Securing existing deck against house 1

[miz0133]

During a home inspection, we have realized that the deck (attached) may not be properly secured to the house.

The joists are attached to a piece of wood (spacer board) with a hanger before it gets attached to the ledger. The ledger is attached against the wall with cement/mortar from what I can see in the photo - I have not seen such a joint before between a ledger and a wall. I wouldn't want to take the whole thing apart, but I am trying to find an easy way to properly secure it, which would then allow me to remove the 4th column next to the house.

http://files.engineering.com/getfil...65-91d4-995135cd7df9&file=20130820_183159.jpg

http://files.engineering.com/getfil...32-8ca2-5af752526a3f&file=20130820_183045.jpg

http://files.engineering.com/getfil...cb-88b2-536cd94afff8&file=20131001_080525.jpg

http://files.engineering.com/getfil...6b0-368720149ed7&file=IMG-20130930-WA0000.jpg

http://files.engineering.com/getfil...ed5-3ecc8913b941&file=IMG-20130930-WA0001.jpg

http://files.engineering.com/getfil...311-8295c26d2681&file=IMG-20130930-WA0002.jpg

 

[a2mfk]

4) 3 fat former friends now suing your butt

 

[XR250]

I was more concerned about the dude under the deck doing the observing :>

 

[hokie66]

LittleInch,
Your trust in the brickwork is misplaced, because we don't know what is supporting the brick. There is a big opening under that wall. And your suggestion of a load test method is ludicrous, thus the ridicule.

 

[LittleInch]

Ok, item no 4 was a little tongue in cheek, not ludicrous. The point is that the deck has been there for 20 YEARS, with no signs, as far as I can see, of any distress or movement to the structure of the deck or the house. It has in reality probably already had the FGT - there are tables and chairs on top so is clearly used. If you use bags of sand one at a time then you'll spot signs of failure well before actual failure.

Is it the best way of doing it - No, but it remains an option. I find it difficult to believe the weight of the deck and some people comes close to the weight of the bricks above the opening which does not show signs of collapsing or cracking unless the OP knows better than us.

My motto: Learn something new every day

Also: There's usually a good reason why everyone does it that way

 

[CANPRO]

A deck collapsed not far from me recently....

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-...-deck-collapse-sends-15-to-hospital-1.1863672

This deck was standing for 10 years before it fell. Just because it was up for 20 years doesn't mean its safe. Maybe it has only been moderately loaded up until now. Maybe the fasteners have been corroding or loosening over the last 20 years.

For me, this is a risk vs reward kind of thing. Risk - your deck collapses and you injure your friends and family. Reward if you leave as is - You save a few hundred dollars and a day of work. I think that's an easy decision. It really isn't a lot of work to remove a little material and check how the deck is fastened to the house. Have your material on hand to seal it back up and you can have answers within a few hours. Or do as suggested and add a post and beam close to the house. Again, this isn't a lot of work. A case of beer and some handy friends go a long way with these kind of projects.

 

[kingnero]

Just a few doors down from the home where the deck collapsed, Martha Lazier said a police officer examined her deck and her neighbour’s deck this morning.

I'd sleep much better now, knowing that a police officer checked my deck...

 

[CANPRO]

kingnero, I found that a little funny as well. But on the scene of something like that I suppose its better than nothing. The decks did end up getting inspected by a City Building Inspector. Which was also kind of funny because they have paperwork showing the City signed off on the deck 10 years ago. It also came to light that the house across the street (majority of the subdivision is the same developer/similar construction) had a collapsed deck which was reported to the City with nothing done. This deck was much lower to the ground. The City did nothing at the time.

 

[TomDOT]

I'd sleep much better now, knowing that a police officer checked my deck...

Well, it is Canada - the police should be trained in examining deck mounting methods, they are famous for the the Royal Canadian Mounted Police after all....

 

[kingnero]

I don't know what it's like in Canada (I suspect "mounted" means they ride horseback? preferably so without inflicting permanent damage to the horses ? )
But over here in Europe, they could fairly easy combine a visual inspection with the fat guys test... some even on their own.

 

[LittleInch]

Can we not add some more comments and keep it on the front page - I really rather liked this one...

My motto: Learn something new every day

Also: There's usually a good reason why everyone does it that way