2, and the third as No. We use our speed squares to space the deck boards from each other during installation. Every year we hear about decks that collapse under the weight of people or snow load. @r8:UEc+^jpF2b8.Ib( mFbzGe/-CL\M`{/T?6\m,F5F* With the new app, its easy to turn dreams of outdoor living spaces into visual reality with a simple tap or swipe using five different product scenarios. :F(6}BS|W+RW`??zD*PCke endobj 6 feet. If there is space I will run rubber 10 inches up and as far down as necessary to keep water from getting into the house. endobj c|KrKTV o{@mhke%O vf" ZW"$Mv2;4\VAf7whlw\z(J^ h"C1z;`*M#&>Ni8l3]N((gebw!Ir9&Y#Qc:=Y+gHnh_{ vmfz5F"*Ek2Z2(%%}(=nl+&)lu9VP3j#M"HQ3{ipx "2>gPzo>p4[Lgwf20?$0VQ:t=e%$)qf After the decking is complete, its time to reinstall the siding. <> After exploring the two-dimensional visualization and customizing the product color schemes, the user can then take the design to the level of cutting-edge 3D technology to bring an entire house to life. Toe-nailing or direct nailing of joists is no longer an acceptable way to secure joists without additional support, so we add metal joist hangers afterward. Adding a 8x10 deck attached to existing deck, 2x10's, I won an inflatable 6 person inter hot tub. Depending on where we are on the project, I might install the joists before pouring the footing or vice versa. ledger strips outlast joist hangers. And, after completion, the dream design can be saved, adding notes or tags, and then shared with friends. This is faster than trying to measure each board and get the ends to match up. Next, its time to install the joists. Once the home has been customized, it will be easy to imagine how a family might enjoy their outdoor spaces. In my experience this rule of thumb always comes in shorter than the building codes allowwhich is a good thing! Either way, the temporary supports will hold the deck in place until we install and connect the deck posts to the footings. 6 0 obj On one side of the assembly, a simulated 2x8 joist was supported by a 2x2 ledger strip nailed to a 2x12 with four 10D (3-in. A user can even invite others to experience it. In the meantime, you may browse the digital edition. not with that half inch crack in the bottom. overhang. In some cases where a deck collapsed, later investigations have shown that the shanks and heads of the nails had been totally consumed by oxidation. In this situation, the soil under each deck footing may be called upon to support 3,000 plus pounds. These tube-shaped forms are simple to use, easy to install, resist settling, and prevent uplift caused by frost to result in a stronger deck foundation. A deck should complement its environment, your landscape, and enhance your outdoor living space. 2, does not carry over to the individual pieces that result from ripping. This provides even, consistent and professional looking deck-board spacing. stream We then install all of our perimeter trim on the rim boards prior to applying decking. lateral connections from the deck to the floor joists within the house. Once the ledger board is level and permanently installed, we run additional rubber down the side wall and over the ledger board. If you built your deck smaller than the longest available decking board length, you can install the decking without any joints. 3m'h8$SNHyTjUJrfn!s[xl|Dts5j{F>$kM xFcy'w'wBVv@40c9yo:g%+S'va=T}Z`|SvGe}1.S4`lO{;D|>ba|nww?}! /Contents 6 0 R>> )3!)^xyU?H79e The frost line depth is not consistent around the nation because there is such a dramatic difference in climate from state to state. This method gives the appearance of all full boards at the house. As an interesting aside, we did not observe any perceptible movement or deflection of the joist hanger used on the other end of the test assembly during and at the completion of each test. For example, if three 2x2 pieces are made from a 2x6 and regraded by an experienced grader, one 2x2 might be graded as cull, the next as No. Since the typical total design load for a residential deck is 50 pounds per square foot (10-pound dead load plus 40-pound live load), the assumed 50% reduction in shank diameter reduces the total floor-design ledger-connection load to 12.5 pounds per square foot, meaning the weight of the dead floor plus occupant weight would be limited to 12.5 pounds per square foot. NqkI}?^(:Y1[2acAja5OZSv+6M~i(4X\Vmq7wWqs One solution is to rip larger sizes of treated 2-by stress-rated material (such as PT No. Layout of a deck sometimes starts on that proverbial napkin drawing and needs to be transformed into reality. fwoeste@vt.edu. Also, make sure to install a properly sized nail or fastener into every metal connector hole provided. Fastening two lengths of strapping from the outer rim joists center diagonally to the side rim joists helps to hold the deck square. Guard rails can be either 36 to 42 inches high (refer to your local code for guidance). So it is not at all surprising that 2x2 ledger-strip nail connections to beams have a very limited useful lifetime in an exterior environment. Once installed the plugs almost disappear. After the ledger is temporarily fastened to the house, we go back and install permanent fasteners. You can determine this by using an approved manufacturers product data based on the dimensions of your joists or header. stream Follow the metal connector manufacturers recommendations for fastening any metal connector in your deck. