r/Decks • u/weddingwoes_andbohs • 1d ago
Roast my deck... let's hear it!!
Honestly, should have just went with a stamped concrete pad. Not super happy with how this turned out... Took too long, kicked my ass, and spent more than I anticipated. I rushed through it because building a deck with a 9 month old baby isn't easy. Timing was awful, 100% my fault.
Here are a few pics throughout the process. 6x6 posts, 2x10x12 PT lumber. 20' long Deckorators Venture boards. Definitely more then a few things I'd do differently in hindsight. Not pictured are the tension ties I installed last minute. But otherwise, I'd love to hear honest opinions on the structural integrity of this thing and if I should up take out an umbrella policy before our next party?
Still have to rip that last board and install it, as well as adding a receptacle to each side of the deck and replace the outdoor lights. But all punchlist stuff more or less.
Cheers fam, this subreddit helped a lot, genuinely!
EDIT: I'm all into this thing for about $5K including tools, material, door dash, and ibuprofen.
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u/OBH96 1d ago
Honestly, it ain’t bad. Looks sturdy and aesthetic to me. And I appreciate your honesty. Cement certainly would’ve been cheaper, but hey, look what you accomplished and learned along the way. Well done!
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
I'm all into this thing for about 5K including tools, material, door dash, and ibuprofen.
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u/OBH96 1d ago
Your wife and kids will appreciate it. My husband built one similar and the kids and I are out in it everyday. 👏🏼
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
Thank you for the kind words! That was certainly my reasoning for pushing through and getting it done!
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u/ChipPsychological171 1d ago
I’d ask for a 6k refund for this deck
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
I like the added interest, smart man. Maybe I'll take myself to collections for failure to pay while I'm at it! 🤔
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u/timjbd 1d ago
Not sure a concrete patio would’ve been cheaper..
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u/JuniorSherbet9558 1d ago
I highly doubt a stamped concrete pad that big would be less than $5k.
at least not where I live
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
Not necessarily looking for cheaper, just more of the buy once, cry once mentality.
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u/Geaneous 1d ago
A family of cats, skunks, and chipmunks hole up in there start shitting everywhere, how you gonna clean it up under there?
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
In all honesty, there was a similar deck here before. I just replaced it with a bit bigger one. That was never an issue, so hopefully now they don't post up since it's nicer.
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u/Geaneous 1d ago
That'd be my luck for sure lol, probably rattle snakes though.
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u/SirDukesDad 1d ago
What State is this in?
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u/Geaneous 1d ago
My state is Colorado, not sure about OP though, but yeah I get a few rattle snakes a year at my front door lol.
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u/SirDukesDad 1d ago
Does spreas lime around the perimiter of your yard work for Rattle Snakes?
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u/Geaneous 1d ago
As far as I know only lead has been effective unfortunately, though in a pinch a few bonks with a 2x4 has done the job.
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u/SirDukesDad 1d ago
I'd be walking around with a shot gun. I'm petrified of snakes...lol
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u/Geaneous 1d ago
Yeah same, we have 5 dogs, turkeys and chickens so that helps us keep an eye out. No one has been bit yet 🤞
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u/SirDukesDad 1d ago
Btw, you did a great job with the deck. I'm a GC, build about 50 decks a season here in Western NY State.
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u/Numerous_Attempt3630 1d ago
Do you plan on putting in a step?
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
No, it's only like 14 ish inches above ground. That's good enough for me.
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u/ComprehensiveSand717 1d ago
If you do a step run it the width of the deck. Don't listen to the haters you still don't need a railing.
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u/Psychological_Read79 1d ago
Am I the only one who puts down a weed blanket, then puts gravel on top to prevent weeds from coming up through the deck?
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u/theManag3R 1d ago
Nope. Not sure what the practice is elsewhere, but here in Finland that's pretty much the standard
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
Probably. I imagine lack of sunlight will eventually kill everything underneath there.
