengthen the deck frame or to increase maximum allowable joist spans.
Can you stretch a string across a composite deck?
This can sometimes cause an uneven surface. That’s why stretching a string across the joist spacing for composite deck boards can help detect spots that may be higher than others. These spots can be addressed with a power hand planer to give you a nicer, smoother surface for the deck of your dreams.
Do you fill nail holes for deck harware?
Always fill all the nail holes for deck harware.
Do you need to install stair stringers on composite decking?
If you are installing composite decking over an existing frame, you may need to install new intermediate joists or stair stringers to meet the installation requirements. Since most composite products aren’t as inflexible as their wood counterparts, they don’t hide imperfections in the framing quite as well.
What is decking?
Decking. A deck should complement its environment, your landscape, and enhance your outdoor living space. Your deck, therefore, should ideally complement you and your lifestyle. Whatever your reason for building a deck—for entertaining, relaxing or outdoor living, you will need to consider materials for your decking.
How do I lay out a deck?
I lay out the deck using 12-in. ground spikes at each corner of the deck. For better visualization you can join the spikes with string to show the perimeter of the deck. This is often helpful for decisions on size, spacing, etc. I sometimes leave the strings up for a few days and ask the client to walk around, place furniture, etc., to make sure they like the size or shape of the deck.
What is a ledger board?
Ledger Board. I start all of my decks by determining the length of the ledger board. A ledger board is the part that attaches the deck to the house. It is the first board to be installed because it sets the base for the rest of the deck. Most decks begin with a ledger board connected to the house rim joist.
What footings do we dig for deck posts?
We dig concrete footings to support all deck posts.
How deep should a 2x10 joist be?
The rule of thumb says that 15 feet is your maximum allowable span for generic 2×10 joist (16” on center.) The frost line depth is not consistent around the nation because there is such a dramatic difference in climate from state to state.
How many decks are there in the US?
There are approximately 40 million decks in the United States, and only half of those are code-compliant. Deck safety is a real problem. Every year we hear about decks that collapse under the weight of people or snow load. Improperly built decks can be dangerous.
Is it hard to build a deck?
If you’ve always dreamed of building your own deck but were hesitant to tackle such a large, complicated construction project, well I’m here to tell you it’s not that difficult. In this article we demonstrate the proper techniques for building a small, simple, low-to-ground deck.
What is Podium Construction?
Also known as pedestal or platform construction, podium construction is a type of building characterized by horizontal divisions between an upper tower and a lower “podium.” Usually, the podium is made of steel or concrete and then topped by multiple wood frame stories. Common podium configurations include 4 – 5 stories for residential spaces on top of commercial, retail, and parking spaces below
Why are cast pieces shipped to the construction site?
Faster construction site since the cast pieces are simply shipped to the construction site for erection.
Why is precast concrete used for podium construction?
This podium construction is a favorite to many people because it comes with excellent construction speed and provides a safe working platform. Pre-stressed, precast concrete is formed offsite and transported to the construction site. This is especially helpful for projects with limited sites or those that don’t allow for the stressing of post-tension tendons.
What is podium slab?
Podium slabs are the floor systems that transfer load from a wood or steel frame structure to the columns and walls below it. Podium slabs have specific construction styles that ensure the load-bearing elements align with the substructure below. Commonly used podium construction systems include:
How many stories can a podium building go?
The International Building Code (IBC), defines podium buildings as two separate structures built on top of one another. For example, construction Type III-A can go up to 4 stories or 65 feet, while Type V-A is allowed to go up to three stories or 50 feet.
Why are podium buildings so popular?
With the high cost of steel and concrete and the ever-increasing land rates, contractors and developers are turning to wood designs that come with higher density and allowance for extra rentable square footage as compared to the traditional garden-style apartments. Even better, this method of construction is more cost-effective in terms of labor and materials, allows for design flexibility, less environmental impact, and increased speed of construction.
What is an upper podium?
An upper wooden podium is also lightweight, making it a perfect choice for areas with high seismic activities where the mass of the building is affected by lateral design loads. Additionally, the inherent flexibility of woods can make it a more forgiving and resilient construction material than concrete.