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "eht1-20"; Based on the issues discussed and our observations, the 2018 IRC code change that prohibits the use of 2x2 ledger strips to support deck joists was a valuable change for property owners and public safety. Stress-grading is more than just the number and size of the knots; it also takes into consideration other factors, such as slope of grain. In many locations along a ledger strip, the nail shanks between the 2x2 ledger strips and the face of the beams or rim joists were totally red rust, indicating that the nail connections no longer provided load support for the joists bearing on them. 12x 20 on both sides of the house. The owner preferred an open, no-railing look. For example, on a 210 take 10 and add half of that (5) to equal 15. Some brands come with matching, colored plugs to conceal fasteners. We snap a chalk lines across the joists to lay out blocking. On some of our decks we use composite deck boards. Simpson Strong-Tie introduces a new deck tension tie for attaching a deck to a home that meets newly updated code standards. x 0.148-in.) Whether youre building off a napkin sketch or a detailed architectural drawing, you need to transfer the deck design onto the ground to get started. On one end, the joist was supported by a 2x2 ledger nailed to the 2x12. down from the beam and 24 in. 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. long boards. 3 0 obj Bj1G8o 8cszh#j0Qev$Z#gv]|+~q TIP: If the joist has a crowna slight arc along its edgeinstall it crown-side up. A Dozen Ways to Strengthen Your Remodeling Brand, The Empire Group Plans Large Build-to-Rent Community in North Phoenix, The Most Affordable Places to Retire in America in 2022, Yardi Matrix Reports Institutional Investment in Single-Family Rentals Is Rising, NAHB: Proposed Schumer-Manchin Legislation Could Affect Builders, New Conservation Community Lagoon Valley Materializes in the Bay Area, 7 Ways to Prepare Your Team to Sell in an Uncertain Market. The temporary board gauges our 3/4-in. %PDF-1.4 endstream Joists typically extend from the ledger-board connected to the house. out from the post. As the load on the joist increased, substantial rotation of the ledger strip was evident, as indicated by the angle (bottom right in photo) between the 2x2 and the deck ledger. 4m'Exom>9X~3m Now is the time to clean up your tools and celebrate. An electronic devicecalled an LVDT, or linear variable differential transformerwas used to measure the vertical deflection of the end of the simulated 2x8 joist relative to the top of the simulated deck ledger. There are no inspectors in our area. To learn more about the app, visit www.azek.com. amzn_assoc_title = "My Amazon Picks"; lateral connectors to be fastened to structural framing joists members in the house. We also like to install protective flashing to the joist tops. design load capacity (90 pounds for wet use) would be reduced by 75%, with only 25% capacity remaining (22.5 pounds). Diagonal braces should be installed at a 45-degree angles 24 in. Learn more at www.strongtie.com. We anticipated that this would happen, due to the fact that the depth of the nailed 2x2 ledger strip was only 1 3/8 inches, allowing it to rotate because it wasnt laterally restrained by other rows of nails. Any longer than that and youre dealing with special orders or adding additional footings or beams to support joists that span the distance. In the 3D experience, a user will scan what is known as a visualization marker, such as the cover of any AZEK catalog or a downloadable image from www.azek.com/iPad, to enter the exciting world of Augmented Reality (AR). x 0.148-in.) On the other end of the assembly, the joist was supported by a Simpson Strong-Tie 316 stainless steel LUS28SS joist hanger and ring-shank 316 stainless steel nails (SSA10DD 3-in. Youve just built your first deck and you might as well start enjoying it. If the stairs have an open riser they should not allow a 4-in. Editors Note: Robert Robillard is a remodeling contractor based in Concord, MA. <>>>] Probably the most commonly used technique is to install small pieces of material in between the joists to help prevent deck bounce and also to increases the strength of the rail post attachment. Simply click here to return to Framing and Decking Forum. I prefer to cut our ledger board 3 inches shorter than our final frame width, which allows us to nail rim joists directly to the ledger boards end grain. mJx:&p?8xg!3f|i>P701&MT3uc,Azox/S \PNyf YLRjR8OFpaC*.XOfp).S[\"q=} This means that proper attachment to the house is extremely important. The horizontal balusters and railing design, surrounding the full length of the staircase, is visually unique when compared to the traditional vertical baluster design of most []. Use two through-bolts and ametal tension tie for theupper bolt connection. "o:br6DQ|N?Lf;?X(6?g?vwC&&pnb2 +&|/THVNIY|U]! Some carpenters will put trim on the deck and side to that trim, or simply keep the siding off the decking 1/2 to 1 inch. That said, its important to note that within 300 feet of salt-water exposure, the 2018 IRC requires stainless steel connectors and fasteners (2018 IRC Table R507.2.3, footnote b: Fasteners and connectors exposed to salt water or located within 300 feet of a salt water shoreline shall be stainless steel). Check your local codes to see if this is required in your area. