2nd story deck we recently finished, in ASTORIA.
it's a beautiful deck. it's a gorgeous view, as well.
So first came the demo........ the old one the posts beneath had rotted out, due to pouring a sidewalk down below, and nothing separating the wood from the concrete.
After demo, we went with the same ledger board, and added to it, due to it being it good shape, and it was flashed very well. we put another 2x8 pressure treated joist on top of it, added a piece of L flashing, against the house covering the new "gap" between the two boards. we used LEDGER LOK bolts, one in each bay (every 12 inches).
Framing took about a week, off scaffolding and ladders.
we braced up EVERY upright post, which you can't really see unless you look at the pictures that are looking UP at the finished deck.
We basically followed the old outline, the deck had before. we used 4x10 Pressure treated beams, and 2x8 Joists, 13 inches on center. then we covered EVERY JOIST with this butyl tape, it's like flashing. and what it does is PREVENT THE JOISTS FROM ROTTING OUT.
not every company does this. but, I think it makes a HUGE difference in how long your deck lasts. the number one place we SEE rot, when demo of an old deck happens, is right where the deck boards are clipped down, then pine needles and everything else, gets stuck in there, holds moisture and rots out
we put solid blocking where our "picture frame" outside board goes. and we always start with that, then have no seams across the deck. we do a split in the middle of the picture frame, if it's longer than 20 feet. JUST so we don't have seams in weird places.
Next, we put the railing posts in place. code does NOT allow you to notch rail posts anymore! you can use through bolts, or you can use tension ties, on the back side of your lag. the through bolts or tension ties behind the bolt are the ONLY two ways to have your handrails to code.
We decided to do each section or "panel" separately, that way if a problem ever arises with one, it will be very easy to deal with.
We used a metal template, to drill the holes in the same EXACT location on each post. first I set the bottom rails all the same and level. then we drilled the holes for the template, and copied those to each panel.
If it wouldn't have taken five weeks for a building permit, we would have had this deck done much sooner than we did! but, all said and done it took the two of us about 4 weeks to demo the old deck, frame and deck and install handrails on the new one. material cost was 20K and labor 15K
WE ARE NOW LICENSED IN WASHINGTON STATE!!!
please send a text or email with details about your project!!! I will gladly reply with references and a ballpark estimate.
Cowan Custom Finishing
503-791-7473
acowan1216@gmail.com