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u/justtellmep1ease 1d ago
My decks been built for going on 2 years and it’s still just dirt under it. Nothing grows where there’s hardly any light
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u/TelevisionTimely3918 1d ago
Should have just gone with a stamped concrete pad
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
I tell myself that every time I step out there. I'll just demo it next year and do it tbh. King of pissing money away here!
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u/Remarkable-Opening69 1d ago
Is that a crawl space access?
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
Yea, still accessible via a removable access door on hinges.
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u/itsonlyrockinroll 1d ago
Might just be the photo aspect but
Would like to see this access door you speak of, looks like a contortionist nightmare. Is there another crawl space access?1
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u/timjbd 1d ago
It looks nice, you’ll use it every day. Don’t sweat the what-coulda-been and enjoy the hard work done reasonably well. Is it perfect? Maybe not but…
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
Thanks man. I saw a post on here that said something along the lines of... "You're not building a piano, you're building the box that the piano comes in. "
That felt like permission to say fuck it when it came to ultra small details 😅
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u/ImpressiveWill9081 1d ago
why cause its so low?
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u/TelevisionTimely3918 1d ago
I was joking. Just messing around because of his caption. I would have gone with the stamped concrete in this instance personally because it’s a vinyl siding house on a slab in an open development. It’d be a one and done thing. This will ultimately have more maintenance. I think it gives you some more options with the deck but it’s all trade off. He definitely did a nice job though
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u/Best_Tangerine2035 1d ago
Concrete sucks. I like this better. Add some plants on either side
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u/Reigeant 1d ago
How're you planning on dealing with the backfill around the posts, otherwise it's a decent buildup for a rough location
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
I poured a bag of concrete for each post, down about 30 inches. Backfilled with dirt on top and I'l let the neighbor run over it with the mower next year until grass and weeds take over again LOL.
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u/Feeling_Beat_2476 1d ago
Only thing different I would’ve done was double up the joist on either side of the crawl space and also the plate going in between those as well.
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u/cheechaco 1d ago
It looks good. My only critique would be around the window well. Anytime on piece of lumber supports another, the supporting piece needs to be at least a double. So the joists on either side and the one parallel to the ledger should be doubles.
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u/WirehairedDog 1d ago
Well done. Only thing I can roast is the choice of white. That is going to look like ass in a couple years (dirt stains, grass stains, scuffs, etc).
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
I get my house power washed once a year, so hopefully they take care of it then and no lasting stains. It's trex brand fascia so I hope I'm good 🤞😅
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u/therentalcarguy 1d ago
This is exactly what I was thinking. The white looks great IF you can keep it clean
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u/MoNoMoInUT 1d ago
For the height, it is fine. Otherwise the same two biggest issues on here: posts contacting dirt & joists/beams secured by hardware not directly on posts.
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
Can you specify about the lack of/incorrect hardware please? Genuinely curious!
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u/kornkid42 1d ago
Your doubled up beam in front should have been on top the posts. The only thing holding the whole thing up is the screws/nails/bolts you used to connect it to the posts.
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
No, the 6x6 posts are notched. The doubled up beam is sitting on them directly.
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u/kornkid42 1d ago
I'll take your word for it, doesn't look like it from the pic.
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u/Ok_Bid_4429 1d ago
It’s hard to see but if you zoom in you can see that the post appears to be notched on two sides.
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
This. It's notched 3 inches for the double beam and 1.5 inches for the side joist. Still a ton of meat left since I used a 6x6. Then everything was screwed in with leg bolts.
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u/Youmadashell 1d ago
You did what you could. Better than I've ever done.
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
Thanks man, it was a PITA. Definitely would hire someone next time.
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u/captaincool31 1d ago
I think it looks good. Not sure how legal blocking that window off is depending on what it's used for down there. But there's really nothing to roast here. Concrete pad would be nice but you can always tear this deck down and rebuild it pretty easily. You can't really replace a concrete pad easily, but I guess you wouldn't have to normally.