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "eht1-20"; When we measured the cross-section dimensions of the nominal 2x2s with a tape, they averaged 13/8 inches by 13/8 inches (1.375 by 1.375), while the treatment tags on the ends indicated that the 2x2s measured 1.3125 inches by 1.3125 inches. This configuration alone creates an elevated risk of nail corrosion of a section of the nail shank at the face of the ledger/beam, which is the business section of a nail connection supporting a floor joist. )5 The tubes are cardboard and are easy to cut with a hand saw. temporary board. Simply click here to return to. If you calculate the weight of the entire deck, the furniture placed on it and the combined weight of a large group of people who might be standing on it, you will be shocked at the number. /Contents 4 0 R>> How? <> We are not aware of issues with 2x2 ledgers used inside residences in dry conditions; however, a word of caution is warranted for the possibility of high moisture exposure for the ledger connections, such as in an improperly maintained crawlspace. The ledger board must be located 4 to 7-3/4 inches below the door sill. To measure the load capacity and deflection of a 2x2 ledger connection per the 2015 IRC, the authors assembled this laboratory test. board flush to one side rim joist. A ledger board is the part that attaches the deck to the house. For decks more than 30 inches off the ground,railings are critical safety features. As anyone who has ever shattered a baseball bat can tell you, localized grain deviations are hard to detect and can greatly impact strength. Articles will be published online soon. The DTT1Z deck tension tie is a safe and time-saving alternative that eliminates the need to access floor joists from inside the house. diameter footings on this deck. Deck posts should be 46 pressure-treated lumber and have galvanized or stainless steel connectors attaching them to the rim joist. I use for building. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; The practical question is, what is the useful lifetime of a 2x2 ledger-strip connection to a deck beam in a coastal environment? Copyright 2022 Zonda Media, a Delaware corporation. Check your local building code to confirm fastener spacing in your area. Local codes were created to keep us safe, and many existing decks do not meet current safety codes. Once we locate the ledger board height, we level it and temporarily fasten it to the house with 16d galvanized nails. They can be retrofitted with a tension tie, through-bolts and or blocking as needed. We start left to right and mark out the ledger and outside rim joist 16-inches on center in a square line. To achieve a 3/4-in. amzn_assoc_asins = "B0B3F5RNJ7,B07R8WGQGM,B00VTVUSM4,B07QS52LQL"; amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Clearly, when the shank diameters of the nails holding a ledger strip in place are reduced by 50% due to red rust, the ledger-strip-to-joist connection is well beyond its useful lifetime. Once the ledger is attached to the house we install a rim joist on either side and one rim or beam opposite the ledger. But now builders commonly use joist hangers, and while ledger strips are still OK to use in interior applications, the 2018 edition of the IRC no longer permits their use on exterior decks (2018 IRC R507.6.1). The ledger board attachment supports one end of the deck and bears about half the weight of the deck, the other half borne by the posts and footings. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Improperly built decks can be dangerous. To avoid this, we rip the final three or four boards down 3/4 to an inch and install them. Between the loss of nail withdrawal strength due to moisture cycling, and the combined bending and withdrawal of the nails allowed by the shallow depth of the 2x2, even a full-size (1 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches) 2x2 ledger-strip connection may not be reliable in a typical outdoor deck application. Sometimes the area below an elevated deck has siding, so I install the rubber to overlap a siding course and then cover with the last siding course or trim. xX]s8|_1wU*eMvs$A0 hYg@Rr3__hL~lyOwOO+ZggTO?g+X-jjF&4UQq).IYULIM/2rb If youve always dreamed of building your own deck but were hesitant to tackle such a large, complicated construction project, well Im here to tell you its not that difficult. It's easy to do. Since we did not design a beam in this deck, the outside rim joist is then tripled, and is supported by the deck posts. This is a 2000 square ft. deck & they have just begun, so I need to know if this is up to codes. It is the first board to be installed because it sets the base for the rest of the deck. Whatever your reason for building a deckfor