Replies

1. 
   wallyo | Jan 10, 2008 08:49pm | #1

   Some times it is best to go informally to the plan examiner and talk about what you want to do.

   I had a deck in a historic district but on a 1958 house. Talked to the receptionist, given a list of what they would need. When home drew site plans up showing house garage all that, drew deckplans, cross sections, footings. Went back told to start with zoning got there stamp, told to go to historic review was told that was needed. Even though the night before I found on the city's own web site given the newer age of the house that a historic review was not needed. They insisted it was had to find it on the web site and show them it wasn't.
   Then off for walk in plan review, The reviewer looks at it says how high is this deck, I said varies from one to two feet. Shoves my drawings back to me and says, "go build your deck".

   "What about my permit" "you don't need one it is a foot off the ground as far as I am concerned".

   So lesson is to start at the source the one with the finial decision, ask for their input talk to the inspector he is the one that has the real finial say.

   Wallyo

2. 
   Hudson Valley Carpenter | Jan 10, 2008 08:51pm | #2

   I've often considered how I might build a deck without a guard rail or with a lower one, in order not to interfere with the view from inside the home.  The only safe thing I've come up with is to lower the deck and keep it fairly tight to the house. 

1. 
   ms4343 | Jan 10, 2008 09:02pm | #3

   I've been toying with building a deck and after seeing the deck with the wrap around benchseat, which is clearly above 30" to top of seat, I had to ask the question. I'm starting to look at these projects and say to myself, "It's beautiful but I'll can't build that", knowing it doesn't meet the building code. I've seen open stairs that have horizontal guards and out of cable and turnbukles. Code, not to produce a ladder effect and shall be spaced where a 4" sphere can't fit through any part of the guard system. I'd like to know where the code, especially where the new IRC is in effect, allows these things to be built.  

1. 
   john7g | Jan 10, 2008 09:05pm | #5

   Lot's of places don't have code enforcement or code (contrary to what I used to think).  Not that it's right but that's how a lot are done that way. 

1. 
   ms4343 | Jan 10, 2008 09:23pm | #6

   Thank you all, if anything, next time you look at some of these details as you thumb through the magazines, you as yourself if you can build it where you live. I can't be the only one who questions, "How do they get that past code?"

3. 
   wallyo | Jan 10, 2008 09:05pm | #4

   The deck I am talking about, no guardrail it floats like a dock above the yard after all it is a only a foot off the ground. That's what the examiner said it must be true.

4. 
   Hiker | Jan 11, 2008 01:09am | #7

   I hear ya.  I see it often with stairs and railings (or lack thereof).  I know what codes we gotta meet here and often those pictures would not be permitted in this area.