Deck Joists question?
I'm building a deck (1st time building a deck) using cement deck blocks for
support (21 blocks). Deck is 10' x 12' on the side of a AG pool. Each joist is supported by 3 - 4"x4"s set in the deck blocks. Eack 4"x4" has to be cut to fit due to uneven ground. I have 4 joists in place now and I notice they arent perfectly even with each other. I was using a 2' level to set the hight as I was putting them in. When I stretch a string across all the joists I can see a variation of up to .125" from joist to joist. I could go back and shim under some of the joist but I was wondering how much differance it will make? Will this variation be noticable when the 5/4 PT decking is screwed down?? Also, Do you have to screw the decking down at every joist? Can you screw down the decking at every other joist then alternate with the next board?? Thanks for any advice! Steve |
Deck Joists question?
I'll take the last question first. Yes, you should fasten the decking
to every joist. (No exceptions.) The uneven joists may be an issue. The average person can see a deflection of an eighth of an inch, and your feet will fell it too. But it depends on how small of a span the .125 difference occurrs within. If there is a gradual slope of a total of .125 over a distance of six or eight feet, then no one will notice. If the .125 difference is between two adjacent joists, then I'd fix it before I decked it. "Steve" wrote in message ... I'm building a deck (1st time building a deck) using cement deck blocks for support (21 blocks). Deck is 10' x 12' on the side of a AG pool. Each joist is supported by 3 - 4"x4"s set in the deck blocks. Eack 4"x4" has to be cut to fit due to uneven ground. I have 4 joists in place now and I notice they arent perfectly even with each other. I was using a 2' level to set the hight as I was putting them in. When I stretch a string across all the joists I can see a variation of up to .125" from joist to joist. I could go back and shim under some of the joist but I was wondering how much differance it will make? Will this variation be noticable when the 5/4 PT decking is screwed down?? Also, Do you have to screw the decking down at every joist? Can you screw down the decking at every other joist then alternate with the next board?? Thanks for any advice! Steve |
Deck Joists question?
I'll take the last question first. Yes, you should fasten the decking
to every joist. (No exceptions.) The uneven joists may be an issue. The average person can see a deflection of an eighth of an inch, and your feet will fell it too. But it depends on how small of a span the .125 difference occurrs within. If there is a gradual slope of a total of .125 over a distance of six or eight feet, then no one will notice. If the .125 difference is between two adjacent joists, then I'd fix it before I decked it. "Steve" wrote in message ... I'm building a deck (1st time building a deck) using cement deck blocks for support (21 blocks). Deck is 10' x 12' on the side of a AG pool. Each joist is supported by 3 - 4"x4"s set in the deck blocks. Eack 4"x4" has to be cut to fit due to uneven ground. I have 4 joists in place now and I notice they arent perfectly even with each other. I was using a 2' level to set the hight as I was putting them in. When I stretch a string across all the joists I can see a variation of up to .125" from joist to joist. I could go back and shim under some of the joist but I was wondering how much differance it will make? Will this variation be noticable when the 5/4 PT decking is screwed down?? Also, Do you have to screw the decking down at every joist? Can you screw down the decking at every other joist then alternate with the next board?? Thanks for any advice! Steve |
Deck Joists question?
The.125 is between adjacent joists. 16" on center.
