[rollinastang]

I just added some rails and a bench to my existing deck. i is about 3 feet off of the ground...now my wife wants to add a short walkway to a gazebo area. we saw a few kits for these but i was wondering if i should just build the gazebo myself using longer 4x4's anchoring them into the concrete. and building the gazebo around them or build a platform and build the kit on top of that platform. my concerns are that my existing deck it 7 years old and has settle but the new construction would still need to settle. would it be wiser to have just the platform settle with the separate structure on top of that or have the whole gazebo settle as one?...another thought that i had was to make the short walkway like a wheel chair ramp down and have the gazebo kit on the ground....any opinions would be greatly appreciated....i want this to look great and last long.

 

[Thurman]

I don't know about the codes for Ohio, but the railing on that deck would pass code here. There would be too much spacing between each rail. Here it would require no more then 3" between each rail. Supposedly to prevent a child's head from getting through these whether you have children present or not.

 

[ratherbefishing]

I really like the style of that railing. Nice looking. Unfortunately, it woouldn't pass code here either. Gotta have no gaps larger than 4" and no horizontal rails that would entice little kids to climb the "ladder". But that wasn't your question.

At this point, I'd build the gazebo on a seperate deck, on seperate footings. Connect with a nice wide "ramp". That would allow a little movement between the two. As for building the gazebo itself, are you talking about a six sided gazebo? That is a lot of fancy cutting. I've always been intrigued with the idea. But, depending on your level of experience, I'd think about a kit or at least a good plan. (And I never use a plan.)

 

[rollinastang]

thanks for the compliment on the railing i liek your idea of the wide ramp that makes total sense. yes i am talking about the 6 sided gazebo. my skill level is pretty good but i am not pro or anything so leaning toward the kit is probably best for me!