Free Standing Deck Construction Guide

Create your design so that the railings are clear of windows and out swinging doors.
Free standing deck construction guide. Once you have a basic layout bring it to lowe s to have an associate put together professional deck plans and a materials list. Improper deck building has resulted in a growing number of deck failures. This free plan is all ready to go in one pdf file that includes building instructions diagrams and blueprints. It can also be a demanding job so carefully plan the amount of decking you ll need and enlist any helping hands that you can.
Deck framing connection guide 3 more than a million decks are built and replaced each year in the united states. Freestanding deck plan from humboldt redwood. Create a place to entertain or simply relax. When building a free standing deck adjacent to a house how close should the footings be to the homes existing foundation.
Learn how to create deck designs and how to build a deck. Of nailing surface fasteners will cause ends to split. Most builders install a beam and a row of footings 2 feet from the house wall. Joist span joists attached at house and to side of beam.
Prescriptive residential wood deck construction guide 5 american wood council figure 1b. Thickness of each joist. This guide covers how to build a ground level platform as well as a single story raised deck. In fact for this kind of construction it s best to over build the deck.
If you build decks inspect decks are planning to build a deck or just want some great info on how to properly build a deck download this free guide from the american wood council reuben saltzman structure tech home inspections. While decks are a popular feature of many homes the construction and safety of decks have become a real concern within the building industry. That can cause problems especially with wood decks. Using 4 by 4 posts when building a freestanding deck.
Mike 7 28 2016 3 03 40 pm reply. This series of videos and step by step instructions breaks building a wood or composite deck into manageable parts. The prescriptive residential wood deck construction guide is fantastic. Deck boards are typically 5 1 2 inches wide so try to plan a deck size that won t leave narrow pieces at the ends.
Beam size assembly requirements deck beam spans shall be in accordance with table 3 and can extend past the post face up to l b 4 as shown in figure 3. For example i constructed each beam from 2 by 10 boards laminated together to form a big brawny 4 by 10. The result is that end to end deck boards share the 1 1 2 in. Building a deck in your outdoor space can enhance your home s options for entertaining and relaxation.
Here s a plan for both a freestanding deck and an attached deck that measures 8x10. Joist span non ledger deck. We ll also give you ideas for furnishing and decorating your new deck.