Hi all,

My second floor deck has taken a turn for the worse. Living in MA all
the contractors seem to be taking the winter off and I think I will be
needing to secure this deck myself. With that said here are the
particulars.

It is a second floor porch approximately 10' length x 5' depth. The
front of the structure is supported by 2 vertical beams measuring
approximately 4" x 4". The front top of these 2 beams are cut out to
insert the following horizontal. 3 boards (each about 1" x 12" x the
length of the porch) nailed together and standing on the edge. These
3 are secured to the vertical beams by nails in the back of the
cutout.

The issues are 1)The horizontal boards are leaning forward in the
cutout at one end. 2) The vertical beams are beginning to crack.

Somehow I need to get additional support and / or repair this. Will
some one please rough out for me the steps I need to take so that I
can do this. Is there any equipment that I can rent to make this
easier? I know that I am over my head with this but really believe
that I will be looking at a collapse if I don't get it taken care of.

Thanks in advance,
Bill

Subject: Securing a 2nd floor deck
From: Bill
Date: 12/18/04 11:11 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

Hi all,

My second floor deck has taken a turn for the worse. Living in MA all
the contractors seem to be taking the winter off and I think I will be
needing to secure this deck myself. With that said here are the
particulars.

It is a second floor porch approximately 10' length x 5' depth. The
front of the structure is supported by 2 vertical beams measuring
approximately 4" x 4". The front top of these 2 beams are cut out to
insert the following horizontal. 3 boards (each about 1" x 12" x the
length of the porch) nailed together and standing on the edge. These
3 are secured to the vertical beams by nails in the back of the
cutout.

The issues are 1)The horizontal boards are leaning forward in the
cutout at one end. 2) The vertical beams are beginning to crack.

Somehow I need to get additional support and / or repair this. Will
some one please rough out for me the steps I need to take so that I
can do this. Is there any equipment that I can rent to make this
easier? I know that I am over my head with this but really believe
that I will be looking at a collapse if I don't get it taken care of.

Thanks in advance,
Bill

How old is the deck structure?

Is it in the process of being constructed or is it an existing structure?


The "vertical beams" of which you speak, are they what we call posts?

The seperation / leaning of the horizontal members; how large are the gaps?

How long have you owned the house?

Can't tell from here for sure but I seriously doubt if it is in danger of
immediate collapse. What's your winter usage & potential snow load?

got a handy neighbot or relative who can take a look at it?

cheers
Bob

Sounds like a third post may be called for, and the OP
needs to be aware of jack-posts as an interim maneuver.

Bob K 207 wrote in message
...
Subject: Securing a 2nd floor deck
From: Bill
Date: 12/18/04 11:11 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

Hi all,

My second floor deck has taken a turn for the worse. Living in MA all
the contractors seem to be taking the winter off and I think I will be
needing to secure this deck myself. With that said here are the
particulars.

It is a second floor porch approximately 10' length x 5' depth. The
front of the structure is supported by 2 vertical beams measuring
approximately 4" x 4". The front top of these 2 beams are cut out to
insert the following horizontal. 3 boards (each about 1" x 12" x the
length of the porch) nailed together and standing on the edge. These
3 are secured to the vertical beams by nails in the back of the
cutout.

The issues are 1)The horizontal boards are leaning forward in the
cutout at one end. 2) The vertical beams are beginning to crack.

Somehow I need to get additional support and / or repair this. Will
some one please rough out for me the steps I need to take so that I
can do this. Is there any equipment that I can rent to make this
easier? I know that I am over my head with this but really believe
that I will be looking at a collapse if I don't get it taken care of.

Thanks in advance,
Bill

How old is the deck structure?

Is it in the process of being constructed or is it an existing structure?


The "vertical beams" of which you speak, are they what we call posts?

The seperation / leaning of the horizontal members; how large are the
gaps?

How long have you owned the house?

Can't tell from here for sure but I seriously doubt if it is in danger of
immediate collapse. What's your winter usage & potential snow load?

got a handy neighbot or relative who can take a look at it?

cheers
Bob

I suggest you find an engineer who will come look at the situation.
There is not enough information in your post to propose a fix with
confidence.

