Questions tagged [deck]

For questions generally relating to outdoor, semi-elevated, non-enclosed structures such as decks, gazebos, pergolas, etc.

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14 votes
9 answers
473k views

How long should I wait before painting or staining pressure-treated wood?

My husband is installing a new deck with pressure-treated lumber at our home in Tennessee. How long does he need to wait to paint, or should he stain the deck now?
Y.Kimble's user avatar
  • 141
3 votes
3 answers
18k views

What is the right way to mount a support column to a deck and to a header?

Situation: I have an existing deck with a roof overhang. I'm in the process of planning a rebuild and need to detail how the columns will A: attach to the existing roof and B: to the deck. I can find ...
Sullivan's user avatar
  • 131
8 votes
5 answers
158k views

How do I vertically connect two 4x4s on a deck to build a roof?

I have a deck I am going to put a roof over. It has 4x4s for vertical supports that I need to extend upward to attach my trusses to. What is the best way to connect two vertical 4x4s?
Matt's user avatar
  • 81
9 votes
2 answers
4k views

What are the proper steps for staining a deck?

My deck just past its 10-year mark and is starting to look quite tired. It's time to restain it. What steps do I need to take to make sure I do everything right, from start to finish?
Jeffrey Blake's user avatar
15 votes
5 answers
101k views

How do I improve Pergola Stability?

The deck is nearly finished but I have a small structural problem with the pergola. A left or right force near the top of the pergola (such a a tall person leaning on the post) leads to a bit of ...
Chris Cudmore's user avatar
7 votes
6 answers
20k views

Can I build a deck this low to the ground?

I want to build a deck off the back of my house. The door is near grade level, about 1' above. The grade doesn't have very large slope, so that means that the beam at the far end would be below grade: ...
Ian Boyd's user avatar
  • 359
3 votes
1 answer
23k views

Can I build a pergola on an existing deck, without digging more footers?

A couple of years ago I built a deck onto my house. It is 32' x 14' I used a cantilever design at 12' with 2x8" floor joists, with 2x6" decking boards. The Cantilever beam was set on 6x6" posts that ...
Derek's user avatar
  • 197
2 votes
2 answers
1k views

Using old roof footings for a ground-level deck

I had a 40 year-old, asphalt shingled, hip roof (14x18) over a concrete patio that had 4 posts w/footings that supported it in a line opposite the house. The footings, that are still there and were ...
Chris's user avatar
  • 41
82 votes
12 answers
69k views

Is there a case where nails are better than screws, from an engineering/structural standpoint?

Is there a case where nails are better than screws, from a structural standpoint? For instance: Say you used screws instead of nails on a backyard deck, when the design specifically called for nails. ...
Chris W. Rea's user avatar
  • 1,495
5 votes
2 answers
50k views

How should I build the concrete footings for my deck?

I plan on making a small deck and I live in Howard County Maryland. The deck code here says that the concrete footing must be 30 in below ground level and have a thickness of at least 8 inches (i.e. ...
Michael's user avatar
  • 929
2 votes
1 answer
14k views

Do I need to sand my new pressure-treated deck before staining it?

I just got a deck built and pre treated wood was used. Do I need to sand it before I stain it? I live in San Antonio, Texas
calvin's user avatar
  • 21
2 votes
1 answer
10k views

How can I pour a concrete patio under my existing deck without surrounding the deck posts in concrete?

I would like to pour a concrete patio under my deck. The concrete company said they would just pour the concrete around the posts with a expansion joint around the posts. I thought that would cause ...
Darren's user avatar
  • 23
8 votes
2 answers
26k views

Can I support 6x6" deck posts on 10" diameter poured concrete footings?

I am building a new 13x10 deck. So far I have the ledger board in place, and yesterday I finished building 3 concrete footings, 9 ft away from the ledger board. I use tubing, 36 inch deep with gravel ...
Max M's user avatar
  • 125
8 votes
2 answers
6k views

How should I attach a deck on the corner of my house?

I am building a deck on a part of my house where it will go up agianst two sides of the house (see picture). I know I'll have a ledger on the longer side of the deck (below the two windows) but do I ...
Michael's user avatar
  • 929
8 votes
5 answers
117k views

What is the process for power washing and staining a deck?

I am planning to power wash my deck and stain it afterwards. But I am not quite sure the correct procedure for this process. After power washing the deck, can I stain the deck immediately or should I ...
user297850's user avatar
7 votes
4 answers
2k views

How will concrete fill in?

So I am pouring some footings for a deck I am building and my current plan is to dig a hole that is 18" wide and 18" deep. I'm then going to suspend a sonotube about 6 inches above the bottom (using ...
Brh's user avatar
  • 881
7 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is a good strategy to support this deck?

