| Many home owners and other individuals fail to realize | | | | interrupting the work crew, but should any concerns or |
| the importance of paying attention to detail and safety | | | | questions come up, they should be directed towards |
| when considering a deck, gazebo or pergolas Just | | | | the foreman or crew supervisor. |
| because the deck or other outdoor structure is open | | | | Generally, most decks share a few basic |
| and free of walls or a solid ceiling, does not mean it is | | | | requirements. Ledger boards, which allow the deck to |
| any easier to build safely. The same care needs to be | | | | be anchored securely to the house, need to run the full |
| taken with any building or remodel from a covered | | | | length of the deck. Sufficient footings or foundation |
| deck to a fully enclosed sunroom. | | | | need to be installed properly. Some northern regions |
| Home owners looking to build a new upgrade, such as | | | | require the footings to be as much as 48" deep due to |
| a deck, gazebo or sunroom, have an advantage over | | | | ground heaves during winter, while southern states, |
| a home owner with an existing deck. For one thing, the | | | | such as North Carolina, may not require the footings to |
| new home addition will be completed sooner due to | | | | be as deep. Railings are also a building code |
| not needing to perform the preliminary demolition of an | | | | requirement should the deck or gazebo surface be of |
| old deck or structure. Whether the home owner is | | | | a certain minimum height. |
| starting from scratch or replacing an existing deck, | | | | Depending upon the use of the deck, special |
| every new deck construction is required to have | | | | reinforcement may be required if there is to be |
| routine inspections. | | | | excessive weight placed upon the deck. An example |
| Depending upon the part of the country, different | | | | of this would be adding a hot tub or an outdoor kitchen |
| locales have their own building codes specific to that | | | | and grill. Should heavier items be added without |
| region. Many times these building codes can even vary | | | | additional support, deck failure may result. |
| from county to county. It is important to verify that the | | | | By providing the home owner with these few |
| deck builder is licensed to provide services in the | | | | exceedingly brief and generalized examples of deck |
| county in which the deck, gazebo, or other addition is | | | | construction, one can begin to understand just a little of |
| to be built. | | | | the specialized skill and attention to detail that is |
| Even though the average individual may not have any | | | | required of a deck contractor. One of the best |
| interest or experience in the construction field, it is | | | | methods to having this skill demonstrated before |
| important to frequently examine the construction as it | | | | selecting a deck builder is to require references and |
| develops. It is important to do so without interfering or | | | | access to a portfolio of past jobs. |