The Dangers of Generic Deck Designs

It is true that you can find generic decking plans for free or cheap online or in stores, but is it a good idea to build a deck from generic plans? We say no. Often, store bought or free plans exclude many important details that are critical to a safe and sturdy deck. For general information, consulting purchased plans is fine, but for building, it is better to avoid major errors and consult with aprofessional deck designer and building company to make sure you are covering all of the necessary bases for the project.

Some common mistakes in generic deck or gazebo plans include:

Stairs

One thing we have noticed is that generic deck building plans really skimp out on stair directions. Deck stairs are frequently traveled and generic plans only provide general assembly directions with an assumption of a certain number of stairs and risers for your deck. In actuality, the deck stairs should be custom designed to meet the specific needs of your deck, yard and family.

Posts

The post directions in generic deck plans tend to lack the reinforcement required to keep the posts secured to thedeck, which is a big issue. We often see generic guardrail posts that are poorly bolted in place and notched too much making them very dangerous.

Railings

Railings are a trick subject because although not included in most building plans, deck railings are subject to a series of regulations and building requirements to ensure safety. Following generic plans for railings could easily exclude necessary requirements and the one plan for a railing that the purchased plans come with may not be right for every family and every deck. Some families with children or pets may wish to consider different options for added safety.

Design Loads

Most generic plans for decks are only designed using an assumed 40lbs of live load per square foot. Live load includes people and moveable furniture, and this value is usually only suitable for warm parts of the country. Many other climates have other things to take into account such as winter snow and ice accumulation, which could collapse a 40lb/sqft deck. Look for a local and reputable deck builder who is familiar with your climate, environment, and soil to ensure a safe deck that is custom built for your home.

Ledger Board

The Ledger board is a key structural component that attaches the deck to the house. This section is often only briefly covered in generic plans, which is dangerous because of how vital this connection is to the integrity of the deck. In addition, generic plans rarely cover flashing in detail, which is what protects water from getting in between the home and the deck, causing rotting and decomposition of the wood.

Footings

Store bought plans for decks usually assume an "average" soil type when determining the directions for footings. Because the necessary footings do depend entirely on the type of ground, soil, depth of the footing, and the weight of the posts, it is absolutely essential to cater these design choices to the specific environmental conditions of your home. Again, consulting alocal deck builder to design your plans would greatly improve the safety and longevity of your deck.

These mistakes brought on by purchasing generic deck plans can easily be avoided with a simple consultation with a local deck builder. A local builder is an expert in terrain and climate of your home and can advise you on the individual necessities required by building a deck in your area

If you are in the Raleigh area of North Carolina, consider consulting withGaruda Custom Decks in Cary, NC. They specialize in designing and building custom decks for homeowners in the Triangle. Visitwww.garuda-decks.com for more information.

Special Thanks to

Reliatex Construction
817.231.0423
Reliatex Construction -Fort Worth's Top General Contractor and Deck Builder - Custom Decks and much more.