I am planning a potential DIY job for a new deck that I want to put on my house. This is roughly what I think we want The house is roughly 36' long and the garage roughly 22'. The door from the ...
maple_shaft's user avatar
  • 3,202
6 votes
1 answer
33k views

How can I attach a ledger board to my house?

Spring is here so I finally started to take measurements for materials I will need to build a new deck on my recently constructed home. I just realized that this isn't going to be quite so simple as I ...
maple_shaft's user avatar
  • 3,202
5 votes
3 answers
18k views

How should I finish and protect outdoor wooden steps?

My house has a wooden staircase leading up to the front door. It gets a lot of traffic and is uncovered, so its exposed to New England winters. This means snow, ice, ice-melt, sand, shoveling, etc.. ...
TheSean's user avatar
  • 333
5 votes
1 answer
14k views

How do I keep my corner pergola from wobbling?

I am planning to build a corner pergola over my deck. Pergola is 8ft long from the corner on either side forming a triangle on the top. I have used four 4x4 posts (8 ft) attached to the deck headers ...
user14655's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
6k views

Deck footing 2" above the ground -does that apply to a patio? What is the reason behind the 2" restriction?

I am doing the design of a deck footing and in many places where I read it says that the footing (sonotube) should be set with the top end terminated 2" above the ground level In my case I am ...
MiniMe's user avatar
  • 3,402
4 votes
2 answers
29k views

Adding rebar to deck footings and piers?

I've heard a few people mention adding rebar to deck footings and piers to make them stronger, but I haven't been able to find any details on how exactly to do this. Is it sufficient to just hammer ...
Brh's user avatar
  • 881
4 votes
1 answer
394 views

What kind of latch mechanism should I use for this movable ceiling under my deck?

I have a nice deck, installed by a contractor years ago. We wanted to use the space under the deck as a covered patio area, so I built a drop-ceiling under the deck. It's made of overlapping panels of ...
Steve's user avatar
  • 181
3 votes
2 answers
22k views

How can I extend my deck posts to support a pergola?

I am looking to extend my 4x4 corner posts on a deck to build a Pergola over top of the deck. I also plan on sleeving those 4x4's with a composite sleeve for the full length from the 4x4. So the ...
Brendan Sanders's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
7k views

How do I install concrete blocks to support deck stairs?

I just had a deck constructed and it failed inspection, partly because of missing concrete blocks where the steps meet the ground (see also my related question Deck handrail bracket). How would I go ...
Matthew Leingang's user avatar
3 votes
7 answers
30k views

Should I notch deck posts?

My neighbor's elevated deck is supported by 2 6x6 posts connected by 2 2x10 boards. The posts are notched so that the 2 boards are sitting side by side in the notch and are bolted to the post (L ...
ventsyv's user avatar
  • 259
3 votes
1 answer
7k views

What is the best way to fill in the holes in aluminum siding?

In about 2 weeks I'm doing a little cathartic destruction of a deck on the back of my house. The deck came with the house and has suffered YEARS of neglect, it's beyond repair, built incorrectly, and ...
user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
777 views

Should I favor a tighter joist interval or more blocking between joists in order to get the most firmness in the deck?

I am planning a deck with dimensions of 14' x 20', where that is 14' out from the house, and 20' along the house wall. This will be an elevated deck with 2' of that outward span cantilevered. The ...
DonBoitnott's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
9k views

Protecting the tops of deck joists - or not?

There appears to be a school of thought in deck building that it is worthwhile to protect the tops of joists by covering them with a waterproof barrier. That way any moisture can't sit on the top of ...
StayOnTarget's user avatar
  • 5,545
2 votes
3 answers
3k views

Deck handrail bracket

I just had a deck built and it failed inspection, partly because of the lack of a graspbable handrail (see also my related question How do I install concrete blocks to support deck stairs?) . The ...
Matthew Leingang's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
9k views

How to fix sagging composite deck railing

I have a composite deck (Fiberon boards with a Trex Designer railing system). The guy that built the deck didn't install any of the crush/foot blocks and now the railings are sagging. He's no longer ...
2 Left Thumbs's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
16k views

Is deck joist sistering a sloppy repair?

I have a few bad deck joists that I replaced with new PT joists. These repairs are great. Now I have a few more not too bad joists that will be rotted in a few years. I am thinking to add new PT ...
dave's user avatar
  • 209
2 votes
2 answers
7k views

What header joist sizes do I need for a loft bed?

