building a deck?

Question

buildin a 12 by 16 or 14 deck............gonna attatch the ledger to the house (bout 3 feet off ground)........all the sites im seeing are saying to use peirs on the outer rim joist..........cant i just attatch this to the posts that i concrete in post holes?......these posts will also support my handrail........i was thinking about notching the posts also so the rim, and outer joists sit in flush.......(notch the post 1-1/2 deep 5-1/2 wide........or should i leave the post in tact, and bolt through it

Answer 1

yes u can use the post.......notching in the outside band is ok also, but i wouldnt use a 2x6 for the bands!! nothing smaller than a 2x8 and dont span a distance of more than 7' with the post.....also u need to double the outside band... u can butt the second band inside to inside of the post and nail them together.....

also make sure u have a good base under the post..i would suggest nothing less than 16" x 16" x 8" thick concrete base...then concrete around the post with them resting on the new footer....

lic. gen. contractor

Answer 2

I would use concrete piers, it will be much easier to replace the posts if they get damaged or start to rot.