Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - need answer asap - decking perpendicular to house
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diynewbiedo
08-17-07, 06:51 PM
hi
i don't know alot about construction of decks, but i do need an answer/website to help with building a deck with the decking perpendicular to the house. if the decking is perpendicular to the house is it built as a free standing deck or one attached to the house or can it be either one? if it is free standing does it need additional support? if the decking is perpendicular to the house and the joists are parallel does the first joist sit completely on the ledger board? P.S. i am not the one building the deck i am just trying to get information for my husband. any information would be appreciated.
i don't know alot about construction of decks, but i do need an answer/website to help with building a deck with the decking perpendicular to the house. if the decking is perpendicular to the house is it built as a free standing deck or one attached to the house or can it be either one? if it is free standing does it need additional support? if the decking is perpendicular to the house and the joists are parallel does the first joist sit completely on the ledger board? P.S. i am not the one building the deck i am just trying to get information for my husband. any information would be appreciated.
chandler
08-17-07, 07:19 PM
You can build it as an attached or free standing. Our left coast deck guru will chime in and he likes free standing. If you go with attached, the joists don't sit on the ledger, they attach directly to it via joist hangers. You will probably run your joists parallel to the house anyway (shortest length), which will give your decking a perpendicular lay.
sgtgerryf
08-18-07, 02:29 PM
If you want the decking to be perpendicular to the house, the support beams are perpendicular to the house, the joists are then parallel to the house and the deck boards are then perpendicular to the house.
Only one floor joist is attached to the ledger board when you install the components as listed as above.
Whether you go free standing or attached has a lot to do with size of the deck, height off the ground, attachment method to footings, size of structural members, bracing and fasteners that you use.
Only one floor joist is attached to the ledger board when you install the components as listed as above.
Whether you go free standing or attached has a lot to do with size of the deck, height off the ground, attachment method to footings, size of structural members, bracing and fasteners that you use.
lefty
08-18-07, 04:09 PM
diynewbiedo,
Welcome to DoItYourself.com and the Deck forum.
I'm the "left coast guru" that Larry was referring to, and yes, I prefer free-standing decks.
Which direction you choose to run the deck boards is usually determined by which direction results in least amount of waste. Deck boards basically come in 3 lengths -- 12', 16', and 20'. If your projection out from the house is one of those dimensions, or very close to it, then running the deck boards perpendicular would make sense. When I build a deck that way, I usually add an additional board to the outside edge that runs parallel to the house, simply to get rid of the exposed butt ends of the deck boards. (Miter it into the boards at each edge.)
If you opt to attach the deck, then your ledger will have the beams attached to it via hangers. The ledger will be at the beam height, NOT the joist height.
As to why I prefer free-standing decks -- you are not creating holes in the siding of the house that water can penetrate. Sure, caulking and flashing, when done properly, will greatly reduce the odds of a leak, but sooner or later the caulking and/or flashing might fail. And there is always the chance of 'missing' something when caulking or installing flashing. If the deck is free-standing, you aren't punching holes, and there is NO chance of a leak.
Welcome to DoItYourself.com and the Deck forum.
I'm the "left coast guru" that Larry was referring to, and yes, I prefer free-standing decks.
Which direction you choose to run the deck boards is usually determined by which direction results in least amount of waste. Deck boards basically come in 3 lengths -- 12', 16', and 20'. If your projection out from the house is one of those dimensions, or very close to it, then running the deck boards perpendicular would make sense. When I build a deck that way, I usually add an additional board to the outside edge that runs parallel to the house, simply to get rid of the exposed butt ends of the deck boards. (Miter it into the boards at each edge.)
If you opt to attach the deck, then your ledger will have the beams attached to it via hangers. The ledger will be at the beam height, NOT the joist height.
As to why I prefer free-standing decks -- you are not creating holes in the siding of the house that water can penetrate. Sure, caulking and flashing, when done properly, will greatly reduce the odds of a leak, but sooner or later the caulking and/or flashing might fail. And there is always the chance of 'missing' something when caulking or installing flashing. If the deck is free-standing, you aren't punching holes, and there is NO chance of a leak.