During the fleeing summer months, the backyard deck is a Minnesota tradition. It's the perfect place to grill out, spend time with family, or keep an eye on your kids as they play in the yard.
If your deck is starting to show signs of age, it may be tempting to look at it as a potential DIY project. However, there are a few things to know before you start buying lumber.
These days, there are plenty of options for materials when it comes time to building a new deck. We talked to Derrick Chapman with Schmidt Carpentry about decks and porches, and he explained that there's three general categories of deck materials.
First, there's green-treated treated wood. This process involves chemically treating wood to help protect it from outdoor forces, such as moisture, rot, and insects. Second, there's cedar, which he explained is "naturally rot-resistant and insect-resistant." Finally, there are composites, which are extremely resistant to insects and won't rot.
Which should you choose?
Green-treated wood and cedar both require some ongoing maintenance; they need to be stained or painted regularly to protect them. Both will also be subject to warping over time and you may occasionally need to replace a deck board or do other repairs. However, green-treated wood and cedar are both less expensive at the outset than composites.
Composites have a higher up-front cost but require much less maintenance. While Chapman suggested that homeowners should wash their composite decks once or twice a year, they never need to be stained or painted. They're also generally more durable and less prone to being damaged or warped.
When doing a deck, it might be tempting to save a few dollars doing it yourself, or hiring an unlicensed contractor. However, there's more that goes into building a deck than you might think—and you might end up with a bigger problem in the long run.
Chapman explained that there are quite a few places that a would-be handyman can go wrong when building a deck.
First, there's footings—supports in the ground that hold up the posts that support your deck. Usually, that's done by digging a hole and pouring a concrete pad to set the posts into. "If they're sized incorrectly or they're not deep enough, you can have issues with the freezing/thawing cycles heaving and shifting your deck," he explained. "If they're not sized large enough, they won't carry the weight properly so your deck can sink."
Second, you need to worry about the beams that run across and support your deck. He explained that if the beams aren't correct for the design of the deck, the deck could sag, sink, or even collapse. Finally, you need to think about stairs. Improperly designed stairs can sag or even fall off.
An improperly built deck can be a safety hazard to you—but it can also get you in trouble either now or when it comes time to sell your house.
Different municipalities have different rules, but in Rochester, you need to get a permit if you're building a deck that will be attached to your home. As part of the permit process, they'll review the drawings, make sure footings are deep enough, and have an inspector make sure the deck is framed correctly.
What if you skip the permit?
If work is done without a permit, it may be discovered when you go to sell the house. In that case, you might have to start the permit process, including submitting drawings and digging up at least one footing to make sure that they've been built correctly. If it was done incorrectly, you may need to make major changes or even remove the deck entirely, which can be costly and add months of delays, costing you a sale.
Ultimately, while it's tempting to try to save money by doing it yourself, you may end up saving both money and time by hiring a licensed contractor. If you need help, you can find a list of Rochester Area Builders members here.
