Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Deck attachment to cantilevered structure
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dpoconnor
05-09-06, 07:33 AM
Hi, my house is cantilevered in the back, so my county requires that my deck be free-standing. I have two questions about that:
1) While I will be placing posts and beam to support the deck at the cantilever, am I allowed to attach the deck to the house in addition to having it's own support? I find it easier to have the leger board up to build and level the frame before I drop the posts & beam in. So it will be attached, but it will also have the beam as required.
2) If I do go ahead and attach the deck to the house, what's the best way to weather proof it without removing the siding? In the past I've always been comfortable removing the siding to get a solid attachment, and I place vinyl flashing behind the leger board and aluminum flashing above. But if I bolt through the siding, what is to stop water from coming in through the bolt holes and can you get a good level attachment through the uneven siding?
Thanks.
1) While I will be placing posts and beam to support the deck at the cantilever, am I allowed to attach the deck to the house in addition to having it's own support? I find it easier to have the leger board up to build and level the frame before I drop the posts & beam in. So it will be attached, but it will also have the beam as required.
2) If I do go ahead and attach the deck to the house, what's the best way to weather proof it without removing the siding? In the past I've always been comfortable removing the siding to get a solid attachment, and I place vinyl flashing behind the leger board and aluminum flashing above. But if I bolt through the siding, what is to stop water from coming in through the bolt holes and can you get a good level attachment through the uneven siding?
Thanks.
RYANINMICHIGAN
05-10-06, 01:41 PM
Sounds like a free standing deck. Beam near the house and one on the other end? You do not need to fasten it to the house, and frankly I do not recomend it.
Concretemasonry
05-10-06, 05:41 PM
Free standing decks are built to avoid all the problems of attaching to an existing weathertight home.
You could or would be creating more problems by attaching.
Dick
You could or would be creating more problems by attaching.
Dick
lefty
05-10-06, 07:09 PM
Freestanding means freestanding.
No, you cannot attach it to the house. You don't need to, as long as the freestanding deck is designed and built properly. (Let me check... just as I thought. Out of the last 247 decks that I have built, 242 are freestanding. 1 in 50 are attached.)
No, you cannot attach it to the house. You don't need to, as long as the freestanding deck is designed and built properly. (Let me check... just as I thought. Out of the last 247 decks that I have built, 242 are freestanding. 1 in 50 are attached.)
chandler
05-11-06, 05:51 AM
Mike: just out of curiosity, how high are the decks you build that are free standing? Due to our terrain, free standing decks are a disaster waiting to happen. I find it interesting that free standing decks are so popular. I have built a few along creeksides, but they aren't much more than 3' off the ground and have no problems with them swaying.