Sample Guidelines For Residential Wood Decks
- Prior to apply for a construction permit you must obtain approval from the Zoning Office and Board of Health (if you have a septic tank).
- Submit TWO SETS of scaled drawings. All drawings should indicate owner's name, address of job site, block and lot. To draw your own plans you must be the owner and occupant of the property, if not, you will need drawings by a New Jersey register Architect or Engineer. The homeowner's signature must be on the plans, which they prepare.
- Submit a completed Construction Permit application and Building Subcode application.
- The drawings submitted shall include the following information:
(a) Show deck in relation to house.
(b) Show door from house to deck.
(c) Indicate distance from top of threshold to deck. ( the deck shall not be more than 8 inches below the top of the threshold)
(d) Specify type of wood being used to construct the deck.
(e) Show footings, columns, girders, joists, ledger, flashing, decking, guardrails (for decks 30 inches above floor or grade below), handrails, stairways, lateral bracing, and connectors.
(f) Indicate the height from grade to the top of the deck.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM #4
- Pier Footings: Minimum 36" below grade and 12 inches in diameter cut straight or use Sono Tube forms.
- Columns: Minimum 4 inches x 4 inches anchored to footings and secured to girder to prevent girder rotation and deck uplift.
- Girders: NOTE –joints in girder must be positive bearing above the support columns.
- Floor Joist:
Size Spacing Maximum Clear Span 2" X 6" 16" on center 9' – 9" 12" on center 10' – 9" 2" X 8" 16" on center 12' – 10" 12" on center 14' – 2" 2" X 10" 16" on center 16' – 1" 12" on center 18'
5. Ledger:
Board against house securely attached with ½ inch diameter Hot dipped galvanized lag bolts of sufficient length to bolt firmly into rim joist. Lag bolts shall be 16" on center in a staggered pattern. Provide two bolts, one above the other, at each end. Provide hot dipped galvanized washers between heads of bolts and wood. Through bolting with a washer on the outside and a washer and nut on the inside of the building, with similar bolting pattern as lag bolts is acceptable.
6. Flashing:
Provide continuous copper or Bitumen sheet flashing along ledger in such a manner as to prevent the passage of moisture into the wall, any untreated wood or wood siding.
7. Guardrails:
Shall be not less than 36 inches above decking and have balusters or other construction such that a sphere with a diameter of 4 inches cannot pass through any opening. Guards shall not have an ornamental pattern that would provide a ladder effect. Guardrails shall be designed and constructed for concentrated load of 200 pounds applied at any point and in any direction along the top rail member. The in-fill area of a guardrail system shall be designed and constructed for a horizontal concentrated load of 200 pounds applied on a square foot area at any point in the system, including intermediate rails or other elements serving this purpose. A stairway having three or more risers is required to have a guardrail on both sides measuring 34 to 38 inches in height above the leading edge of the tread. Balusters are to have two screws or nails at the top or bottom.
8. Stairways:
Minimum stair width is 36 inches. Maximum riser height is 8 ¼ inches. Minimum tread is 9 inches plus 1 inch nosing where solid risers are used. Decks with a height of 12 feet or more require an intermediate landing with footings.
9. Handrails:
All stairways with three or more risers require continuous handrails and guardrails on one side. All stairway handrails shall have a circular cross-section with an outside diameter of at least 1 ¼ inches and not greater than 2 5/8 inches. Handrails are to be smooth and free of sharp edges and splinters. Handrails shall be continuous the full length of the stairs on one side.
Approved rails of equivalent grasp ability. A handrail and any walled surface adjacent to the handrail shall be free of any sharp or abrasive elements. The clear space between the handrail and the adjacent wall or other surface shall not be less than 1 ½ inches. Edges shall have a radius of 1/8 of an inch. Handrails shall not be less than 34 inches nor more than 38 inches, measured vertically, above the leading edge of the treads.
10. Lateral Bracing:
If deck is far enough above ground to cause it to sway, diagonal bracing is to be installed between the girder and posts.
11. Connectors:
All connectors, nails, screws, bolts, and related hardware shall be hot-dipped zinc coated (galvanized), stainless steel, silicon bronze, copper, or other corrosion resistant materials. When using hangers (TECO) all round holes must be filled using (TECO) nails. All hangers must be listed G185 or Zmax.
12. Required inspections: CALL ONLY WHEN YOU ARE READY FOR INSPECTION.
1. The bottom of footing before placement of concrete.
2. Frame inspection for decks less than 5 feet above ground.
3. Final