deck building mistakes

Preventing Decking Disasters: Common Deck Building Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

A deck is a great addition to any home. It provides a place for family and friends to congregate, host barbeques, and enjoy the weather. A well-built deck can even add significant equity to your home.

However, not all decks are created equal. And a poorly built deck will not only lower the value of your home, but it could also pose a potential safety risk to you, your family, or anyone else who steps foot up there.

Learning to avoid deck building mistakes is essential to your project. Keep reading for our list of the most common mistakes and how to avoid them to create a beautiful, equity-boosting deck that’s safe and secure!

Deck Building Mistakes You Need to Avoid

Truth be told, anyone can slap some wood together and call it a deck. However, if you want to avoid potentially hurting people, facing lawsuits, losing home equity, and needing to rebuild after a short period of time, follow along.

Using the Wrong Materials

A common deck-building mistake people make is using the wrong wood throughout the project. 

First, repurposing wood is a fantastic green initiative. However, if the wood is old, rotted, or weak, it’s not the best choice for a deck. Additionally, soft pressure-treated woods are great for posts, but not for planks.

You also need to consider if you’re going to use hardwoods, exotic woods, composite boards, etc. Make a gameplan and figure out your budget before you start this deck building project.

Not Using Proper Post Footers

Another common deck-building mistake is failing to use the appropriate post footer.

If you live in an area that experiences freezing and thawing cycles, you need to dig your post holes four feet deep, to prevent and fluctuating posts. Otherwise, your deck will shift, sag, and lean over time.

It’s also a good idea to use post stirrups. These stirrups go deep underground into your concrete but keep the wood posts above ground and free from constant moisture.

Not Pulling Permits

One of the most tragic deck building mistakes we see is when people build without pulling permits. If they violate any codes, they then have to either tear down their beautiful new deck or pay hefty fines. It also makes the home difficult to sell if things are out of code.

Do yourself a favor and pull permits before you build!

Not Making the Deck Level

As simple as it is, building a deck that isn’t level is one of the most common deck-building mistakes out there. There a few adjustments you can make to tweak the leveling during the process, but it’s best to start on the right foot.

Starting your project off level is much easier than trying to force it at the end!

Using Inadequate Support Joists and Posts

Based on how large your deck is, what materials you use for the planks, and how much weight the deck needs to support, you’ll need a varying amount of support joints and posts.

For example, composite planks will need floor joists spaced together closer than hardwood planks. Make sure you have a full understanding of what’s required. It may not be a bad idea to ask a professional to take look.

Using Poor Attachment Methods

Another of the most common deck-building mistakes involved skimping on materials and using poor attachment methods.

For example, you should never screw the support beams into the side of the posts. Instead, groove out the top of the post and rest the beam firmly or using appropriate mounting brackets.

Using Inadequate Hardware

Speaking of mounting brackets, make sure that you’re using quality metal hardware. The last thing you want to do is buy cheaper hardware that will be vulnerable to rust.

Not only will this choice put your deck’s structural integrity in jeopardy, but you’ll also get rust stains from the materials every time it rains.

Not Putting Up a Railing

Surprisingly, another one of the more common deck-building mistakes people make is not putting up a railing around it or on the stairs. 

It may not seem like a big deal to some homeowners, but it violates coding laws in about every county. Stair railings provide extra support for people climbing up and down and can be necessary for balance when the stairs are wet or icy.

On the deck itself, a railing provides a barrier between people standing on the deck and gravity. It would be incredibly unfortunate to fall off a deck and break an arm because it lacked a railing!

Building Bad Stairs

Next, you want to make sure you build your stair competently, and this means more than just adding a railing. 

Many DIYers build stairs with steps that are too tall, too steep, or too narrow. Make sure you build stairs that are easy to climb and provide plenty of space for each step. 

Not Sealing the Deck Properly

Another common deck-building mistake made by homeowners if failing to seal it adequately. Sometimes, people try to save money and don’t use enough sealer or none at all. Other times, they get short-sighted and lazy and decide they’ll seal the deck another time, but that time never comes.

Wood left exposed to the elements won’t last long, especially in areas with extreme temperatures and a lot of moisture.

Lack of Planning

Lastly, if you’re not starting with a plan, you’re making one of the biggest deck building mistakes out there! You need to ensure your deck is fully planned out, from what you plan on using it for to the blueprint of how to build it.

Think about how many people you want to provide seating for. Where are you going to place the grill or smoker? It shouldn’t be too close to where your guests are seated or things will get uncomfortable.

You also need to think about what type of view you want off of your deck. Your deck must have railings, but how will you design it so they won’t obstruct the view?

 These are just a few of the considerations to be aware of while building a deck!

Remember to Ask for Help

Remember, you don’t have to do this on your own. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it to avoid common deck-building mistakes! 

If you’re in over your head, it’s better to get a helping hand than finish a sub-par project that you’re not happy with.

Be sure to check out our top five tips for building a deck for extra help before you get started!

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