entertaining, relaxing or outdoor living, you will need to consider materials for your decking. Often times scrap materials from your framing lumber may be used for blocking; we often use joist cut-offs. Instead, it is fastened from outside the house. The new Strong-Drive SDWH Timber-Hex HDG screw with an integral washer attaches the tension tie to the supporting structure with a minimum of 3 inches of penetration. JLC Online: Best practices for professional builders and remodelers. amzn_assoc_asins = "B08V8BMFCX,B09BVFRBS8,B09T6TT5ZH,B09XFGM7BX,B09TS1QGXF,B091DBPYDK,B08V88B31L,B08BZKNDT6,B09M7M7QW1"; Sign up for the monthly EHT Newsletter including DIY tips, industry updates, trends, and more, The Oak 70.XTRA is an adjustable premier series spiral staircase that features solid Oak wooden stair treads and landing to complement and add style to any interior living space. As can be seen by the separation between the joist and the ledger after completion of the load test, a supported floor and ledger would have collapsed under a gravity-type loading, such as the load produced by deck occupants. Joseph Loferski is Professor of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech University. x 0.148-in.). Recently, we load-tested 2x2 ledger strips to see how they might perform in service. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Youre probably saying, wait what about the footings? diameter sphere to pass through. The DTT1Z addresses a new 2015 International Residential Code provision (section R507.2.4) that allows four 750-lb. Reimagine Outdoor Spaces with the 3D iPad App from AZEK. polymer-coated smooth-shank nails. I lay out the deck using 12-in. The deck we build in this article is approximately 20 inches off the ground and as a result is not required by code to have a railing system on the steps or deck. The best source of information regarding your frost-line depth is your local building department. Roofing nails, screws and box nails have no place in any metal connector system and should be avoided and replaced at all costs. nail load-rated for 90 pounds in southern pine in a deck application would be rated at 22.5 pounds when the nail shank diameter was reduced by half at the 2x2-to-beam interface. Neither the measured nor the tag dimensions conform to the nominal dimensions of a 2x2 specified in the 2015 IRC. -k|mUl4n:-R \I'KjK4@7$,'e|t3 !tVBIQ9RSDWFQF89Q7 If your deck has wood support posts and a ledger board that is bolted to the house, the deck posts holds up approximately 50 percent of the total weight. Follow IRC code requirements when installing fasteners into guard posts. SV{jAX@t} b%rG*?rMjgD9)-F#F0Xb>sIpm=Jc}z?6AU_)=ZkW*viKV-aVm AT* yjD>E[Erry_:S&85tO/N#I%=~JCNRq J!)v){u mQwFW@dP2$O /r_V D}PYI>& (5DcP3ebE)K=)lD8{3M Jc.>3BBg,\$RY ydyy=fkBI@K-y^U1[mX\_.+Q+%F/7mu I prefer to build the outer perimeter or the sandbox frame as we joke on the jobsite. `> The design of the test specimens was guided by nailing requirements in the 2015 IRC and by the availability of PT 2x2s in a local big-box store. In the AR experience, a 3D home appears and the user can personalize the house, rotate it 360 degrees, change product colors and then zoom in to make sure its perfectly designed. I think I might be over-engineering this but I live in CT and I'm also worried about snow weight. The rule of thumb says that 15 feet is your maximum allowable span for a generic 210 deck joist. We accomplish this by using tar paper and staples on the joist tops, or a rubber membrane. We cut all our joists at the same time, toe-nail them to the ledger and direct-nail them through our single outside rim joist. These connections are needed to resist lateral and uplift loads. ground spikes at each corner of the deck. This provision is an alternative to using two 1,500-lb. How? Nonetheless, these untreated surfaces along the ripped edges are a durability concern and still may require treatment per the manufacturers product warranty. amzn_assoc_linkid = "e64acee35ad75623b63a20b5b7748419"; When we get to the last few deck boards next to the house, we measure and to determine the width of the very last board. Larger diameter footings spread the weight out over more soil area. d# 2022 Extreme How-To. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; I have been told that current codes require joist hangers to be used. This area will later also receive a copper, galvanized or PVC ledger flashing cap. /Group <> 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. After ensuring that the sheathing is structurally sound, we cover the area above and below the ledger board location with self-adhering rubber. Clearly, the 10D ring-shank stainless steel nails (SSA10DD 3-in. I use 1/2-in. Use hot dip galvanized joist hangers, use 2x8 joists and if you really must go with 2x6 because you need to be lower to the grade then decrease joist spacing to no more than 12" on center. 5 0 obj The diameter of the holes for your footings especially large ones, create significant concentrated loads within the soil. I start all of my decks by determining the length of the ledger board. If your posts are notched to hold a beam they should be a minimum of 66 (nominal) and have a corrosion-resistant post-to-footing and post-to-beam connector. 