Please Help! Deck Issues

Joe Carola

I've said this several times before and I'll say it agian. I know this is a DIY'er site and I wouldn't come here and criticize a DIY'er, but there are certain things that DIY'ers should not do.

I could care less if it's a generalization or not. This guy said he's building the deck by himself and using a 22' beam 8' in the air. Not a smart thing to do no matter how you look at it.

Some things you HAVE to get professional help with or you WILL get hurt or hurt someone else.

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Joe Carola

AtlanticWBConst.

We build the frame and have it temporarily supported with KD grade 2x4's nailed together or larger dimensioned KD lumber, depending on the size of the structure (in construction, you do alot of temporary things with lumber for safety or other reasons, and end up taking them down - it's part of getting the project done efficiently and safely).
Prior to installing the deck and the rails onto the frame work, we install the beam and the posts (to the underside of the finished frame). We set and confirm the deck (frame) to where it should be (Proper slight pitch away from the home for drainage). Then we assemble our main beam on some sturdy sawhorses directly in the area that it is to be lifted up. Once that is done, we measure the exact width of the beam and make a note of that measurement (or average width measurement of the length).
We install (bolt) our post brackets onto the J-bolts inserted in the concrete footings (all have been previously laid out and aligned to the deck frame - planned ahead).
Then we go over to the frame at the point where the beam is to be placed at. We measure down to the post brackets base-top. Take that length measurement(s) and note it too. If the footings are slightly different because of being on a slope (like the poster was inquiring about)...then each measurement will be different (they are always different no matter what the grade is).
Subtract the width of your main beam, and that will give you your post length for that particular footing location. Then double check all your other measurements and pre-cut your post lengths. Measure & check again after cutting, and check all your overall arithmetic.
Number your posts according to their corresponding position with a crayon. Set each one in place temorarily, in order to take a measurement of the space between the top of each post and the bottom of your deck frame joists. That distance should equal the width of your beam (if you measured, subtracted, and planned properly)

At 8'-0" up, you can build a temporary cradle that can help to hold your beam up while you install your posts (plenty of strong help for this job).... We usually pop some nails (framing gun) thru the beams top area at an angle to also help hold it in place. Then we (one or two guys) installs the posts and finishes them in place with a sledge hammer and a scrap piece of stock so as not to mangle the post's surface.
Last, double check the deck (with long levels) & make adjustments, before locking it into position....(remember: slightly pitched away from the house)....

Finally, add all your required fasteners and brackets to the beam and post attachment points per local code....

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- Build Well -

RYANINMICHIGAN

No offence but if you do not know what you are doing and you are put something up to support the people you care about 8 feet in the air then you need more then this site.... for the record I too do this for a living

KUIPORNG

Thanks for the info Atlanatic. I for sure will re-read your instructions many times ....

crecore

OK, well I have to agree... IF YOU DONT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING you can get hurt and shouldnt do it. That makes sense. I guess we have to rely on DIYers to have enough common sense to decide when and if they have the abililty to do something and when they should get help. There's not much I wont do myself. If I dont know how I figure it out, I go read, ask, learn, etc. first... which is what I hope people use this forum for.

..and for the record I also did it professionally for a while myself. Now I have a cozy office job where I draw on the computer.

peace out

AtlanticWBConst.

Word.....

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- Build Well -

Joe Carola

There's absolutely nothing wrong with learning new things and trying to do things by yourself at all. It's just that me being a framer for all these years and having done many types of framing and lifting many many big beams before, there are ways of doing it.

Having man power is the way naturally. If you don't, you have to think outside the box. Lifting a 22' beam 8' high by yourself or even if you had a helper is very dangerous, it's even dangerous for me with a helper to do it and this is what I do for a living.

I just wanted to make sure you didn't get hurt because safety is always the first issue, especially with something like this. Doing the rest of the deck is fun.

You know, there's been so many jobs over the years that I've worked on where the Homeowner has their own little shop set up and loves to do some kind of carpentry. I've seen stuff that HO's make that will knock your socks off and should be sold in a store. I personally think that carpentry and making something is in everyone's blood.

I used to take my son to Home Depot on the first Saturday of the month and they would have tables set up outside and have little kits for the kids to build a bird house or a jewelry box. They gave the kids an apron and a little hammer. My son went nuts. I was the only father taking a million pictures.

I hope everything works out for you.

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Joe Carola