If your house was built since the mid 1990s, there is a chance that the floor system is constructed with a MWJ (Manufactured Wood Joist) floor system. Deck surfaces exposed to direct sun and rain take a terrific beating. They’ll hold decay at bay until water slowly leaches these chemicals out of the wood. The result is a shabby deck. Areas of deck wood that absorb water readily yet dry slowly will rot first. Install the ledger first, and slip proper flashing to stop rot. The foundation securely anchors the deck posts and rests on solid ground below the frost line. The staff at your local home supply store can share recommendations to help you stay within your allotted budget. Homeowners can no longer buy powerful commercial preservatives, so this method won’t make your wood as rot resistant as pressure-treated wood. C. I used two 2x8s rather than one in Fig. Building inspectors have found that many homeowners, designing by “rules of thumb,” make beams too small. Sometimes when you lay out tile or carpet, but unfortunately it is off from one side to another side of the room. Except for very low decks, it’s a good idea to stiffen your posts and beams with diagonal braces to prevent deck swaying (Fig. (Wear rubber gloves when you work with preservative to keep it off your skin.). No. Next, tack the ledger in place temporarily with 16d nails, then level and lag bolt it permanently, spacing the bolts about every 16 in. This can be tricky, especially on sloped sites. Count every board and bolt. 5B and 5C are okay, but will weaken sooner. That’s where fungus takes root. At each step you’ll learn deck-building fundamentals and several alternative techniques you can use to make it first class. If you prefer to use redwood or cedar, you can make them last longer by treating them with a chemical preservative yourself. The beam, here consisting of two 2x10s, must be strong enough to support the weight of the deck, plus the weight of all the activity that takes place in it. Redwood and cedar are relatively soft and light. So $$$ will dictate that a builder wouldn't attach to your house if it were their choice - especially if they are subcontracting it out. But it can delay rot for several additional years. The minimum height is 34 inches. When we talk about a deck being attached, we don’t mean that it’s literally attached directly to your house’s exterior wall. Respect their time. Note any unusual features and potential problems. 1 and 2 show five examples. Pour concrete. These free deck plans will help you build the deck of your dreams. Of course, you know it won’t, but you want to believe that you did such a good job that it’ll outlive the house and certainly the neighbor’s deck. All other material should be at least 2x2 or stronger. The longevity of pressure-treated wood plus its lower cost (20 to 50 percent less than cedar or redwood, depending on your region) make it an excellent choice for most deck projects You can even bury properly treated posts without worrying about them disintegrating. This will take approximately 48 hours. They don’t react as much to wetting/drying cycles as several of the denser types used for pressure treating, like Southern yellow pine. Most treated wood doesn’t contain a water repellent, but you can brush one on to accomplish the same thing. The terrain, the deck’s location, budget, materials and project completion timeframe all factor into raised deck planning. The single most-important framing member is the ledger board. Moreover, stains come in many colors, so you can blend your deck into the color scheme of your home. Building an elevated deck can take time, but it’s a rewarding process. 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