4 0 obj amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; In this article we demonstrate the proper techniques for building a small, simple, low-to-ground deck. With a header to the house and the deck was built 6, I'm putting a swim spa into an inground concrete bunker and will build a deck around it. If at all possible I install through-bolts through the ledger and house rim board. Even before a 2x2 ledger is loaded in-service, the connection creates a water-trapping joint between two pieces of PT lumber. Follow the manufacturers recommendations for fastener length and placement. The first problem is that the grade of a piece of lumber, such as a 2x6 No. Join in and write your own page! Anchor bolts are designed to resist post movement and deck uplift from high winds. Composite decking has the beauty of wood without the concerns of splintering, rotting, maintenance or weather damage. As such, neither the actual measured dimensions nor the dimensions on the treatment tag conformed to the requirements in the 2015 IRC, which specifies a nominal 2x2 that measures 1 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches (2015 IRC R502.6.2). It should be noted that nail withdrawal design strengths are relatively low, and when smooth-shank nails are installed in green lumber (MC >19%) that subsequently dries, the design value is reduced to only one-fourth of the tabulated design value. Depending on the porch load, the diameter of the hole will probably range between 8 and 24 inches. For lateral support, three 10D toenails were installed, with two on one side of the 2x8 joist and one on the other side, per the 2015 IRC. From inspired deck and railing designs, trim and molding applications, porch colors and paver layouts, the app places the power of creative outdoor visualization in any users hands. <>>><>>>] Deck support posts should be mechanically fastened both to the footing in the ground and the deck frame or beam. Also available are colored screws to match the decking, as well as various hidden-fastener systems that are concealed beneath the deck boards. Additional metal connectors can be used to connect stair stringers to the deck frame. Once the footing is cured we install support posts. Loads were applied by a hydraulic ram controlled by a uniform downward movement, allowing the load value to peak and then fall off to a much lower value. A 3/8-in. Joist hangers must meet IBC and IRC code of downward capacity. For this reason its always important to install deck and porch footings below the frost line for your area as well as to make sure the installed footing is on soil that will support the footings load. I like this method because it allows me to place my footings exactly where I want them and eliminates all the layout work with strings and batter boards thats otherwise required to locate the footings. RRA/Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, Building a Deck With a Welded Steel Frame, The Last Word (We Hope) on Vapor Barriers, A Builder's Guide to Breathable Indoor Air, Housing Market Slows as Fed Takes Aggressive Approach to Combat Inflation, When Hidden Defects Complicate a Simple Deck Replacement. For better visualization you can join the spikes with string to show the perimeter of the deck. Once this frame is built we take diagonal measurements and use the 3-4-5 method to square the frame. xXn6|W^Hq[cy$JM Adding diagonal bracing to both the parallel and perpendicular side of the deck post is also a good idea to reduce lateral motion and racking of the deck. On the other end, the joist was supported by a stainless steel joist hanger. diameter galvanized bolts and washers for which I drill 17/32- to 9/16-in. If a decks guard-posts anchoring does not have a minimum allowable tension load of 1,800 lbs. Should You Consider Switching to Cost-Plus Pricing? 7 0 obj The posts should be a minimum 44 size and be solidly anchored to the deck joist and rim joist of the structure. My general rule is to use 16d galvanized nails everywhere I can. This is often helpful for decisions on size, spacing, etc. Stairs, stair stringers and stair guards must meet the IRC design and strength requirements for tread height and opening/spacing requirements. As a practical matter, ledger strips used outdoors are required to be pressure treated, typically southern pine (SP) in the mid-Atlantic and Southeast. This requires accessing the basement rim joist area. <> We then square one end of the first deck board and install it flush over the 3/4-in. This rule also assumes you are spacing your joists 16 inches on center. Like the maximum spacing for balusters, this is intended to prevent small children from getting stuck or falling through. Composite decking is simple to maintain and offers superior stain, fade, scratch and mold resistance. 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. For exterior use, we always use pressure-treated lumber for our framing. I have been advised to keep the deck joists a minimum of 6 inches. TJDp9 !P]}UrPE1b-w)Ku keWa9*%k+BOjCXRd_=6%3&U-H;7 $C']y8ecda |[DA(e4L0B3h^2q>LL'^ew NU"Tum%Fx..&h'~5h~VkpXY6xOj2'DvLF#Po-+s/8;vW.&wO22x61Er