I’ve been building this deck for a customer and was checking level with the laser and discovered the right front corner (see pic) was low by 1/4″. The deck is 18′ deep and 20′ wide. It’s fixable but will take a few hours. I was thinking that over a 20′ span it’s not going to show up later. What do you guys think. Would you change it or let it go buy? Thanks
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Skim-coating with joint compound covers texture, renews old drywall and plaster, and leaves smooth surfaces ready to paint.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
Tell them it's for drainage. Most treated lumber is +/- 1/4" or 3/8", so 1/4" in 20' is nothing.
What kind of laser level? my wife bought me a craftsman one is was +/- 3/8" in 30 feet . Cheap lasers are not that accurate.
Oops, forgot to attach pic. My laser level is accurate to 1/4" at 100'.
1/4" in 20' for a deck? What was your question? ;-)
Matt
Hey... he's trying to be serious here... at least keep a straight face...
Rip it out dude.
No seriously.... when that PT is done drying out it'll either be level... or off by 1/2".
<<My laser level is accurate to 1/4" at 100'.>>
Are you sure that one corner is low and not that 3 corners are high? You better jump up and down on those three corners and get them back in line. Can't be posting substandard work here.
from the photo, it appears the corner is only off by 2/8". I'd leave it alone.
"Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words." - St. Francis of Assisi
bragger
The right front corner is OK. If that was the rear corner..no good.
So, you're lucky this time.
Next month it'll be a quarter low on the other side.
ummm...isn't a deck a wooden roof that you can easily stand on? Would the HO prefer that it was level so the water sat on it and rotted the decking or better sloped back to the house so it will drain easily into the structure, providing him with a dry deck that confidently holds snowmelt, rain runoff and leaves against the siding and efficiently spreads mold into the basement?
I learned you always want to slope a deck 1/4" in 4 ft. away from the house. So based on that you didn't screw up bad enough. Either that or you need to put your picture in the dictionary under perfectionist. What's a 1/4"?
Am I right?
What's a 1/4"?
an increment on a ruler...
Thank You! Damn, I never noticed.
I always slightly slope the deck away from the house specifically for drainage. Any size of a deck will dump lots of water into a house.
Well... maybe, but assuming the deck boards are 5.5" wide, have some kind of a small gap, and are parallel to the house, that means that the water is drained an additional 5.5" away from the house... sloping the deck causes problems when building the railings too. I say putting a slight cant on the first board against the house is a good thing but after that it serves little purpose, especially since once the boards cup a bit they don't drain much anyway.
Matt
how in world does slanting the deck a quarter inch affect the handrail if yur paying attention to detail...
Not talking about a 1/4" total. I used to do maybe what Piffin just suggested - 1/8" per foot - but then you can't use a level to plumb your rail posts, unless you want to set them all off the same bit... or you can plumb em but then you have to fiddle fart around with shims, trimming, etc. Then none of your rail cuts are square - or they just don't fit real well. Personally I think the drainage gained by setting the deck out of level is of minimal value - at best - unless the decking boards are running perpendicular to the house. For parallel to house, I say build it close to level and have a nice day. Flash the house connection real well, or don't even connect to the house - that's how I deal with water.
Matt
most of ours do run perpendicular to the house. Drains around 85% away.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
plan for rhe posts and drive on... Plumb the rim...
3/8" - 1/2" slope for preventive snow and ice build up.
Edited 6/29/2005 11:39 pm ET by IMERC
I aim to slope a deck 1/8" every foot. Maybe after it settles, you'll have enough slope, but donm't worry about it.
BTW, looks like we have the same wheeled toolbox.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
is that to keep up with the slope astetics of the house...
LOL
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Okay, you guys are right. I'm a perfectionist, it's a terrible burden to carry but someone's got to do it. lol
Just watch out for Splinters from that PT stuff, it will ruin your week!
remember the one I got.. you should see the hole there now...
where's MOWsr when ya need her..
generator still runnin'
Hav'nt been up by the Generator in the past few days (Youd think that INS is in town) none of the fellows been working up there, they all went to Winter Park for a 10 day spell. I will fire it up in the am & check.
PS, placed an order for a 48"Maple vanity, should be here week of the 14th I hope
aren't you on vaction then....
let me know how much..
INS showed up and yiur project came to a halt did it...
Yes.
OK.
No, the whole Metro area would shut down if they did their Job!
so how do I get my hands on the cab???
See if I can have them drop it @ the trailer.
who's gonna be there...
Pedro, or the kid with the funny looking hair!
let 'em know I'll be there....
heard about yur front range heat wave... sorry...
61* now, so its not to bad.
24 and light breeze off of the peak.. never broke 50 today...
Check in with D'pig. He can use some good help.
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=59948.1&maxT=11
Joe H
You don't do drywall as well do you? If so, your tape won't even HAVE 1/4"scheers
***I'm a contractor - but I'm trying to go straight!***
Well dopey me, but doesn't the gap between boards mean the water is gonna drain where it's gonna drain, whether you it's dead flat or slopes 2" into the house? I'd say you have no issue. Give the sun and rain a year on the finished product, and I'll bet you'll never find that 1/4".
The High Desert Group LLC