Built two decks this weekend

[newbury]

Heck, I could have gotten that done by myself in 6 months

LOOKING GOOD.

 

[DT86]

Very nice!

I could never get the work done that quick.

 

[LD1]

Thanks for the compliments.

Yes, both are free standing. Just don't like a ledger board on the house.

 

[joefromga]

Thanks for the compliments.

Yes, both are free standing. Just don't like a ledger board on the house.

Looks good. Also, in some areas not attaching to the house structure makes it not part of the house and less trouble with permitting, taxes, etc.

 

[LD1]

Looks good. Also, in some areas not attaching to the house structure makes it not part of the house and less trouble with permitting, taxes, etc.

Which is why every other deck I have built has been free standing.

I removed two existing decks that were attached. So I doubt permitting would have been any issue. Just don't like putting a ledger board on the house with a bunch of holes through the siding. Or removing siding and having to worry about sealing around. And if the house ever needs resided, it can be done without complete removal of the deck

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

With boards running perpendicular to the house, do you bild in a small slope away from the house?

 

[LD1]

With boards running perpendicular to the house, do you bild in a small slope away from the house?

Yep. Eyeballed about an inch of fall over the 10' back deck and same on the 12' front.

I like running deck boards this way, cause there is no seam where two ends meet on the deck boards. Looks better IMO, and reduces the chances of a split or warped board causing a little trip hazard.

1" of fall is sufficient for water to shed, yet not noticeable by the naked eye or percieved by walking on it

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Yep. Eyeballed about an inch of fall over the 10' back deck and same on the 12' front.

I like running deck boards this way, cause there is no seam where two ends meet on the deck boards. Looks better IMO, and reduces the chances of a split or warped board causing a little trip hazard.

1" of fall is sufficient for water to shed, yet not noticeable by the naked eye or percieved by walking on it

Makes good sence to me. :thumbsup:

 

[s219]

One benefit of running boards that way is when using tongue and groove decking, like old-time porches/decks did -- the water sheds off rather than get caught in the wood. If you see any of those old porches, or new ones like them, the boards almost always run that way. So that framing configuration is somewhat typical historically. For modern decks, almost everyone does it the other way for some reason.

 

[LD1]

For modern decks, almost everyone does it the other way for some reason.

And that I dont understand. Perhaps if hanging a ledger, and support beam away from the house, the logical direction for joists to run is perpendicular...thus making deck boards horizontal?

Wrap around porches, will have boards on one side being horizontal, and perpendicular on the other...unless you go on a 45 degree.