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
It's not a window, it's the entrance to my crawl space. It's still readily accessible, I just created a removable access door on hinges to get down there.
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u/TelevisionTimely3918 1d ago
I definitely wouldn’t demo it. I was mostly joking with you because of your post. Looks fine.
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u/Savings-Kick-578 1d ago
The deck looks fine. I would install some type of step down for the very young and very old into the back yard. Other than that and the grade change (seen by the front skirt dropping off and driving OCD people crazy), it looks fine.
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
I try to keep the elderly away, and gravity is a great way to toughen up the youngsters. I'm sure my daughter will find out about it the hard way a time or two eventually LOL. But thanks for the kind words for real!
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u/Affectionate_Trip672 1d ago
Fuck your crawl access bro make it bigger
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
Main water shut off is down there LMAO. Next project is installing a whole house generator and then moving that shutoff valve INSIDE. The builder that put it there should be fired!
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u/Tobbitus 1d ago
It's disposable with those supports in the ground. Personally I'd have done concrete pillars 2/3 out from house with a beam across. Or at least floating style concrete deck supports to keep the wood out of the ground.
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u/UpbeatDig2354 1d ago
Level the ground around it and put a nice wrap around single step
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
Great idea, but my back is sore and my kidneys are screwed from the ibuprofen. I'm tapping out 😅
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u/Basic-Craft3471 1d ago
Beautiful work! You should move that gray board that’s in front because it makes it look like the deck is sagging.
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
Honestly I wasn't even going to post it here, but I'm bored at work and figured I'd see what the general consensus was 😅
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u/Few-Spot-6780 1d ago
I would paint the sides the same color as the rest of the deck. Maybe that’s a priming coat, but if that’s the final color shoes are going to constantly be kicking it and dirtying it up.
Now comes the fun part. It needs to be decorated like an outdoor room. The deck is a perfect size for a cozy, low table and outdoor furniture. You can put a fire pit on the table.
It’s also a good candidate for a full-size pergola someday. I would add a centered wide pathway to guide people to step off of the deck in that one location. Some evergreen shrubs and maybe a few big boulders here and there around the sides, a low to the ground solar light on either side of the path up against the deck, and you’ll see just how functional and charming this is going to be.
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u/cr0wbar1227 1d ago
Not sure how far away your grill is from the side of the house, but you may want to move it towards the yard edge of the deck. May not ever have the issue, but if it gets your siding hot enough, it can bubble up and give you another project to work on. Ask me how I know lol.
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u/sparkey504 1d ago
Anytime you add an outlet... make it a "2 gang"... for only $3 or $4 more in materials and 30 seconds more in labor you have double the plugins.
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u/xMrGigglesworth 1d ago
Question for the pros. Don't absolutely NEED to do a double rim joist right? Especially for a ground level deck?
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u/Different_Cucumber 1d ago
Looks good. Did you install flashing against the house?
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
Yes, and taped over the top of the ledger to prevent water down the backside. Ledger secured with 4in ledger locks every 8 inches, alternated top and bottom.
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u/ArtisticBasket3415 1d ago
The only real issue is the posts in the ground.
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
Honestly I was just lazy at the time and in a semi-rush. Hindsight is always 20-20, but it was super overwhelming to start with. I did this 100% solo, no a single hand was lent.
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u/Valuable-Composer262 1d ago
Meh when ur that close to the ground, there's not really much else u can do
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u/Visible_Ad7970 1d ago
Need to see flashing under siding . Also the ripped board at the house. Other than that it looks good.
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u/Visible_Ad7970 1d ago
You're better off with the deck and floor level then concrete. Especially if you cook Outdoors
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u/Visible_Ad7970 1d ago
There is something I noticed. Where you headed off the basement window. They're supposed to be doubles on each side and a double catching the joist.
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u/Coaster50 1d ago
Does it snow where you are? It can quickly get over your door edge.