I've decided to design and build a king-sized loft bed for our bedroom. Basically, I've got an 80" x 89" frame, 54" off the floor, covered with slats instead of plywood (see image, below). I'm sure I'...
LoftyGoals's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
8k views

What should I do on the sides of a deck ledger?

I plan on hanging my ledger board similar to the picture described here. I am going to be bending coil stock for the drip cap and the Z flashing. The diagram though doesn't depict what should be ...
maple_shaft's user avatar
  • 3,202
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

How do I attach plywood over 2" x 6" deck boards in preparation for a waterproof cover?

My two decks (12'x26' and 12'x14') are in good shape. Minor rot has been repaired. I am applying 5/8" Tongue & Groove plywood over the 2x6 deck board as a base for 68 mil vinyl covering. I know I ...
Doug Quance's user avatar
2 votes
6 answers
46k views

Should I set deck post footings deeply or use concrete footings?

I am building a deck. How about setting 6x6 p.t. posts down on a concrete footing at 4 feet deep (the frost line here) and fill with gravel and soil, and then let the posts run high for the railings? ...
Steve Dahlin's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

Do lapped joists need to extend over the beam the same distance from each side?

I know you should lap joists at least 12", and the longer the lap the better. However, in order to use 8' joists, can I lap the joists like the image attached? The beam in red is a drop beam. ...
Jason Roozee's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
427 views

Preparing a deck for staining

I have an old deck that was stained 3 years ago. Some of the stains have come off and the deck does not really look good (living in Canada with too much snow and temperature changes, I don't blame it!...
Snake's user avatar
  • 123
2 votes
1 answer
961 views

Fix the big crack on wood post

We moved in a house at Dallas area and the wood post at my deck has a big crack in it, I read some post that it is normal, but if I don't treat it, will it keep cracking. Thanks a lot of any ...
J.W.'s user avatar
  • 223
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

Can I build a roof on this pergola?

We have a 24'x14' detached pergola that was custom-built for our yard. Every year, we put up a large canvas canopy in the spring, and take it down in the fall. It's a perilous experience each time, ...
Jason S.'s user avatar
  • 239
1 vote
0 answers
1k views

Attaching stringers to 2x6 rim joist using simpson LSC connector

I'm in the process of building a deck (more like a small landing with some stairs), and this is my first DIY building project. I've framed the landing, and am now planning the stringers and railing. ...
spacediver's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
7k views

Attach one-step to ground level deck

I want to do something like this photo but I don't know how to attach the one-step platform thing: I circled two areas that should be attached by nails (assuming 16d Common Nail). But the photo shows ...
HP.'s user avatar
  • 1,862
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

How to attach deck when ledger board will be too low?

I'm building a (low) deck, and the siding is brick. I don't think attaching ledger board to brick siding is a good idea, it's not structural, even if I drill all the way through the brick, air gap and ...
haimg's user avatar
  • 1,193
1 vote
1 answer
5k views

What size posts for elevated Kids play house?

I'm building an elevated kid's play house. The raised platform will be 6' - 8' off the ground. The platform will be 8' x 10', the house will take up half of the platform and maybe less. I'm planning ...
eko's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
4 answers
482 views

How can I remove paint splatters from sealed decorative concrete deck? [closed]

I have a custom concrete pation & pool deck that is textured / painted to look like wood. It is also sealed. Recently I had the coping on my pool fixed and the guy did a great job but left quite a ...
Joe Raio's user avatar
  • 127
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

Deck joist cantilever distance with multiple intermediate supports

Summary: Looking for advice on allowed cantilever length for a multiply-supported joist. As described in Deck Magazine (which cites the American Wood Council's construction guide) there are limits to ...
StayOnTarget's user avatar
  • 5,545
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

Deck Continuous Rim Joist Connection

I am planning on redoing the surface and the railing of my deck. In the process, I plan to remove the cantilevered portion past the existing beam. This will place the existing 2x10 joists resting to ...
Justace Clutter's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

Diagonal Bracing Requirements

I'm currently designing a deck to replace an existing deck on my home. The new deck is subject to different codes than when the original was built. The city provides a link to a design guide which I ...
psaxton's user avatar
  • 555
0 votes
3 answers
8k views

framing for ground level deck

I'm planning to build a ground level deck, approximately 8ft x 10ft long. I'm going to use deck concrete blocks for footing, e.g. : I want to place 4 of those in the corners and probably two-three in ...
Mark's user avatar
  • 1,325
0 votes
1 answer
3k views

Footing for deck on slope with one side near grade

I am extending my deck and plan to make it a freestanding deck (just to avoid attaching to the current one but it will be close on top). I plan to have a row of 4 posts on the lower level (left). ...
HP.'s user avatar
  • 1,862