Floating Deck Next To House

boman47k

I built my deck on posts. It is not attached to the house but is right up to it. Guy at the building dept told me they are really supposed to be attached to the house. Didn't say I had to attach it. Is it required anywhere to attach a deck to the house?

concretemasonry

I know of no requirements. Very often a free-standing deck is preferable to attached deck because of the elimination of the ledger connection, flashing, water and mold.

The only thing might be that you were too high without any bracing for stability.

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Dick

Engineer, designer and consultant recently active domestically and internationally on construction and design in about 35 countries.

boman47k

That is along the lines of what I was thinking. Highest part is about 3 feet. I was checking on a getting a copy of a building code for a deck. I was given a copy of general codes, nothing deck specific. I was a little surprised. Maybe that explains one deck I know of in this area about 15' high by 30' wide built with 4x4 posts with no intermediate posts under it, just open. I think there the area under it is used to park a car. Heheh, just never did seem right to me.

RobertCDF

It can be done... with a larger beam but the posts HAVE to be 4x6 or 6x6 at a minimum.

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Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
Colorado Custom Decks
Custom Composite Decks

BuiltByMAC

My $.02 - grounder decks are freestanding - eliminates all probs mentioned by concretemasonry. Once they're above my waist, they get attached to the house.

Don't know what your building dept guy was going off of, but there's no code I know of that specifies low level decks be attached to the house.

Mac

RYANINMICHIGAN

I would not get much higher then 4 feet before I prefer a ledger. There is no code in Michigan for them to be attached and I agree on Cretes points

boman47k

The size of the posts ( 4x4's) was what I was referring to. Kind of scarey to me being that high.