­­­­­­­­­These specifications are standard on our projects:

FOOTINGS:  Footings are installed to prevent columns from settling.  A footing’s depth is determined by your local frost-line.  Footings are excavated to a depth of 36 inches or 42 inches (depending on how far north you live).  We use 3000-psi footing grade concrete.  Everything rests on the footings; therefore it is critical that footings be installed properly.

FOOTING COLUMNS:  Footing columns rest on footings and support girders.  Footing columns are constructed from Pressure Treated Southern Yellow Pine (SYP).  Footing columns are notched, allowing girders to rest directly on top of them.  This is referred to as through-column-construction.  Through-column-construction is superior to bolting a girder to the sides of a footing column because the integrity of a girder should not rely on the shear-strength of fasteners.

FLASHING:  Flashing must be compatible with the chemicals found in SYP.  Flashing is installed behind ledgers to prevent moisture from damaging your home.  If flashing is omitted, water will damage your home’s vapor barrier, sheathing and framing.  Once wet, rotting may begin and pests (e.g. carpenter ants, termites, etc.) may further damage your home.

FRAMING:  Framing, which is covered with decking and the skirt, consists of ledgers, girders, joists, bridging and sub skirts.  Ledgers and girders support joists and are bolted over top of the flashing using specific bolt patterns.  Girders are bolted to and rest on notched-footing-columns.  Joists, which span between ledgers and flush-girders or rest on belly-girders, support decking and are fastened to ledgers and flush-girders with joist-hanging hardware.  Bridging is installed between joists when spans exceed 8 feet and prevents joists from twisting and reduces bounce.  Sub-skirts cover perimeter joists and flush-girders, as well as create perimeter-girders, which improve the integrity of railings systems and are also useful in supporting roof loads for porches, three-season rooms, etc.

SKIRT:  Skirts cover framing and create a finished appearance.  Skirts extending below perimeter flush-girders also provide a convenient surface on which to fasten lattice panels, creating a neat and trim appearance.

DECKING:  Decking is laid on top of joists.  Decking is installed in seamless decking patterns whenever possible.  Seamless decking patterns add strength and enhance the appearance of the decking.  Ribbons are boards that are placed between seamless decking patterns.  Ribbons are a unique feature we developed to eliminate butt-joints in the decking.  If the design and/or random-length-only availability of the decking prohibits use of a ribbon, compound miters on decking boards are used to eliminate butt-seams.  Decking comes in a wide variety of materials, including but not limited to Ipe’, Clear & Knotty Western Red Cedar, Polyethylene and Polypropylene Composites, Mahogany, Redwood, PVC and SYP.

RAILINGS:  Railings are available in a wide variety of styles.  Railings provide safety, privacy and add decorative details to your deck.  Railing heights measure a minimum of 3 feet from the decking surface and baluster spacing must be less than 4 inches.  Railing columns are notched over top of the decking and bolted through the skirt and perimeter flush-girder framing.  We will help you design and choose a railing system that both pleases you and adds charm & style to your deck.  Railing systems are created utilizing Clear Western Red Cedar, Aluminum, Synthetic Composites, Ipe’, Mahogany, Redwood, PVC and SYP.

STAIRS:  Stairs are situated to optimize traffic flow from the deck to the house and yard.  Stair components consist of cut stringers, risers, treads and stringer skirts.  Utilizing custom-made cut stringers is the safest, strongest and overall best method to build exterior stairs.  Risers give stairs a finished appearance, make stairs stronger, and help users feel more secure.  Stringer skirts add the finishing touches by hiding cut stringers and the end grains of treads and risers.

FASTENERS:  Stainless steel screws are the best fasteners available for non-framing applications.  Fasteners made from materials other than stainless steel may react with certain species of wood including, but not limited to, Western Red Cedar, Redwood and SYP.  Nails with special coatings, which will not react with the chemicals in SYP, are only used for framing.

OPTIONS:  We offer our customers a wide variety of options to further customize and upgrade their deck’s functionality and appearance.  Available options include, but are not limited to gazebos, trellises, awnings, hot tubs, lattices, benches, arbors, gates, planters, flower boxes, walkways, exterior doors, lighting and stains/sealers.  Ask about The Deck Docktor to learn about our maintenance program designed to preserve your deck’s appearance and protect your investment for years to come.

We welcome new ideas and new opportunities to develop and build unique Deckreations.  We specialize in creative plan consulting.