Questions I would ask:
Are the three boards forming the beam fastened together along their
length?
Is there a deck above the beam?

TB

On 12/19/2004 2:11 AM US(ET), Bill took fingers to keys, and typed the
following:

Hi all,

My second floor deck has taken a turn for the worse. Living in MA all
the contractors seem to be taking the winter off and I think I will be
needing to secure this deck myself. With that said here are the
particulars.

It is a second floor porch approximately 10' length x 5' depth. The
front of the structure is supported by 2 vertical beams measuring
approximately 4" x 4". The front top of these 2 beams are cut out to
insert the following horizontal. 3 boards (each about 1" x 12" x the
length of the porch) nailed together and standing on the edge. These
3 are secured to the vertical beams by nails in the back of the
cutout.

The issues are 1)The horizontal boards are leaning forward in the
cutout at one end. 2) The vertical beams are beginning to crack.

Somehow I need to get additional support and / or repair this. Will
some one please rough out for me the steps I need to take so that I
can do this. Is there any equipment that I can rent to make this
easier? I know that I am over my head with this but really believe
that I will be looking at a collapse if I don't get it taken care of.

Thanks in advance,
Bill


The cracks in the posts may just be surface cracks and they are common
and do not pose a problem.
As for the gaps between the posts and beams, I would use lag bolts (with
washers and nuts rather than lag screws) to secure the beams to the
notched posts

The primary cause of deck failures is the attachment method to the
house. This piece is usually called a ledger band and failure of
the fasteners or spitting of the board have killed and injured a
fair number of people in the past few years.

I cannot follow your description of your concerns. As others have
said minor surface cracks are not unusual or dangerous on lumber
that is exposed to the elements. I am talking about weather
checking, not load imposed cracking. If you see anything moving
when someone is on the deck, get more concerned, seek a
professional, stop using the deck.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)




"Bill" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

My second floor deck has taken a turn for the worse. Living in
MA all
the contractors seem to be taking the winter off and I think I
will be
needing to secure this deck myself. With that said here are the
particulars.

It is a second floor porch approximately 10' length x 5' depth.
The
front of the structure is supported by 2 vertical beams
measuring
approximately 4" x 4". The front top of these 2 beams are cut
out to
insert the following horizontal. 3 boards (each about 1" x 12"
x the
length of the porch) nailed together and standing on the edge.
These
3 are secured to the vertical beams by nails in the back of the
cutout.

The issues are 1)The horizontal boards are leaning forward in
the
cutout at one end. 2) The vertical beams are beginning to
crack.

Somehow I need to get additional support and / or repair this.
Will
some one please rough out for me the steps I need to take so
that I
can do this. Is there any equipment that I can rent to make
this
easier? I know that I am over my head with this but really
believe
that I will be looking at a collapse if I don't get it taken
care of.

Thanks in advance,
Bill

On 19 Dec 2004 08:23:10 GMT, (Bob K 207) wrote:

Subject: Securing a 2nd floor deck
From: Bill
Date: 12/18/04 11:11 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id:

Hi all,

My second floor deck has taken a turn for the worse. Living in MA all
the contractors seem to be taking the winter off and I think I will be
needing to secure this deck myself. With that said here are the
particulars.

It is a second floor porch approximately 10' length x 5' depth. The
front of the structure is supported by 2 vertical beams measuring
approximately 4" x 4". The front top of these 2 beams are cut out to
insert the following horizontal. 3 boards (each about 1" x 12" x the
length of the porch)
Correction (3) 1.5" x 8" boards and they are fastend along their
length
nailed together and standing on the edge. These
3 are secured to the vertical beams by nails in the back of the
cutout.

The issues are 1)The horizontal boards are leaning forward in the
cutout at one end. 2) The vertical beams are beginning to crack.

Somehow I need to get additional support and / or repair this. Will
some one please rough out for me the steps I need to take so that I
can do this. Is there any equipment that I can rent to make this
easier? I know that I am over my head with this but really believe
that I will be looking at a collapse if I don't get it taken care of.

