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THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR DECK’S STRUCTURE, CANTON GA

Feb 07, 2023

BY DECK EXPERT, JAMES SWANSON

Have you ever tried to sit on a three legged stool and then realized one of the legs is missing? You and the stool will fall over. Well, your deck is no different! There are three very critical attachment points on a deck and if one of them gives out, the deck WILL collapse. Therefore, we refer to the structure of a deck as a three-legged stool.

These THREE very critical attachment points are:

LEDGER

The first major connection point for a deck is called the ledger. The ledger board is what connects the deck to your home. This connection requires ½-inch galvanized through-bolts installed with nuts and washers. It should include four bolts on the end of each ledger, as well as a staggered up and down bolting pattern with the bolts closer together than they are on most older decks.

FOOTINGS

In Georgia, we are allowed to embed a structural wet pressure-treated 6”x6” support post in concrete or have the post sitting on top of a concrete footing, both of which are not ideal. Installed this way, moisture will eventually be soaked up into the 6”x6” posts, which will lead to movement such as twisting, warping, and cupping. A better, longer-lasting method of installation is to use a galvanized standoff post-base connector to properly attach the support post to the concrete footing. Pictured here.

SUPPORT POSTS

The support posts are located on the underside of the outer band of the deck (or the side furthest from the house). Rather than using screws or nails to connect the support posts to the outer band, it is much better to install galvanized post-top connectors where each 6”x6” pressure-treated support post is attached to the outer band of the deck. This minimizes the separation and movement which is common when wood-to-wood connections are simply nailed, or even screwed, together.

Future blog posts will discuss two more very important attachment points on a deck…

Is my Guardrail Failing?
Are my stairs properly attached

CONTACT OUTBACK DECK FOR A FREE CONSULTATION TODAY!

About Outback Deck, Inc.

Outback Deck, Inc. brings inspiration to outdoor living spaces. We believe if you have an outdoor space, you should WANT to spend time in it. Outback is committed to serving our customers in Cobb, Cherokee and the surrounding areas. Our commitment to providing the best customer experience and creating outstanding value in your new deck or porch is unmatched in the industry. For more information, please visit www.outbackdeck.net life happens out back

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Top-Rated Outdoor Living Contractors

Outback Deck is veteran-owned and community trusted. We have earned the trust of homeowners throughout Cobb, Cherokee, and North Fulton counties, as evidenced by our numerous accolades and glowing reviews.

“We just had Outback do our complete deck teardown and rebuild (adding a covered patio), and we are extremely satisfied with how it turned out! The attention to the details and oversight of the construction teams took extra burden off of us. I can't thank Outback Deck enough for driving the project to completion so smoothly.”

Ross H.

“Outback was great to work with. They were transparent and kept us well-informed from the first sales meeting to completion of the project. The deck and patio they constructed are beautiful. The materials and work are high quality, and well in excess of any building codes. With the composite decking and aluminum railing, we can look forward to many years of enjoyment with little to no maintenance.”

Nick F.

“From start to finish, Outback Deck's attention to detail and eagerness to ensure our happiness was foremost. The crew was on time or early every day and the project manager, was always available to help with any questions or let me know where we stood with the schedule. We love our new deck!”

Lane R.

“Absolutely wonderful company to work with!!! The beautiful covered deck they made for us is just stunning. They use the finest craftsmen to complete their projects and their work is good value for the money. I recommend this company fully and enthusiastically.”

Janet H.

“The footings and bracing of the deck support are what impressed us most. BP did an excellent proposal, JR provide excellent follow through and CM kept the project on task. After watching the construction of our new deck, step by step, we could see the extra measures Outback Deck puts in their workmanship. If we ever have an earthquake, we will run to the deck for the safe place.”

Connie N.