I was invited out to someone’s house this afternoon, and was checking out his deck.
Here’s a view from outside the deck, and another one from underneath.
This deck was built by a contractor – It wasn’t DIY. The band board/header is only one ply.
I pulled the HO aside and politely talked to him about it. He had no idea there was anything wrong with it.
Birds of a feather flock together and crap on your car.
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Replies
A tragedy waiting for failure. How old is the deck?
Can't believe there is no beam, and the band is pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle. There's a wedge of daylight under the deck between the decking and band that's a real good indicator the band is struggling to hold up its end of the bargain.
And the balusters look more than 4" apart as well.
Pat yourself on the back for talking to him about it, and keep yourself and everyone you love off of it.
The epitome of hack job. Hope no one gets injured when it falls down.
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." Invictus, by Henley.
The deck is roughly 6 years old. I think I at least sorta know what happened. The builder is generally known for good quality work. But he also has a TERRIBLE temper. The deck was built when the house was done. And by the time they framed the deck, the HO and GC were at each other's throats. So I figure the builder was having one of his juvenile temper tantrums while he was framing it, and just didn't give a crap. The guy's not stupid, though. I'm surprised he walked off and left it that way.
I've invented an automatic parachute - It opens on impact.
Dont you guys have a building inspector out your way?
A lot of times I see things that were built by a hack and I just keep my mouth shut. Sometimes they want to kill the messenger.
I only speak up when its a matter of safety or I see someone getting blatantly ripped off, like in your friends case. You need to willing to go to the mat with your accusation
That deck is gonna collapse!
"Dont you guys have a building inspector out your way?"
Nope. Much of Illinois is very rural. There are only a couple of counties with building departments around here.
I was pertty careful about how I approached this guy. I didn't want to say "Whomever built this deck was a complete moron" only to have him say: "I did that myself".
I think he was glad that I pointed it out to him...
A government-supported artist is an incompetent whore [Robert Heinlein]
The guy might not be stupid but his temper could make him guilty of negligent manslaughter and land him jail. If that deck fails and someone gets hurt or dies, this GC has just destroyed his life and the lives of the residents in that house. No argument is worth that.The fact that he's not stupid and knows better demonstrates that his character is suspect at best. This is worse than a hack who doesn't know better.
Stay out from underneath that thing!
'ssa matta? U no likeah my work?
Those two rusting nails that are holding up each rim joist must be at least 8d! I was gonna notch into that post but figgured dat it would weaken the upper post and let junior break it off.
I left those ballusters 9" OC so they could throw the cat out easier.
I guess I fergot da joist hangers on the outside, but I made up for it by using so many end nails in dem joists dere
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What's wrong with that? It has joist hangers, so everything must be fine. LOL. He's really lucky no one has been hurt there. Did he ask you to look at it to check it out because he questioned its construction or was he proud of it?
Edited 5/21/2007 6:24 pm ET by DDay
"Did he ask you to look at it to check it out because he questioned its construction or was he proud of it?"
I was the one who brought it up. They had invited us out to their house, and I saw the band board from the outside. I thought it looked odd, so I walked underneath to see the rest of it.
He's an awfully nice guy - Just doesn't have any construction experience. So he had no clue anything was wrong.
Humpty Dumpty was pushed.
I hope he respects your comments as fact and not a "I would have done it better" opinion. It would be a shame if your next visit is at a hospital, or worse. Maybe you should print this thread so he sees that several builders and structural engineers are concerned....that's not a mistake, it's rustic
I think he took me pretty seriously. He asked me to walk under the deck with him and explain exactly what I was concerned about. And I spent a couple of minutes explaining it. His Wife was also upset when she found out about it. They both know me well, and I think they trust me. So I think they took the issue seriously.
“...the manager who lets employees dictate their job functions is a manager who will soon be looking for another job." [Martin Yate, Hiring the Best]
6 YEARS? I'm surprised it lasted long enough to install the railing.
1/2 the deck canitlevered off of one 2x12! All the deck held by a dozen nails! Wow!
>>I pulled the HO aside and politely talked to him about it.
At the very least I would have placed a post under that butt joint and then nailed the door shut.
SamT
That is exactly the problem with substandard construction. It doesn't just fall down. It lasts a while and gives a false sense of security to the homeowner and the hack who can point to decks that have lasted for years the way he does it.
BossHog, I'm glad they listened to you. One more builder to ruin the trust of the hardworking, honest contractors....that's not a mistake, it's rustic