Building a deck is not a simple DIY project you can complete in a single day. It requires careful preparation and detailed calculations. Unfortunately, many homeowners overlook this crucial planning stage and dive straight into construction, often leading to weak, bending, buckling, and easily broken decking. Here are the top seven decking mistakes most homeowners make and how to avoid them.
#1. Using the Wrong Decking Material
The quality of your deck is directly influenced by the materials you use. Many homeowners don’t give much thought to this and start building with any available material. This can lead to costly repairs or a complete deck replacement in the future. To avoid this, choose your material wisely. While wood is common, many homeowners are now opting for composite decking materials, such as those offered by Sherwood Lumber. These materials provide durability, low maintenance, and a long-lasting finish.
#2. Ignoring Construction Codes
Whether you’re building a private or public structure, there are specific codes you must follow. Many people overlook these regulations, but they are designed to ensure safety for everyone using the deck. Make sure you are familiar with and adhere to all relevant construction codes.
#3. Using Too Few Deck Posts
The deck gets support from ledger boards and on-grade vertical support posts that rest on sturdy footers. These footers must be adequate and spaced no more than 8 inches apart. Additionally, the soil in which the footers are set must be stable and undisturbed. Some homeowners ignore these requirements, leading to potential deck failure.
#4. Fastening Railing Posts with Nails or Screws
Using nails or screws to fasten railing posts to the deck framing is easy, but it’s not the best method. Bolts, particularly blocking bolts, should be used for stronger railing connections at the rim joists.
#5. Weak Framework
A strong framework is the core of a durable deck. Even a small mistake can compromise the entire structure, including fastening the ledger board to the house frame. Composite and natural wood decking materials often require meticulous installation, whereas composite materials from Sherwood Lumber can simplify this process and provide additional strength and stability.
#6. Setting Joists Too Far Apart
You might be tempted to space joists too far apart due to limited materials or a rush to finish the project. However, this is not advisable as joists carry the load of the deck floorboards. Proper spacing is crucial. Consult a joist span table or seek expert advice to ensure you get the spacing right.
#7. Incorrectly Attaching Horizontal Beams
Attaching the girder (horizontal beam) to the side of vertical support posts was once acceptable, but this method has proven unreliable due to poor shear strength of bolts. Instead, rest the beam on top of the posts for better support.
By avoiding these common mistakes and choosing high-quality materials, like those from Sherwood Lumber, you can ensure a safe, durable, and long-lasting deck for your home