I was thinking the same thing but having never built a deck I was wondering how accurately aligned the joists are on the average deck. Seems like it would be easier if it was a conventional deck and I could use joist hangers. I'll fix the 4 joists before I move on to the next 5. Thanks for the opinions!!! Steve On 27 Jun 2003 16:33:52 -0700, (YesMaam27577) wrote: I'll take the last question first. Yes, you should fasten the decking to every joist. (No exceptions.) The uneven joists may be an issue. The average person can see a deflection of an eighth of an inch, and your feet will fell it too. But it depends on how small of a span the .125 difference occurrs within. If there is a gradual slope of a total of .125 over a distance of six or eight feet, then no one will notice. If the .125 difference is between two adjacent joists, then I'd fix it before I decked it. "Steve" wrote in message ... I'm building a deck (1st time building a deck) using cement deck blocks for support (21 blocks). Deck is 10' x 12' on the side of a AG pool. Each joist is supported by 3 - 4"x4"s set in the deck blocks. Eack 4"x4" has to be cut to fit due to uneven ground. I have 4 joists in place now and I notice they arent perfectly even with each other. I was using a 2' level to set the hight as I was putting them in. When I stretch a string across all the joists I can see a variation of up to .125" from joist to joist. I could go back and shim under some of the joist but I was wondering how much differance it will make? Will this variation be noticable when the 5/4 PT decking is screwed down?? Also, Do you have to screw the decking down at every joist? Can you screw down the decking at every other joist then alternate with the next board?? Thanks for any advice! Steve |
Deck Joists question?
I really dont think anyone can notice.125"I'm guessing of an inch, over 16"
span. I didnt think any wood decks got that close beside the deck will shrink much more than this the first summer .its nothing to worry about,what are you measuring with anyway, a micrometer.or feeler gauges. "Pop" wrote in message ... The.125 is between adjacent joists. 16" on center. I was thinking the same thing but having never built a deck I was wondering how accurately aligned the joists are on the average deck. Seems like it would be easier if it was a conventional deck and I could use joist hangers. I'll fix the 4 joists before I move on to the next 5. Thanks for the opinions!!! Steve On 27 Jun 2003 16:33:52 -0700, (YesMaam27577) wrote: I'll take the last question first. Yes, you should fasten the decking to every joist. (No exceptions.) The uneven joists may be an issue. The average person can see a deflection of an eighth of an inch, and your feet will fell it too. But it depends on how small of a span the .125 difference occurrs within. If there is a gradual slope of a total of .125 over a distance of six or eight feet, then no one will notice. If the .125 difference is between two adjacent joists, then I'd fix it before I decked it. "Steve" wrote in message ... I'm building a deck (1st time building a deck) using cement deck blocks for support (21 blocks). Deck is 10' x 12' on the side of a AG pool. Each joist is supported by 3 - 4"x4"s set in the deck blocks. Eack 4"x4" has to be cut to fit due to uneven ground. I have 4 joists in place now and I notice they arent perfectly even with each other. I was using a 2' level to set the hight as I was putting them in. When I stretch a string across all the joists I can see a variation of up to .125" from joist to joist. I could go back and shim under some of the joist but I was wondering how much differance it will make? Will this variation be noticable when the 5/4 PT decking is screwed down?? Also, Do you have to screw the decking down at every joist? Can you screw down the decking at every other joist then alternate with the next board?? Thanks for any advice! Steve |
Deck Joists question?
I really dont think anyone can notice.125"I'm guessing of an inch, over 16"
span. I didnt think any wood decks got that close beside the deck will shrink much more than this the first summer .its nothing to worry about,what are you measuring with anyway, a micrometer.or feeler gauges. "Pop" wrote in message ... The.125 is between adjacent joists. 16" on center. I was thinking the same thing but having never built a deck I was wondering how accurately aligned the joists are on the average deck. Seems like it would be easier if it was a conventional deck and I could use joist hangers. I'll fix the 4 joists before I move on to the next 5. Thanks for the opinions!!! Steve On 27 Jun 2003 16:33:52 -0700, (YesMaam27577) wrote: I'll take the last question first. Yes, you should fasten the decking to every joist. (No exceptions.) The uneven joists may be an issue. The average person can see a deflection of an eighth of an inch, and your feet will fell it too. But it depends on how small of a span the .125 difference occurrs within. If there is a gradual slope of a total of .125 over a distance of six or eight feet, then no one will notice. If the .125 difference is between two adjacent joists, then I'd fix it before I decked it. "Steve" wrote in message ... I'm building a deck (1st time building a deck) using cement deck blocks for support (21 blocks). Deck is 10' x 12' on the side of a AG pool. Each joist is supported by 3 - 4"x4"s set in the deck blocks. Eack 4"x4" has to be cut to fit due to uneven ground. I have 4 joists in place now and I notice they arent perfectly even with each other. I was using a 2' level to set the hight as I was putting them in. When I stretch a string across all the joists I can see a variation of up to .125" from joist to joist. I could go back and shim under some of the joist but I was wondering how much differance it will make? Will this variation be noticable when the 5/4 PT decking is screwed down?? Also, Do you have to screw the decking down at every joist? Can you screw down the decking at every other joist then alternate with the next board?? Thanks for any advice! Steve |
Deck Joists question?
