I’ve got a question for the masses: My client wants a low profile deck put on top of concrete between the house and the garage. I figured I could install sleepers right onto the concrete with a 1/4″/ft slope, shim it level and add decking on top. Any advice about fastening the sleepers, or any warnings about the whole idea?
Any input would be appreciated.
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I'd put some kind of capillary break between the sleepers and the concrete to lengthen their lifespan (I assume you will use Pressure Treated sleepers), and probably fasten them with nice long tapcons.
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Like Mr. Fink, I'd fasten them down with Tapcons, and run a strip of Vycor to keep the wood away from the concrete.
But I'd rather rip the sleepers to the slope of the slab, than shim them level.
Probably not a big deal either way.
I have used Tapcons, but that can get frustrating.
GRK has a new conc screw called Caliburn I think that does this much better.
You do not say what kind of edecking surface -
Trex requires something like 12" to 18" under it for warrantee. Wood scientists recommend the same for real wood surfaces.
There may be some composite makers out there who OK close installs like this.
I use IPE over EPDM on sleepers OK
What is the climate there? I would NOT do this where you get more than a couple inches of snow. Other wise, you can end up with ice damning and glacial destruction of the whole thing. Ice is a powerful force.
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Treated lumber with a moisture barrier should do you just fine. Tapcons are fantastic fastners for these applications.
Edited 10/4/2007 4:29 pm ET by Big Lou in Chicago
Hilti or Ramset gun, red (#5) loads, and 2.5" nails. If you don't own one, I think most tool rental place carry them. One fastener about every 2 feet or so. I have attached a lot of PT to concrete this way and never had a failure. Tapcons are ok, but to be quite honest, they don't impress me a whole lot. I've had a lot of them strip out.