We live in Staten Island , NY. Interested in having a deck added to our home. We were just curious the process before having the deck built or possibly even building it ourselves. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
There are several things to consider before you build, or have someone else build, your deck. They include local planning and zoning regulations as well as applicable building codes. If you are going to build the deck yourself, you need to honestly assess your construction knowledge and skills before you tackle the project. If you decide to hire a contractor to build the deck, you need to understand how to pick a qualified contractor.
Since an outdoor deck is a structural element of your house, it is essential that you get a building permit and go through the inspection process as the deck is built. A building permit application brings together both planning and zoning regulations in the form of a site plan, and building codes in the form of a set of building plans and specifications. The place to start your research is your local building inspector’s office.
Your county or city building inspector can provide you with applicable planning and zoning regulations for your area. These regulations include such things as setbacks from property lines and generally govern the placement of your proposed deck. One work of warning involves subdivision regulations that do not appear in planning and zoning ordinances. Many subdivision developers limit what may be constructed in their subdivisions by including subdivision regulations in their deed restrictions.
Take a look at your deed and look for a phrase like, "subject to restructions of record". If there are restrictions, the builder/developer has registered them at the county courthouse, which is where you can obtain a copy. These restrictions are generally designed to protect the property values and/or look of the area. They can be fairly simple or very extreme. Fencing, detached garages, storage sheds, RV and/or boat storage, and landscaping are the most common items that are regulated. Specific regulations regarding decks and room additions are also fairly common.
Once you understand the rules, you can begin designing your deck. Structurally, your deck must meet applicable building codes. The codes will specify things like depth of concrete footings, support post size, floor joist size based on span, railing height, baluster placement, stair rise and run, as well as many other items. All of these elements will be included in the set of plans that you submit with your building permit application. The building inspector will not issue a building permit unless the plans and specifications meet the minimal building code standards.
Assuming that you have your budget issues under control, most of your preliminary homework is done. The next decision is whether or not to build it yourself. If you think you have the physical skills, knowledge, tools, friends to help, and the time; there is no reason not to do it yourself. If you don’t think you can handle it, it is time to shop for a contractor.
It is advisable to get bids from no more than three qualified contractors. Any more, and things start to get confusing. Get recommendations from friends and neighbors or your local old time lumberyard. Screen the contractors by making sure that they have been in business at least ten years, have references you can (and you must actually do so) check, be licensed if required by law, and be covered by Worker’s Compenstaion and general liability insurance. Make sure that each contractor is bidding on exactly the same set of plans and specifications so you can get an honest price comparison. A 10% downpayment is acceptable, any more indicates that the contractor has no, or little, working capital and is not financially stable. Most decks are built in a couple of days, so there is no need for incremental payments as the deck is built. A contractor who "needs money to buy materials" is not financially stable. Do not pay the final amount due until all of the work has been completed to your satisfaction. Once they are paid in full, you have no leverage in getting them back to finish or take care of problems.
That’s about it for "deck building 101".
Good luck with your deck building project.