From: "Devils Advocate"


I'm building a deck at the entrance of my rear door. My question is, should
I attached deck to my house or not? Will it rot out house in anyway? Should
the deck be detached but just really close?

What would you do and how?
thanks

If it's possible, many people now build decks freestanding, not attached to the
house. While attaching usually saves the need for some footings, it can create
more problems if it's not attached properly to the rim joist, and can often be
a lot more trouble than it's worth in regards to sealing out water.

Devils Advocate wrote:

I'm building a deck at the entrance of my rear door. My question is, should
I attached deck to my house or not? Will it rot out house in anyway? Should
the deck be detached but just really close?

What would you do and how?
thanks


Ground Level? How High off of the ground?

Devils Advocate wrote:

I'm building a deck at the entrance of my rear door. My question is, should
I attached deck to my house or not? Will it rot out house in anyway? Should
the deck be detached but just really close?

What would you do and how?

I would make sure, if you have any snow in your area, that the deck is a
step down from your backdoor.

Dealt with a house (rental) with bad door rot because the nice deck was
flush with the door (well, below the sill).

Which meant in the winter, that snow piled up (fine) but as it melted,
water pretty much lay on the lower part of the sill. For years and years.

Attach to the house? Yeah, but do it right and don't let water in.
If you don't, it WILL draw away from the house (it won't get closer).


Other issues to ponder?
My brother just fixed some clapboard stuff at my mom's and they put in a
'crete board as the bottom couple because her roof *does* drip and splash.

should I attached deck to my house or not?

There is a tax difference in some locales for free standing vs. attched
structures. Might be worth checking at your assessors office. HTH

Joe

If you attach it be sure you have proper flashng, A hack did mine and
the flashing allowed water to rot the house sill, cost me 3000 $ to
replace. Free standing reduces rot risk , attached reduces supports
needed.

Guys I am from Newfoundland Canada where we gets loads and loads of snow in
the winter. My door step is about 2' high from ground.
I am considering building it separate from the house and perhaps a few
inches below the door step. I am just unsure how to go if I attached to the
house, in terms of perventing damage to the house/door step/sill/ etc.

All your suggestions has been taken and thanks much.
If any other suggestions, I'd consider for sure.

Thanks
Newfy
"Mike D" wrote in message
...
Devils Advocate wrote:

I'm building a deck at the entrance of my rear door. My question is,
should
I attached deck to my house or not? Will it rot out house in anyway?
Should
the deck be detached but just really close?

What would you do and how?
thanks


Ground Level? How High off of the ground?

Oh another thing......there is now grass in the location where I will be
building the deck. Should I take up sod? Place plastic over it?stone?
Suggestions?
"HA HA Budys Here" wrote in message
...
From: "Devils Advocate"


I'm building a deck at the entrance of my rear door. My question is,
should
I attached deck to my house or not? Will it rot out house in anyway?
Should
the deck be detached but just really close?

What would you do and how?
thanks

If it's possible, many people now build decks freestanding, not attached
to the
house. While attaching usually saves the need for some footings, it can
create
more problems if it's not attached properly to the rim joist, and can
often be
a lot more trouble than it's worth in regards to sealing out water.

The grass will just die on it own

Devils Advocate wrote:

not sure about that, I've seen grass grow through pavement in the
past. "m Ransley" wrote in message
...
The grass will just die on it own


The key here is sunlight. Grass can easily grow in the cracks of
asphalt and not under the dark of a deck. This is of course a little
dependent on how you build your deck. If you want to be sure, just get
any of the good grass killers that kill the root. This should do the
trick.

I built my deck last years using this system at www.dekplans.com. It's not
touching the house but it's so close to it you would never know.

"Devils Advocate" wrote in message
...
I'm building a deck at the entrance of my rear door. My question is,
should
I attached deck to my house or not? Will it rot out house in anyway?
Should
the deck be detached but just really close?

What would you do and how?
thanks