AZ ranch

[dstig1]

Always slope away from the house. 3/4" in 10' seems fine. The real problem is if something settles in a flat deck and you are now pitched back towards the house. That can be really bad... So sloping away gives you some cushion on that.

 

[BoFuller]

Joists will be running perpendicular to the house and flooring (probably 2x6 PT) will run parallel to the house.
So I guess with a small crack between the boards, a slope is not necessary?

 

[EddieWalker]

Hey, before secure this 4x10 to the uprights, do you all put any slope in your decks? I was thinking about 3/4 of an inch at 10 feet. I hear some people say more and some say none.

I try not to have any slope on a wood deck, but sometimes I have to because of the concrete that's in place that I'm building next to. It's something that jumps out at me as being wrong, but when I put the lumber next to the concrete and make it level, that looks worse.

For your porch, I would make it as level as possible.

 

[BoFuller]

I try not to have any slope on a wood deck, but sometimes I have to because of the concrete that's in place that I'm building next to. It's something that jumps out at me as being wrong, but when I put the lumber next to the concrete and make it level, that looks worse.

For your porch, I would make it as level as possible.

Thanks, Eddie.

 

[EddieWalker]

Joists will be running perpendicular to the house and flooring (probably 2x6 PT) will run parallel to the house.
So I guess with a small crack between the boards, a slope is not necessary?

The space between the boards is very important to allow air flow around them. Moisture will get under a wood deck, and because that area is shaded, the moisture will remain a long time unless there is good air flow. The more air, the better.

 

[3Ts]

If you have spaces between the boards, then your deck can be level as in Eddie's description. However, if you have the boards tight against each other then you need slope away from the house. Also, if the boards are tight against each other and have rounded edges, they will catch water unless they are run perpendicular to the house (in the direction of the slope).

 

[BoFuller]

I have 6 joists in now and they are perfectly level. I plan to leave a space between the boards, so it should be fine.

 

[BoFuller]

One more joist to go.

 

[EddieWalker]

What are you going to use for decking?

 

[BoFuller]

2x6 PT wood is most likely going to be what I use.