Yeah you got it figured out! Your on the right path lol. Don't use nails! They really suck when compared to a screw. A nail will most likely loosen up over time. Use good coated screws and bolts. If it was me working on it I would simply add a 4x4 post in the front middle, a new facia board and add cripplers in the center as pictured and redeck it. Keep it simple! Keith
Greg I like this stuff https://www.wolfhomeproducts.com/deckingandporch/perspectivedecking. @steve murray where are you in MA?
I borrowed an auger so I'm going to drill a hole. Even if I don't use it, it won't hurt anything. That's where it was sagging so that's where I'm going to support it. Nobody within 50 miles has it from their website.
Just a FYI, I find used engine oil the best treatment to keep deck wood looking good for years. No pealing, easy application and it soaks in well.
Yes, it was a single 2x10 spanning 10' with the last 6" supported on each side by the notched 6x6 posts. I've dug my hole. I'm down a good 2' and I jacked it up with my floor jack. It took all of 5 minutes and most of that was starting the auger and clearing out the loose dirt with the post hole digger. Here's my new hole.
The rain has let up a little and I can do some more measuring. I'm seeing a little slope from the house toward the stairs. Is that intentional? Does it need to be level? Is it there for drainage? I measured on part of the deck still fully supported and at the edge and on a joist that still goes to an angled end 2x10.
...porches/patios/decks are built w/slope to aid runoff. One could argue that spaced board decks don't have much runoff, especially if boards parallel to house, but...
The bubble is between the lines, so your good to go lol. A smidge of slope won't hurt anything on a deck. Keeping it flat is most important. Flat with a slight slope is perfect! Keith
Porches used to be built with a noticeable slope back when they were commonly tongue & groove planks. Modern decks with gaps don't need any slope.
I've been posting this on Facebook for my friends and family. One of my old classmates says I need to go 12" on-center for Trex. Now, Trex says I can do 16" on-center for non-commercial applications and 12" on-center for commercial needs. My question is: Do I need to be 12" on-center? While I'm still tearing it apart and before they deliver the first stick of wood would be the best time to fix that issue. I can tear out 2 of every 3 joists and rehang 4 in their place but not once I start putting it together.
I just redid a deck 2 weeks ago for a customer going from wood to composite. The frame was (is) all funky and cobbled up with the joists spanning anywhere from about 16" to 24"++ lol. Most of it is about 2' or so oc. My customer didn't want to fix the frame or nothing, even after we had a discussion about it, so I just laid the composite down. After I got done with it, it seems to be ok. What it really boils down to is how much weight are you going to be putting on it and how often do you use it. From what I see in your situation your frame is plenty strong enough. You have 2x10's for stringers. Most decks I work on only used 2x8's, some are even 2x6. Looks to me like the person that built it did a good job with the exception of not putting a post in the center of the stairs. Your 2x10's 16" oc will be just fine! Keep it simple! Why add more work and spend more money when it's not necessary? Keith
...commercial spec for higher loading, residential spec should be enough unless you're gonna go for a Guinness record for deck packing...
Building materials and supplies are getting harder and harder to get. Most people are blaming it on the covid pandemic, which is only partially correct. The wildfires have burned 2 years of tree harvesting, and there's not enough left in warehouses to meet the demand and prices are soaring sky high! Another reason is when they gave the stimulus checks out last summer most homeowners used that money to buy home improvement items. Keith
I also heard 16 oc is fine , but if running trex diagonally then should be 12” ! Did one years ago when stuff first came out and at 16 oc the boards dipped in between joists when decking heated up !! I think there made better now ? 2’ oc I would never do ! That’s just me
