Norwell: What goes into building a deck

Believe it or not there are many different parts and components that go into to building a safe and secure deck. Most homeowners understand the basics of what decks are made of: footings, framing, deck boards and railings. But there are so many more little details that can really make or literally break your deck.

Post Anchor

Post Anchor

It is estimated that there are approximately 40 million decks in the United States over 20 years old, and with age comes wear and tear. Decks don’t last forever and they need to be well maintained and inspected regularly. Many of these decks were built before codes were in place to guide the construction and protect homeowners. (for more information about Ma Building Code requirements please contact us)

According to an article on the North American Deck and Railing Association website[1]: “Although no one keeps statistics, “I’d say as many as 10 percent of the decks I’ve seen have serious design or construction flaws that could lead to catastrophe,” says Bob Fennema, a structural engineering consultant and member of the American Society of Home Inspectors. Using a database to search five years of newspaper articles from around the country, he found that nearly every collapsed deck had been attached with nails, rather than bolts, and that investigators had pinpointed the nails as the cause of collapse.”

So here are 4 components you need to make sure your contractor includes when building a deck for your home:

Deck framing with joist hanger, ledger bolt and flashing

Deck framing with joist hanger, ledger bolt and flashing

  1. Post Anchors: Metal brackets set into concrete footings and that attach posts to the footings.
  2. Ledger Bolts: wood screws engineered to fasten a deck ledger board to the rim joist of a house with no pre drilling. – with proper installation they help keep the deck from disconnecting from the house.
  3. Joist Hangers: Metal brackets which hold the end of the board used to frame (ie: joists). When installed correctly they firmly secure the joists to the ledger board, and keep the framing from falling down.
  4. Flashing: a strip of metal or plastic used to stop water from penetrating the junction of a deck with another surface. This keep water away from the house and helps prevent rot along the house line.

For more details and information about Massachusetts Deck Building codes, or creating a perfect and safe outdoor living space give Almar Building & Remodeling a call. Make sure your number once priority is to choose a building professional who can create a safe and secure deck for your family. Please visit our website or call us at 781-826-2577.

Our family has been working with families like yours for over 55 years. And it is important to us that everyone works together to create the best possible remodeling experience. We never want to see someone regret the choice they made because they didn’t have all of their options. If you have questions about your home improvement project or would like more information on decking or other remodeling project contact Almar: https://www.almarbuilding.com (781-826-2577) and watch our videos: http://www.youtube.com/almarbuilding

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Almar Building & Remodeling Co (Hanover Ma). As a third generation family owned and operated company for over 50 years Almar Building has all the benefits of a small company with the options of a larger company. From Additions, Kitchens, Bathroom, Basement Renovations, Siding, Windows, to Doors Almar services the entire South Shore of Massachusetts including: Hanover, Hingham, Pembroke, Norwell, Scituate, Cohasset, Duxbury, Hanson, Abington, Rockland, Holbrook, Braintree, Weymouth, Milton, and many more towns. “What goes into Building a Deck.



[1] http://www.nadra.org/consumers/deck_safety_month.html

Craig Guido

With 20 years of remodeling experience both in the field and working in collaboration with homeowners to develop remodeling projects designed to fit your lifestyle.