there are a sufficient number of footers to properly support the deck.Steve’s crew dug each hole about 24″ across. Before continuing, all the footers needed to pass inspection. In this jurisdiction, this was the only required interim inspection, and the checklist includes:
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In areas such as northern Minnesota, footers need to be at least 60″ deep, so check the code for your area before digging. This was no small task because they decided to cut through the brick patio and underlying concrete before learning it was 5-1/2″ thick.Įach footer needed to be deeper than the frost line, and here in Maryland that means footers must be at least 30″ deep. Here’s a sketch of the deck and posts.Īfter Steve determined the footer locations, the crew ran several string guides and started digging. Posts are spaced no more than 8′ apart so that means we have four posts per row, with the first row having 1 additional post to account for the stairs. The first row of posts was placed 3′ off the house, and the second row of posts was 8′ after that. Since Steve’s crew couldn’t through-bolt the ledger board, they’ve installed two rows of posts, creating a “free-standing deck.” This deck is rectangular in shape, and the homeowners aren’t planning on adding a hot tub (or other heavy objects). Other considerations include the size and shape of your deck, how much weight it will hold, and the size of the beams. Video Summary: How the deck attaches to the house is one of the factors that determines the required number of deck posts and footers. This video shares some details about footer and ledger board requirements. It was more difficult to determine how many footers were required and where they were going to be located. Step 1: Plan, Dig and Pour the Footersĭetermining the location of the deck was easy. It’ll have two rows of buried posts, Trex composite decking, Trex trim boards and a white vinyl rail system. Video Summary: Steve describes a plan to build a new, 12 x 24′ deck and a 4′ set of stairs.
Here’s Steve to give you a short introduction to this project. They went with Trex brand composite materials for the build, because Trex is virtually maintenance free, meaning the homeowners won’t ever need to seal, brighten or strip the decking boards. The same homeowners that had Steve’s crew build a custom shed have contracted him again to construct a new, composite deck on the back of their home.
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How to Build a Freestanding, Composite Deck For more examples, check out our articles on building a shed or how to hang drywall. This article is a great example of the high quality and professionalism that Steve and his crew bring to every job. If you live in the greater Baltimore area and are considering adding a deck to your home (or any other sort of home improvements), I suggest you give Steve a call. To stay current on all our Pro-Follows, subscribe via RSS or email. If you enjoy this article, check out our other Project Guides. I’m convinced that there’s no better way to learn how to tackle home improvement projects than following a licensed contractor through a build. I was on-site as he and his crew built this deck, taking pictures of the progress, documenting the work and discovering tips and tricks. If you’re a regular reader, you know this detailed guide is the culmination of many days shadowing expert general contractor and carpenter Steve Wartman.
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