I just moved into a new house built in 2003. It has an upper deck 45′ x 10′ covering a lower deck 45 ‘ x 8’. I want to convert the lower deck into a three season room.
The upper deck was apparently constructed by at least two people, one using a round head nailer, the other a clip head nailer — no screws. At a guess, it appears that at least 10 – 15% of the round head nails have popped, some as much as 1/16″. None of the clip heads have popped.
Question 1: Is it worth my time to try to reset the popped nails? If so, what is the best way to set them to make sure they stay set?
The upper deck was constructed over sheet aluminum to protect the lower deck. Unfortunately about a dozen nails missed the joists and went through the aluminum, meaning I have leaks.
Question 2: What is the recommended method to permanently stop the leaks from below?
As is to be expected, several of the deck boards, both upper and lower have cupped and/or twisted. I want to install a smooth floor on the lower deck as part of the room.
Question 3: Should I just go ahead with a smooth T&G wood floor, or do I need to do prep work, such as sanding or shimming?
The lower deck is actually 4″ below grade on one end and about 6″ above grade on the other end. I thought decks were suppose to have a clearance for air circulation.
Question 4: Should I excavate the below grade end or live with it?
Thanks in advance.
Egret
Replies
will the building codes around you allow you to convert the lower deck to a 3-season room?
around here in NJ , you pretty much need some kind of foundation and roof structure to make a 3-season room. Converting a porch isn't a problem; converting a deck is.
regarding your questions- 1: I would pull any loose nails and use SS screws to replace them. If they're proud 1/16", you should be able to grab them with a pry bar.
2: You could try caulking the holes with a silicon caulk, or Lexel.
3: I would remove any cupped/twisted boards, and replace them.
4: definitely excavate- get some air circulation under the deck. If you don't you could have mold problems in the future. Is there any kind of moisture barrier under the bottom deck?
It's probably more involved than you want to get, but I'd be tempted to tear down both decks, put in a foundation, walls, and a rubber-coated low-pitch roof that you could put a deck on top of. its more involved, but will last a lot longer AND eliminate any kind of water problems you might have doing it the way you describe.
What Shep said.
The vast majority of decks are not built in a fashion that allows them to be "converted" to rooms. They don't have the right kind of foundations. Instead, each post has some concrete that keeps it vertical -- but nothing that will hold the weight of a floor system, wall system, and roof system.
Your best bet is to check with the local inspectors, just like Shep mentioned. If you don't want to talk to them, then at least pay a few hundred bucks to get the opinion of a licensed structural engineer.
Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.
What you have is marginal at best for a pair of stacked decks. it sounds DIY with poor design and execution to begin with. Dreaming of turning this mistake into a three seaason room is compounding the error. if you want a three season room, tear it down and build a three season room.
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