Decks, porches, balconies, verandas and patios are outdoor architectural elements that are often confused with one another. An explanation of their intended use, history and design allow for useful distinctions, although a certain degree of exception and overlap is unavoidable.
By far the easiest deck to measure out and construct is the "Corner Post Deck" - mainly because the simplicity in constructing the joints and the ease of making smooth wood joins. This type of deck building beam is usually made up of two pieces of 2 x 8 or 2 x 10 pressure treated or Redwood lumber. These two pieces will both be attached to the decking posts - one on top of the other. The sun shines down on you AND on your decking timber budget, if you live in a dry climate with only occasional rainfall.
If morning dew, rain showers even frost and snow are a normal part of the climatic cycle of your home life?, you need to carefully choose your wood. There are great timbers for you with natural water repellent and anti rot and decay qualities. Find our what is the one major common problem you will have to face with decking timber whichever climate you live in? If you think that the type of timber that you choose, mainly depends on the color of the facade of your home and the style of your home or can even just be based on your budget... - you may be surprised to know that your choice should first of all be dictated by your location, the climate you live in. A verandah (or veranda) is a long, roofed, open gallery built around a central structure, and supported by pillars. Verandahs are often long enough to extend around the front and sides of a structure. Their origins are uncertain, but they are known to be a hybrid of East Indian and European styles. The purpose of the verandah is social, although in a more relaxed, everyday sense than is the case of a deck or patio.
A balcony is a platform that protrudes from the wall of an upper floor of a building and is enclosed by a guardrail. Balconies are usually at least one story-level above the ground surface. Balconies are often highly decorative, especially in wealthy and scenic areas. They are not designed as social areas but, rather, add an outdoor ambiance to the indoors. Access is by an interior door. There are no steps. There is no access to the ground level.
A deck failure is any failure of a deck that could lead to injury, including rail failure, or total deck collapse. There is no international system that tracks deck failures, and each is treated as an isolated event, rather than a systemic problem. Very few municipalities perform investigations into the cause of a failure, and the media are sometimes more concerned with injuries rather than the causes of deckcollapses. Rail failure occurs much more frequently than total deck collapses; however, because rail failures are less dramatic than total collapses and normally don't result in death, injuries from rail failures are rarely reported.
Depending on how the deck was built, vital connections may have degraded over time due to various factors. Issues such as wobbly railings, loose stairs, and ledgers that appear to be pulling away from the adjacent structure are all causes for concern. The tightness of fasteners should be checked. If it is not possible to reach both sides of a bolt, it may be struck with a hammer. The ring will sound hollow with vibration if the fastener is loose. The ring will sound solid if the connection is tight. The hammer test is subjective, so the inspector should hammer-test bolts that can be confirmed as tight or loose, and compare the sounds of the rings to develop a control.
Having your deck or veranda checked by a professional home inspector ensures you will not have to suffer the expense of renovating your structure if it turns out not to meet local building code requirements. The Barrie Home Inspector has the knowledge and experience to perform these inspections for you.
By far the easiest deck to measure out and construct is the "Corner Post Deck" - mainly because the simplicity in constructing the joints and the ease of making smooth wood joins. This type of deck building beam is usually made up of two pieces of 2 x 8 or 2 x 10 pressure treated or Redwood lumber. These two pieces will both be attached to the decking posts - one on top of the other. The sun shines down on you AND on your decking timber budget, if you live in a dry climate with only occasional rainfall.
If morning dew, rain showers even frost and snow are a normal part of the climatic cycle of your home life?, you need to carefully choose your wood. There are great timbers for you with natural water repellent and anti rot and decay qualities. Find our what is the one major common problem you will have to face with decking timber whichever climate you live in? If you think that the type of timber that you choose, mainly depends on the color of the facade of your home and the style of your home or can even just be based on your budget... - you may be surprised to know that your choice should first of all be dictated by your location, the climate you live in. A verandah (or veranda) is a long, roofed, open gallery built around a central structure, and supported by pillars. Verandahs are often long enough to extend around the front and sides of a structure. Their origins are uncertain, but they are known to be a hybrid of East Indian and European styles. The purpose of the verandah is social, although in a more relaxed, everyday sense than is the case of a deck or patio.
A balcony is a platform that protrudes from the wall of an upper floor of a building and is enclosed by a guardrail. Balconies are usually at least one story-level above the ground surface. Balconies are often highly decorative, especially in wealthy and scenic areas. They are not designed as social areas but, rather, add an outdoor ambiance to the indoors. Access is by an interior door. There are no steps. There is no access to the ground level.
A deck failure is any failure of a deck that could lead to injury, including rail failure, or total deck collapse. There is no international system that tracks deck failures, and each is treated as an isolated event, rather than a systemic problem. Very few municipalities perform investigations into the cause of a failure, and the media are sometimes more concerned with injuries rather than the causes of deckcollapses. Rail failure occurs much more frequently than total deck collapses; however, because rail failures are less dramatic than total collapses and normally don't result in death, injuries from rail failures are rarely reported.
Depending on how the deck was built, vital connections may have degraded over time due to various factors. Issues such as wobbly railings, loose stairs, and ledgers that appear to be pulling away from the adjacent structure are all causes for concern. The tightness of fasteners should be checked. If it is not possible to reach both sides of a bolt, it may be struck with a hammer. The ring will sound hollow with vibration if the fastener is loose. The ring will sound solid if the connection is tight. The hammer test is subjective, so the inspector should hammer-test bolts that can be confirmed as tight or loose, and compare the sounds of the rings to develop a control.
Having your deck or veranda checked by a professional home inspector ensures you will not have to suffer the expense of renovating your structure if it turns out not to meet local building code requirements. The Barrie Home Inspector has the knowledge and experience to perform these inspections for you.
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