Richard 'tbk' Harris
04-17-2009, 12:26 PM
A little background from this noob to the forums: I'm a gearhead who loves cars, computers, building stuff, and working in the yard. I have built several sheds over my lifetime, rebuilt homes, put up awnings, decks, pools, etc. I am middle-aged (did I just say that outloud?) with a family of four kiddos and happily married to the same wife of nearly 14 years...
So now that you don't think i'm a total dink onto the question...
So I have done a lot of searching on this forum and on the internet in general but I have not found an answer to this question.
I am looking to build a deck on the back of my two story house relatively soon and I am wanting to make it two story with a cover at the top. The bottom level will be just below the rear door of the house while the 2nd floor will be a step down. The roof will be shingles, the fancier ones to match the house, and will have to be covered in hardiplank to match the rest of the house.
We live in the San Antonio area (outside of the city limits) and the only code I have to follow is anything my HOA puts up. Of course I would like to follow typical standards as I don't want to waste a bunch of money and have my deck falling deck falling down in no time.
Anyway, here are the questions....
1) Do I need to buy a 20 foot long 6X6 or can I splice two 10 footers with some sort of joint (other than butt joint)?
2) Do I still cut into the 6X6 to have the 2X10s (possibly 2X12s, haven't made up my mind on that yet) and have them set inside them to add strength or is there another recommendation?
3) Would it be better to take a short 6X6, build the first floor up, then put an 8 foot 6X6, putting it on top of the short 6X6 + 2X10 bolted together and go up to the second floor, and do the same for the awning up top?
I hope these questions make sense to you guys, they do in my head... If you need me to draw it out let me know.
Thanks guys!
So now that you don't think i'm a total dink onto the question...
So I have done a lot of searching on this forum and on the internet in general but I have not found an answer to this question.
I am looking to build a deck on the back of my two story house relatively soon and I am wanting to make it two story with a cover at the top. The bottom level will be just below the rear door of the house while the 2nd floor will be a step down. The roof will be shingles, the fancier ones to match the house, and will have to be covered in hardiplank to match the rest of the house.
We live in the San Antonio area (outside of the city limits) and the only code I have to follow is anything my HOA puts up. Of course I would like to follow typical standards as I don't want to waste a bunch of money and have my deck falling deck falling down in no time.
Anyway, here are the questions....
1) Do I need to buy a 20 foot long 6X6 or can I splice two 10 footers with some sort of joint (other than butt joint)?
2) Do I still cut into the 6X6 to have the 2X10s (possibly 2X12s, haven't made up my mind on that yet) and have them set inside them to add strength or is there another recommendation?
3) Would it be better to take a short 6X6, build the first floor up, then put an 8 foot 6X6, putting it on top of the short 6X6 + 2X10 bolted together and go up to the second floor, and do the same for the awning up top?
I hope these questions make sense to you guys, they do in my head... If you need me to draw it out let me know.
Thanks guys!