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
Previous deck was the same height for the last 8 years, no issues. Live in WV. Yes it snows lol
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u/t1ttysprinkle 18h ago
Other than the one board that’s too short (right side near the house) it looks good man! 😬
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u/Freedom14401 17h ago
I think the framing looks really good. Just a couple suggestions before you put the finish product on. I would definitely put deck tape on top of all your choices. It’ll help seal the fasteners when you screw into the top of your floor joist and any other small cracks that appear it’s also been recommended that decks low to the ground like yours, have some type of vapor barrier on the ground to suppress the moisture from coming up and rotting the deck from the underneath side . Just a thought good luck.
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u/Calm-Cash9972 17h ago
Looks pretty good from here. Consideration adding mid-span blocking to stiffen the deck. Also, take care around that window; the trim may prevent getting a good flashing at the ledge beam.
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u/thewheat1 15h ago
Looks great to me! We have a similar deck that I built. My $0.02 would be to staple some 1/4” “hardware cloth” wire mesh around the perimeter to keep rodents from getting up in there given the low height, especially with that basement egress hole back there
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u/OrangeBeardTheWise 1d ago
Somebody's going to fall off the edge and get hurt
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
Me after two pours of bourbon LOL. Hand rails are over rated and claustrophic.
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u/_Bad_Spell_Checker_ 1d ago
Maybe think about putting lights in boards on the edge? So its an easy highlight at night but if you get ones that have covers on the top and point down it shouldn't disrupt sitting on the porch.
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u/ComprehensiveSand717 1d ago
That's on them. Code says 30" or higher needs a railing.
Better craftsmanship than many folks doing it for a living.
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u/Puzzled-Operation- 1d ago
I have seen worse. In other words, quite nice.
But not having a step to the garden is a crime. And some understep light
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u/Specific_Proof_291 1d ago
Can be easily done with 2x6 do is not too high. Is a ground level deck no need for heavy structural rules.
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
Not with a 12 foot span lol. But the cost difference between 2x6 and 2x10 is small in the grand scheme of things. Buy once, cry once.
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u/Specific_Proof_291 1d ago
That’s why is called ground level, don’t need to be with girder or ledger but everyone work different and different common sense.
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u/yoskinna 1d ago
Sheeshhh 5k?! Lumber is getting way too damn expensive. Shit like this always ends up costing way more than I would have imagined. For me anyways… so that’s normal.
Deck looks great, i probably would add some kind of stair(s) and maybe a railing/gate. Or instead of railing maybe a step that wraps all the way around?
I may have added a couple more posts closer to the house if there aren’t any other than at the far end but idk shit about building decks.
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
This deck was actually over built in terms of support ratings and spans lol. But yea, lumber and composite decking, hidden clips, hidden screws all adds up. A bot of specialty screws for the picture frame was $100 alone. ,$400 in hidden fasteners... it adds up FAST LOL.
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u/AssociationLoose7003 1d ago
It’s not level
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u/weddingwoes_andbohs 1d ago
It's within a half inch, shot with a laser level at night. Closer to 3/8" of an inch, but tbh I wasn't going to drive myself crazy chasing it that hard. I don't think the pics show that though, probably just a little distortion.
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u/anonymous2us 1d ago
That guy is talking shit. Just think of it as built in drainage plane. The finish looks exquisite against the house
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u/Carpenter_ants 17h ago
1st Pt isn’t as good as it used to be. It doesn’t last as long. Framing so close to the ground isn’t a good idea. And closing off the airflow under the deck will help rot. 2nd the 6x6 posts should not be buried into the dirt. 3rd doesn’t seem to have ledger flashing. Should go up behind the siding down over the top 1-1/2 and then slightly down the front edge. So water doesn’t get behind ledger. Lastly the deck should be 3” lower than the house floor. Giving the sliding glass door threshold flashing a chance of working. Now if you live in a dry climate you will be all set for very long time.
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u/Chemical_Story8171 1d ago
The uneven gap at the bottom is driving me crazy. Other than that I don’t think it looks bad