#DO I NEED LEDGER BOARD DECK PRO#

Rule of thumb for joist span: Take the “depth of the framing member” and add half that number to determine a rough footage estimate for the deck’s joist span limit. This rule is not a substitute for a proper table of spans and sizes of framing lumber, but is helpful in over-designing my joists during the early phase. When choosing deck lumber based on joist span, I use the following easy-to-remember rule of thumb that works for most of the treated wood species that Any longer than that and you’re dealing with special orders or adding additional footings or beams to support joists that span the distance. It helps to know what size material you can get for example, I know that my lumberyard carries 20 foot boards but only in the 2×10 sizes. To reduce cost and material waste I always try to work within readily available pressure-treated lumber lengths, such as 8-, 10-, 12-, 14- and 16-ft. Joiststypically extend from the ledger-board connected to the house. This often is determined by the joist span needed. When planning a deck, one begins with the sizes of the framing material. 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. This is often helpful for decisions on size, spacing, etc.

For better visualization you can join the spikes with string to show the perimeter of the deck. ground spikes at each corner of the deck. Whether you’re building off a napkin sketch or a detailed architectural drawing, you need to transfer the deck design onto the ground to get started. Layout of a deck sometimes starts on that proverbial napkin drawing and needs to be transformed into reality. In this article we demonstrate the proper techniques for building a small, simple, low-to-ground 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. Local codes were created to keep us safe, and many existing decks do not meet current safety codes. Every year we hear about decks that collapse under the weight of people or snow load. There are approximately 40 million decks in the United States, and only half of those are code-compliant.ĭeck safety is a real problem.

#DO I NEED LEDGER BOARD DECK PRO#

Pro Tips on Building a Code-Compliant Deck By Rob Robillard

Alternative Heating & Fireplace Inserts.

Do i need ledger board deck