The beams, in turn, support all the floor joists. Bad Beams Look underneath your deck at the horizontal support beams to ensure they aren’t sagging, warped or damaged.Īll but the tiniest decks have large horizontal beams resting on top of the support posts or piers. If a post shows any signs of decay or damage, replace it immediately.Ĥ. If the awl sinks deep into the wood or the wood fibers are soft and spongy, then the post is rotting. Check the base of the post for water damage by poking around with an awl. In the past, 4×4 posts were commonly used, but most modern decks are supported with 6圆s, which are much stronger and more dimensionally stable, meaning they’re less likely to bend, twist, warp and split.Ĭarefully inspect each post to ensure that it’s firmly attached to the concrete pier at the bottom and to the deck frame at the top. Weak Posts Check the structural soundness of your elevated deck’s support posts.Įlevated decks are typically supported by tall vertical wooden posts. If necessary, jack up the deck, install temporary bracing and then replace any damaged supports.ģ. Take a flashlight and peek beneath the deck to confirm that none of the supports has shifted out of position, cracked or sunk into the ground. ![]() If you have an on-grade deck that sits close to the ground, it’s probably propped up by concrete blocks, bricks or poured-concrete piers. To provide proper support, each one should be about three times wider than the post. You should also measure the diameter of the piers. ![]() Either way, inspect the condition of the concrete to make sure it hasn’t cracked in half or begun to crumble and disintegrate. Most elevated decks have vertical wood posts that rest on top of concrete piers or extend down into concrete-filled holes. Cracked Concrete Piers Inspect the concrete supports underneath on-grade decks for cracks or damages. If the ledger is badly split or cracked, replace it.Ģ. If your ledger is attached with just nails or decking screws, install half-inch-diameter lag screws or carriage bolts, spaced 16 to 24 inches apart. Check to be sure the lags or bolts are fastened into solid house framing, not just plywood sheathing. It should be fastened with lag screws or, better yet, carriage bolts. It’s also important to confirm that the ledger is bolted tightly against the house along its entire length. If, however, the decking runs perpendicular to the house, you’ll have to raise every deck board to expose the ledger. Simply pry up one or two rows of decking, install the flashing and replace the deck boards. If the ledger on your deck has no flashing, you must install one, which is a relatively easy job if the decking runs parallel to the house. The flashing must extend up behind the house siding and overlap the top edge of the ledger. To prevent water from seeping behind and rotting the ledger, there should be a continuous length of metal flashing running along the ledger. Most catastrophic deck collapses occur because the ledger is either badly decayed or not properly fastened to the house. The end of each floor joist is fastened to the ledger, usually by a metal hanger. When a deck is attached directly to the house, it’s supported by a long, horizontal, pressure-treated board called a ledger. However, if you notice any serious structural problems, cordon off the deck and call a licensed engineer to evaluate the situation and offer a solution.ġ. Then, if you find anything suspicious, you can either fix it yourself or hire a professional carpenter. When inspecting your deck, pay particular attention to these 10 areas. Listed below are 10 common defects that can cause a deck to fail. You don’t have to be a professional builder or home inspector to spot trouble you just have to know where to look. Start by conducting an annual visual inspection of the entire deck. However, it’s important to make sure your deck is safe and structurally sound before using it. ![]() In neighborhoods all across the country, people are using their backyard decks for grilling, sunbathing and entertaining, day and night. ![]() Summer is upon us and the outdoor living season is in full bloom.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |