Building a deck question.

[RyanGSams]

So I want to build a deck out my back door. It will be around 25 feet long and about 9 feet wide. It will be less than 1 foot off the ground.

First question is how do I mount a Ledger board to hollow concrete blocks and be within building code?

What is the best way to make a site plan, construction plan and floor plan? What are the differences?

 A copy of the site plan. The site plan should indicate the existing structures, existingpaving, easements (if any), all setbacks, proposed deck location and lot dimensions.
 A copy of the construction plans showing the proposed design and materials. Plans shallbe drawn to scale and indicate the following information:
A. A floor plan including the following:
1. Proposed deck size with dimensions
2. Size and spacing of floor joists
3. Size and type of decking material
4. Size, location and spacing of posts including post connection to footing
5. Size of beams--also indicating post/beam connection
6. Species and grade of lumber to be used

http://www.ci.portage.in.us/egov/documents/1463495669_0865.pdf

We are looking to build it this fall or in the spring.

I am fairly good with wood, just never built a deck or mounted anything into a concrete block.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Leadeye]

Build your deck in such a fashion that either raccoons can't get under it or you can easily shoot them if they do.

 

[femurphy77]

Your drawings can be a simple pencil and paper diagram in Morgan county, ymmv. Your site plan can be a google earth print out with dimensions to property lines from the build site, structure size and shape, etc. Again this is based on Morgan county, ymmv. We're winding down on a 500 ft family room addition that has a 375 sq ft deck under roof. Our deck is 32" from the deck top to grade and there's plenty of room for the labs to walk under by barely croutching down so 'coons shouldn't be a problem.

We did our site plan as suggested above. We had the print for the addition done professionally for several reasons that I won't go into here but it all went very smoothly.

 

[Rookie]

Log Cabin Rule in Indiana Protects the Right of the DIYer to Build Own Home ? American Tiny House Association

Any reason you can't mount it to the band board?

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

I re-did the porch on my house (which is basically a deck) and followed the recommendations of this document. I think it's got info in it about attaching to a concrete block wall. Attaching the ledger to the house has some certain requirements that can get complicated if your house was built with wooden I-beams or wooden trusses (and the builder didn't "plan ahead")...ask me how I know.

DCA 6 - Prescriptive Residential Deck Construction Guide

 

[RobbyMaQ]

Your drawings can be a simple pencil and paper diagram in Morgan county, ymmv. Your site plan can be a google earth print out with dimensions to property lines from the build site, structure size and shape, etc. Again this is based on Morgan county, ymmv. We're winding down on a 500 ft family room addition that has a 375 sq ft deck under roof. Our deck is 32" from the deck top to grade and there's plenty of room for the labs to walk under by barely croutching down so 'coons shouldn't be a problem.

We did our site plan as suggested above. We had the print for the addition done professionally for several reasons that I won't go into here but it all went very smoothly.

Though not a deck, I did similar for my storage unit/garage. Being a designer, i did a drawing 9using google maps as a guide). When I showed up to submit, I'd neglected to indicate my finger system, and the lady said 'oh just hand draw it in, and give a rough guess on the distance'.
It was a pretty painless process, and I was expecting the worst. Everything went smoothly. I had inches to spare in some of the minimu requirements.
Hendricks County.

All I know is, attaching any deck to a home is going to require some form of inspection/building permit.

 

[JettaKnight]

First question is how do I mount a Ledger board to hollow concrete blocks and be within building code?

Hollow blocks? Is this the houses foundation wall? Are you sure they're hollow? Can it be filled?

 

[HoughMade]

Personally, depending upon the exact site configuration, I would consider deck that didn't connect to the house.

Anyhoo, are you saying you don't have a rim joist? Most decks I have seen don't attach the ledger to the foundation (that would mean a step or 2 down on to the deck, but attach the ledger to the rim joist, through bolted if at all possible.

 

[Vilage.Idiot]

If I recall a freestanding deck is taxed at a different/lower rate than one that is physically attached to the dwelling but it's been a long time.

 

[seedubs1]

Did ours about 4 years ago. Just plan a lot ahead.....and then throw the plans out the window once you actually start figuring out your house is slightly out of square or whoever built your house didn't do things right.

And check your local regulations. We didn't have to pull any permits or do anything.....and ours is a pretty big deck that's lagged right to the side of the house.

It was a lot of work, but when the contractors were quoting $15k.....I did it myself for about $6k. Plus, when you do it yourself, you know it's done right. No posts sunk right into the concrete and wicking up water, double shrouded railings, etc...

 

[HoughMade]

Did ours about 4 years ago. Just plan a lot ahead.....and then throw the plans out the window once you actually start figuring out your house is slightly out of square or whoever built your house didn't do things right.

And check your local regulations. We didn't have to pull any permits or do anything.....and ours is a pretty big deck that's lagged right to the side of the house.

It was a lot of work, but when the contractors were quoting $15k.....I did it myself for about $6k.

That's a good looking deck.

 

[RyanGSams]

Hollow blocks? Is this the houses foundation wall? Are you sure they're hollow? Can it be filled?

I can't say 100% that it is hollow, but I have a full basement with block walls. I'm just guessing they are and going with worse case scenario.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

I can't say 100% that it is hollow, but I have a full basement with block walls. I'm just guessing they are and going with worse case scenario.

I'm no expert and I'm just going by what is written in the document in that link I shared....but if you look on page 15, hollow concrete block walls are not acceptable, according to them. If it's filled/grouted, it appears to be ok then. I'm guessing it's because the cinder blocks are not capable of supporting the loads solely by the walls of the blocks.

 

[printcraft]

Just float it. No direct attachment to the house, posts only.
You will have a few more holes to dig and a few more posts but everything else is the same.
PLUS no cutting into your siding etc for water intrusion.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Just float it. No direct attachment to the house, posts only.
You will have a few more holes to dig and a few more posts but everything else is the same.
PLUS no cutting into your siding etc for water intrusion.

Keep in mind, if you do this, they recommend your footers be at the same depth as your house's foundation. If you have a basement, that's some serious digging.

 

[printcraft]

No way!?

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

No way!?

Way.

 

[9mmfan]

Way.

I did it wrong but the deck is still standing (and level) over 18 years later.
Went to Menards with a rough scetch and they built it on their CAD program then delivered the lumber.
It's passed 2 insurance inspections since then.

Guess I should be arrested.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

I did it wrong but the deck is still standing (and level) over 18 years later.
Went to Menards with a rough scetch and they built it on their CAD program then delivered the lumber.
It's passed 2 insurance inspections since then.

Guess I should be arrested.

In my lay-research, that document is pretty darned conservative. I'm thinking, they prescribe that so that if you're building onto a house where the surrounding ground is not completely settled, the deck won't shift as it does settle. I say that because, if you'll notice, it says you only have to do that if the posts will be within 5ft of the foundation. I guess they're assuming the ground would be undisturbed at that location, so as long as you're going below the frost line, your'e probably good to go.

 

[hoosierdoc]

I thought about this thread today while I went under my deck at least 8 times to the far corner by the house. If you want speakers out there, get the wiring done before joists are up.