This started as a simple project. I was intending to remove the hand railing from the old deck on the front of the house and replace it with something similar to the railing I built for the new deck. Easy, right?

Then the factor struck… Known as the “F” factor, this is loosely defined as the things you are unaware of before you start a project, but become painfully aware of soon there after. The F factor in this case, the deck is literally falling apart. It seems whoever build the deck did not use fasteners rated for treated lumber. All of the 16d nails are rusting in the middle where the two wood members meet.

This became apparent in two ways. Once I removed the railing, I noticed a distinct bow in the middle of the deck on one side. Then I noticed the header had become detached from the house on the other side (It is not bolted to the rim joist, something I had intended to fix). Then I began taking up some of the decking lumber and noticed that the nails where breaking off instead of coming out of the wood. This explains some of the “popping” noises we hear when the weather gets really cold.

Conclusion, the entire deck needs to be removed before it falls down.  Using fasteners rated for pressure treated lumber is an important detail, and should not be ignored.

The good news; the lumber from the deck is actually in pretty good shape. I think if I can clean out the nails and such, I can reuse most of it to build a new front porch. Instead of a huge square deck, my wife and I decided that a long covered porch along the front of the house, at least down to the front door would be nicer and more inviting.

I will also have to talk to the building department about this. There are two issues, the original the deck itself may not have been built under the auspices of the local building department, and the entire house does not meet the current zoning regulation’s set back requirement from the street. The old deck protruded out into this set back like a sore thumb.  If anything, building a new porch will reduce the encroachment on the street by 8 to 10 feet, which should make the building department happy, or happier anyway. If not, then I will simply “repair” the current deck as is.

I will work on a drawing after I talk with the building department.

Popularity: 7% [?]