Oh No! She wants me to extend the deck...AGAIN!

[thefed]

Some of you might remember THIS THREAD about my last deck extension....I added about 180 sf tomake a 19x16 rectangle.


Now, the wife is offering to pay for 100% of materials from her savings if I build another 8x16ft section...essentially wrapping it around my addition.

This part will only be 2-3 ft off the ground, so much easier to work on. If I do a section this big every 2 years for a while,I'll have a full wrap-around porch some day. By then,the orginal section should be shot and need replaced!!! The problem will be getting to it!!!!

 

[BunsGettingFirm]

Tell her that it's purely biological luck of the draw that it requires extensive and painful surgery to extend the, just a second, oh, the deck! Never mind.

 

[thefed]

Tell her that it's purely biological luck of the draw that it requires extensive and painful surgery to extend the, just a second, oh, the deck! Never mind.

better yet...remind her that it only takes a little more effort on her part,and i could...


yeah....the deck...

 

[Brat]

Decks not constructed with the services of an engineer or architect worry me A LOT. Too many have inadequate anchors (to the home and/or footings).

Call me anal, but tell your wife that before you can consider any modification tell her that you need to call out a professional to evaluate your options. Not only will that cool her jets, but if you do that you will know if there are any safety issues.

If an accident involving the deck should happen and you have constructed it without a building permit your insurer may decline coverage.

Oh, an no dancing on the deck unless it is just you and your spouse, no way, no how.

 

[REWahoo]

Call me anal...

OK, if you insist. But I'd kinda gotten used to Brat...

 

[Rambler]

Don't forget to pick up the dog turds before you start digging...

R

 

[thefed]

Decks not constructed with the services of an engineer or architect worry me A LOT. Too many have inadequate anchors (to the home and/or footings).

Call me anal, but tell your wife that before you can consider any modification tell her that you need to call out a professional to evaluate your options. Not only will that cool her jets, but if you do that you will know if there are any safety issues.

If an accident involving the deck should happen and you have constructed it without a building permit your insurer may decline coverage.

Oh, an no dancing on the deck unless it is just you and your spouse, no way, no how.

I think calling in an architect or engineer for a 30" high deck is a bit extreme. Can you tell me in what case would 'code' not be sufficient? IE 36" deep holes, 4x4" posts every 4 feet, 2x8's or 2x10's 16" on center,etc

 

[Ronstar]

I think calling in an architect or engineer for a 30" high deck is a bit extreme. Can you tell me in what case would 'code' not be sufficient? IE 36" deep holes, 4x4" posts every 4 feet, 2x8's or 2x10's 16" on center,etc

a case where the soil does not have the bearing capacity to support the deck.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

The original will need to be redone? What the heck are you making it out of?

 

[Brat]

Honest, there are lots of structural issues to consider when building a deck. The load bearing capacity of the soil, the character and strength of the structure, how well it is attached to the house.

Whether or not it would require a building permit will depend on your city/county building codes. I suspect it will.

DH and I cringe when watching "Property Virgin" and similar programs. It is obvious that many decks are inadequately constructed and are disasters waiting to happen.

In-vision for a moment what would happen if there was a failure... At 30 inches above the ground there would likely be more than skinned knees. Broken bones, spinal injury, penetrating wounds. If you didn't get a permit and should have your insurer may not protect you. Maybe because my DH is an architect who has practiced for 45 years I notice structural failures more than most, but let me assure you that failures such as I allude to have and do happen with serious injuries resulting.

Our deck/porch: a bridal party could do the Macarena on it and their drinks would not spill.

 

[thefed]

well, its about to be finished. only thing left is balusters and small set of stairs. wife's duty is the ballusters...she did them on the rest of the railing. and i have to start fresh to tackle custom stairs


19 hrs by myself....pics 2 follow soon

 

[thefed]

thefed17/deck - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

the pic called deck 10 shows the corner we will be turning to extend this next year....it'll be a 16x16-ish square

 

[thefed]

Got the stairs on today, resting on a nice set of blocks I set today as well. All I need is about 1 hr to do the ballusters (cant wait for the wife...and want to use my new nail gun)...and I'm done!

I guess im supposed to wait 2-4 months before sealing it though...to allow the lumber to dry....so that'll be my late summer project