Thanks in advance,
Bill

How old is the deck structure?
It is over 8 years old.

Is it in the process of being constructed or is it an existing structure?
Existing
The "vertical beams" of which you speak, are they what we call posts?
Yes they run from the cement pylon(?) at the ground to the roof of the
bottom of the second floor deck.

The seperation / leaning of the horizontal members; how large are the gaps?
At the top of the left side there is a 1/2 inch gap and none at the
bottom or on the other side.


How long have you owned the house?
Owned for 5 months.

Can't tell from here for sure but I seriously doubt if it is in danger of
immediate collapse. What's your winter usage & potential snow load?
Walked on briefly two or three times a day by the wife.
Potential snow load I'm not sure of, there is no access to sweep it
off, approximately 15 to 25 degree angle of porch roof.

got a handy neighbot or relative who can take a look at it?

cheers
Bob

In alt.home.repair on Sun, 19 Dec 2004 23:15:27 GMT Bill
posted:


Is it in the process of being constructed or is it an existing structure?
Existing
The "vertical beams" of which you speak, are they what we call posts?
Yes they run from the cement pylon(?) at the ground to the roof of the
bottom of the second floor deck.

The roof of the bottom?

The seperation / leaning of the horizontal members; how large are the gaps?
At the top of the left side there is a 1/2 inch gap and none at the
bottom or on the other side.


How long have you owned the house?
Owned for 5 months.

Can't tell from here for sure but I seriously doubt if it is in danger of
immediate collapse. What's your winter usage & potential snow load?
Walked on briefly two or three times a day by the wife.
Potential snow load I'm not sure of, there is no access to sweep it
off, approximately 15 to 25 degree angle of porch roof.

If your wife walks on it, how is there no way to sweep it off? Is she
too lazy to use a broom.

I can't appreciate the details of this problem either. Willshak's
advice sounds good.

Don't forget the 4 guys killed in Chicago when their back porch
collapsed. Those things are built with 6x6's usually. Of course they
had about 25 or 30 people standing on it at the time, and the porches
are smaller than your deck. OTOH, maybe none of your problems are
serious. I can't tell from here.

got a handy neighbot or relative who can take a look at it?

cheers
Bob



Meirman

If emailing, please let me know whether
or not you are posting the same letter.
Change domain to erols.com, if necessary.

On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 07:11:32 GMT, Bill
wrote:

Hi all,

My second floor deck has taken a turn for the worse. Living in MA all
the contractors seem to be taking the winter off and I think I will be
needing to secure this deck myself. With that said here are the
particulars.

It is a second floor porch approximately 10' length x 5' depth. The
front of the structure is supported by 2 vertical beams measuring
approximately 4" x 4". The front top of these 2 beams are cut out to
insert the following horizontal. 3 boards (each about 1" x 12" x the
length of the porch) nailed together and standing on the edge. These
3 are secured to the vertical beams by nails in the back of the
cutout.

The issues are 1)The horizontal boards are leaning forward in the
cutout at one end. 2) The vertical beams are beginning to crack.

Somehow I need to get additional support and / or repair this. Will
some one please rough out for me the steps I need to take so that I
can do this. Is there any equipment that I can rent to make this
easier? I know that I am over my head with this but really believe
that I will be looking at a collapse if I don't get it taken care of.

Thanks in advance,
Bill


I have contruction background and I can't tell from your description
how serious it is. As one poster said, since you don't know the word
"post" or "column" from vertical beam makes me a bit suspect about
your descriptions and concerns. None the less for your piece of mind,
I'd get at least two posts 4x4 inch and wedge them as columns under
the beams near the corners for now and then I'd get someone with some
construction knowledge (friend, relative, carpenter or structural
engineer) to look at it and advise you what is needed for the real
fix.

Don't bother with pictures here as this isn't a binary newsgroup and
no matter how many pics you take, there is always another needed or
missing to assess correctly (at least in my experience).

And I think it's common sense but I'll mention it here anyways, don't
walk, go near it or store something of value near it in case of a
collapse.