mine are:thumbsup:..... improper building technique along with in adequate fasteners right there!!! anyone who builds like that probably is not licensed and has nothing to offer for those hungry lawyers
pending lawsuit
are most decks designed for a concentrated load like that? i don't know, just asking the question.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1f6_1393323509
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=1f6_1393323509
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As I recall, it's 40psf for outside decks, which they likely exceeded there......I don't honestly know how the courts would find in this case.....it may be up to snuff by code, but with very little margin for error......
There is an awful lot of video for this failure......I'll be interested to see how it plays out....
There is an awful lot of video for this failure......I'll be interested to see how it plays out....
It looks like the ledger wasn't bearing on anything and the only things was holding that whole deck was the nails or screws fastened to the post. The whole deck just slid right down along the posts. Nice looking deck, but its a hack job... Attaching ledger the way they did is not code compliant, but if they used the bolts it might, just might would have prevented collapse.
Pretty obvious from the video it wouldn't pass code around here. As greg said it looked like nothing more than nails were used to hold the ledger/rim joists to the posts and the framing looks no bigger than 8" from the video. Its also secured to the brick from what i can make out. Very poorly built deck.
It should have handled that amount of people in that area even if built to code minimum. Just another reason though to build above code though.
It should have handled that amount of people in that area even if built to code minimum. Just another reason though to build above code though.
I like how the deck waited until everyone was in their pose for the picture. That could've ended a lot worse.
If they notched the posts for the ledger to sit on it wouldn't have happened
They probably pushed on the railing, which triggered the fastener release..I like how the deck waited until everyone was in their pose for the picture. That could've ended a lot worse.
Several questions come to mind. Did the current HO hire the guy to do the deck? if so was it a "cash" deal with no inspections?
If the house was inspected prior to purchase by a house inspector, did he note the shoddy workmanship on his report?
If they are successful in their lawsuit, It's possible that it could be a dry judgement. It's possible that the "contractor" has only a 15 yr old truck with some equally old tools. No equity, no insurance? could be the only one to make out here is a lawyer.
I hope not for the HO's sake, and all those folks who got injured.
If the house was inspected prior to purchase by a house inspector, did he note the shoddy workmanship on his report?
If they are successful in their lawsuit, It's possible that it could be a dry judgement. It's possible that the "contractor" has only a 15 yr old truck with some equally old tools. No equity, no insurance? could be the only one to make out here is a lawyer.
I hope not for the HO's sake, and all those folks who got injured.
There's another video on deck . Check deck threads it was just posted .
The deck was on a HOA club house so you would expect to have tight regs for something like that.
Looks like nothing was bolted to posts. Plus all the weight in that area. Not a good thing. Should have spent the extra money for carriage bolts.
and?There's another video on deck . Check deck threads it was just posted .
Wouldn't have made any difference. If the posts were notched for the ledger/rim then it prob would have held with just nails. a lot of decks in this area are built like the below plan. Just 2x8's nailed or bolted to posts.Looks like nothing was bolted to posts. Plus all the weight in that area. Not a good thing. Should have spent the extra money for carriage bolts.
Its against code in this area but they still pass them all the time.
So if this was permitted and inspected then passed, Does the city get the blame?
As far as I know the inspectors are not liable even if they passed a build not to code. This may not be true though but I have heard it a few times.BamBamm5144 said:So if this was permitted and inspected then passed, Does the city get the blame?
It depends on where you are in MA for the PSF rating also. I build mine to 60 just to make sure home owners don't have to touch them in the winter unless there are extreme circumstancesAs I recall, it's 40psf for outside decks, which they likely exceeded there......I don't honestly know how the courts would find in this case.....it may be up to snuff by code, but with very little margin for error......
There is an awful lot of video for this failure......I'll be interested to see how it plays out....
Has to be at least 4,000 lbs of weight from people on that one spot . That code inspection is a cop out they passed it so they should take some responsible to it in some cases . When it's inspected to code .
40 psf? avg. weight there was probably what? 150 lbs.? how close can people stand? that's an immediate overload from the get go.
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