You would not even notice 0.125.
Chances are one board has a higher moisture content than the other, thus the difference. They will all never be the same. If you want to run a strip of shingles down the length of the joist that is too low. But if it were me I would not worry about it as you would never notice it. Duw to the varing moisture contents of exterior wood, you will never obtain all joists 3exactly even, If you are only 0.125 off, pat yoursel on the back for a job well done. On Sat, 28 Jun 2003 01:27:19 GMT, "gg" wrote: I really dont think anyone can notice.125"I'm guessing of an inch, over 16" span. I didnt think any wood decks got that close beside the deck will shrink much more than this the first summer .its nothing to worry about,what are you measuring with anyway, a micrometer.or feeler gauges. "Pop" wrote in message .. . The.125 is between adjacent joists. 16" on center. I was thinking the same thing but having never built a deck I was wondering how accurately aligned the joists are on the average deck. Seems like it would be easier if it was a conventional deck and I could use joist hangers. I'll fix the 4 joists before I move on to the next 5. Thanks for the opinions!!! Steve On 27 Jun 2003 16:33:52 -0700, (YesMaam27577) wrote: I'll take the last question first. Yes, you should fasten the decking to every joist. (No exceptions.) The uneven joists may be an issue. The average person can see a deflection of an eighth of an inch, and your feet will fell it too. But it depends on how small of a span the .125 difference occurrs within. If there is a gradual slope of a total of .125 over a distance of six or eight feet, then no one will notice. If the .125 difference is between two adjacent joists, then I'd fix it before I decked it. "Steve" wrote in message ... I'm building a deck (1st time building a deck) using cement deck blocks for support (21 blocks). Deck is 10' x 12' on the side of a AG pool. Each joist is supported by 3 - 4"x4"s set in the deck blocks. Eack 4"x4" has to be cut to fit due to uneven ground. I have 4 joists in place now and I notice they arent perfectly even with each other. I was using a 2' level to set the hight as I was putting them in. When I stretch a string across all the joists I can see a variation of up to .125" from joist to joist. I could go back and shim under some of the joist but I was wondering how much differance it will make? Will this variation be noticable when the 5/4 PT decking is screwed down?? Also, Do you have to screw the decking down at every joist? Can you screw down the decking at every other joist then alternate with the next board?? Thanks for any advice! Steve |
Deck Joists question?
You would not even notice 0.125.
