I was asked to build a deck over an existing deck.
2 problems…
1) The deck will be about 18’x18′ and they don’t want a post in the center of the deck under this one.
2) They also want this deck to keep water from the other.
I know it is posible, anything is, but I have never been asked to do anything like this.
Does anyone have any solutions or ideas? I live in the Pittsburgh area.
Replies
OK. Time to tell them this is #### and you won't do it.
Get rid of all of the old deck and build new correctly. Give them the price.
I know it's tough out here, but please.
I don't see what the problem is.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
OK. Time to tell them this is #### and you won't do it.
Get rid of all of the old deck and build new correctly. Give them the price.
I know it's tough out here, but please.
Please, what? What's the problem?
Why would you walk away from this?Joe Carola
Hey Joe, we all go off half-cocked sometimes, don't we?;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Me, never................;-)
Joe Carola
112101.8 in reply to 112101.6
Very good point. My plan is to use new posts from the new deck through the existing deck to a new concrete footingGiven what the OPs posts have revealed about his knowledge (see "what's EPDM"., as well as the above), I'm kinda with Skipj on this. Might be cheaper/better design to start from scratch, if you can upsell the customer.......
I get the impression that you are talking about an additional deck a story over an exiting one. Is that correct. That is the way that I saw it until read the oher reply. I think that he thinks you are talking about some kind of overlay of the existing deck.
As far as keeping it dry you have too options. One is to build with a water proof floor.
The other is to somekind of gutter or collector system to collect the water. Dry Below I think is one brand.
Other have been home made versions.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
You have to do your engineering to freespan the 18'. The fewere posts, the more expensive it will be. The yards I buy from will do this for me for free for TJIs and open web trusses.
Then deck it in T&G advantech, roof with EPDM, and deck over on sleepers.
Or there are cementious deck surfacing products that grant a waterproof walkable layer.
This turns your existing deck into a porch by the addition of the roof above. Your description might have confused the first poster.
Maybe I can find a couple pictures of this scenario for you...
in the shot 'Kaz ext' the main porch to the left in photo with octagonal clipped corners is about 26 x 18
The other deck is something like 21x44 in two sections close to 21x21, I can't show a good perspective on it, because it sits at top of a large drop off. If you step back to get a view of it on the house, you end up a quarter mile away and a few hundred feet lower.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Thanks for the help! Building a roof first then decking over it just might work. I do have a couple of questions for you though.
What is EPDM? and do you use regular treated lumber for the sleepers?
Again thanks for the help
Ed
Here's a shameless plug for a thread relating to the "cementatious products" Piffin mentioned:
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=91581.1
EPDM is a rubber roofing membrane. Google it for exact specs, prices, and description.
Also, the last issue of JLC had a cover story about such a situation as yours. Check it out if you can.The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
Dang! HW/JLC is getting a lot of referrals out of this thread;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Maybe we can get some royalties Pif.
Hope you/yours are well.The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
Yes, PT sleepers and a slip piece of scrap EPDM under it for a wear ply, all just tack-glued with EPDM caulk, then SS fasteners for the deckingYour next Q is going to be, "How do I attach posts for the railing so they don't cause a leak in the roof and are solid enough not to wobble?"I just had an article in Decks magazine from Hanley Woods on that. If you can't find it I can come back. I think there might have been a discussion or two on it here also.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Two critical issues in your engineering will be point loads and footings.
Way too many existing decks have been built on lousy foundations, sometimes just a block or cement cookie on the ground. You will be adding a lot of weight to this, so you need to be sure the existing footings can handle it.
The point load thing - you can't just perch a post on top of the existing deck. You need to pay attention to load transfer all the way from top to bottom at footings.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Very good point. My plan is to use new posts from the new deck through the existing deck to a new concrete footing.