Chances are one board has a higher moisture content than the other, thus the difference. They will all never be the same. If you want to run a strip of shingles down the length of the joist that is too low. But if it were me I would not worry about it as you would never notice it. Duw to the varing moisture contents of exterior wood, you will never obtain all joists 3exactly even, If you are only 0.125 off, pat yoursel on the back for a job well done. On Sat, 28 Jun 2003 01:27:19 GMT, "gg" wrote: I really dont think anyone can notice.125"I'm guessing of an inch, over 16" span. I didnt think any wood decks got that close beside the deck will shrink much more than this the first summer .its nothing to worry about,what are you measuring with anyway, a micrometer.or feeler gauges. "Pop" wrote in message .. . The.125 is between adjacent joists. 16" on center. I was thinking the same thing but having never built a deck I was wondering how accurately aligned the joists are on the average deck. Seems like it would be easier if it was a conventional deck and I could use joist hangers. I'll fix the 4 joists before I move on to the next 5. Thanks for the opinions!!! Steve On 27 Jun 2003 16:33:52 -0700, (YesMaam27577) wrote: I'll take the last question first. Yes, you should fasten the decking to every joist. (No exceptions.) The uneven joists may be an issue. The average person can see a deflection of an eighth of an inch, and your feet will fell it too. But it depends on how small of a span the .125 difference occurrs within. If there is a gradual slope of a total of .125 over a distance of six or eight feet, then no one will notice. If the .125 difference is between two adjacent joists, then I'd fix it before I decked it. "Steve" wrote in message ... I'm building a deck (1st time building a deck) using cement deck blocks for support (21 blocks). Deck is 10' x 12' on the side of a AG pool. Each joist is supported by 3 - 4"x4"s set in the deck blocks. Eack 4"x4" has to be cut to fit due to uneven ground. I have 4 joists in place now and I notice they arent perfectly even with each other. I was using a 2' level to set the hight as I was putting them in. When I stretch a string across all the joists I can see a variation of up to .125" from joist to joist. I could go back and shim under some of the joist but I was wondering how much differance it will make? Will this variation be noticable when the 5/4 PT decking is screwed down?? Also, Do you have to screw the decking down at every joist? Can you screw down the decking at every other joist then alternate with the next board?? Thanks for any advice! Steve |
Deck Joists question?
On Sat, 28 Jun 2003 01:27:19 GMT, "gg"
wrote: I really dont think anyone can notice.125"I'm guessing of an inch, over 16" span. I didnt think any wood decks got that close beside the deck will shrink much more than this the first summer .its nothing to worry about,what are you measuring with anyway, a micrometer.or feeler gauges. "Pop" wrote in message To measure I stretched a string across all the joists. If they were even, The string would just touch each joist. I estimate the variation to be up to 1/8" from joist to joist. Good points about the moisture content changing the wood. Now that I think of it, My brother in law used this same support system last year and in the winter all the blocks shifted up and down slightly. He figured he would shim the posts in the spring. When spring came around the blocks had returned to there original position (frost heaving?) So I guess 1/8" probably wont matter. Thanks Steve |
Deck Joists question?
On Sat, 28 Jun 2003 01:27:19 GMT, "gg"
wrote: I really dont think anyone can notice.125"I'm guessing of an inch, over 16" span. I didnt think any wood decks got that close beside the deck will shrink much more than this the first summer .its nothing to worry about,what are you measuring with anyway, a micrometer.or feeler gauges. "Pop" wrote in message To measure I stretched a string across all the joists. If they were even, The string would just touch each joist. I estimate the variation to be up to 1/8" from joist to joist. Good points about the moisture content changing the wood. Now that I think of it, My brother in law used this same support system last year and in the winter all the blocks shifted up and down slightly. He figured he would shim the posts in the spring. When spring came around the blocks had returned to there original position (frost heaving?) So I guess 1/8" probably wont matter. Thanks Steve |
Deck Joists question?
"Pop" wrote in message ... On Sat, 28 Jun 2003 01:27:19 GMT, "gg" wrote: To measure I stretched a string across all the joists. If they were even, The string would just touch each joist. I estimate the variation to be up to 1/8" from joist to joist. How is it possible to get the joists in line if there is a joist with a bad crown? |
Deck Joists question?
"Pop" wrote in message ... On Sat, 28 Jun 2003 01:27:19 GMT, "gg" wrote: To measure I stretched a string across all the joists. If they were even, The string would just touch each joist. I estimate the variation to be up to 1/8" from joist to joist. How is it possible to get the joists in line if there is a joist with a bad crown? |
Deck Joists question?
gg spaketh...
I really dont think anyone can notice.125"... ...what are you measuring with anyway, a micrometer.or feeler gauges. ..125 = 1/8" easily measurable with a tape, even a yard stick -- McQualude |
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:01 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004 - 2014 DIYbanter