I saw this on a new construction house today and wondered if anyone any thoughts about this deck. This deck was on the top floor 12-14 ft or more above grade. I didn’t like the cleating attachments and the legs were not attached to the house in anyway.
Is it cantilevered? Can’t tell from the pics.
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Sam, I don’t like it either. Lot’s of things so write hard on it.
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I tried to zoom the pics, but can’t tell if it is also.
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I feel like it would be quite the cantilever distance. I’m estimating 10+’ based off the pictures. But whether it is cantilevered or not could play into how the far side is supported. I’m no engineer though.
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Even if it is cantilevered it would still be a great diving board. I wouldn’t want to be on it. It is terrible looking with those braces. There could be a novel on this in the report.
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A significant amount of the load occurs where the center and end girders are attached at the ledger as the floor joists bear on these members. Terrible design.
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Ledger board is bolted to the house
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HA HA yes it is
Then I agree, I would not like this design either.
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New Construction WOW. What else might be there.
Look professional and post it.
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This deck has me scratching my head and I’m looking to learn from other’s experience.
What if anything is preventing lateral movement of the diagonal supports?
I understand that most of the load is aimed at the foundation wall but is the deck relying on the shear strength of these fasteners to hold it up?
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If it looks dangerous, chances are it is. Write hard.
DCA6 Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide Based on 2015 IRC (revize.com)
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Another parallel deck design which is not covered in the IRC. This must be designed by an architect or engineer and summited for approval. Problem is, who designed it and who approved it? Has a CO been issued?
I would definitely write hard. I would personally not use this fancy elevator.
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…that only has a down button.
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The joists are running parallel to the house and the 3 girders don’t look big enough to carry the (cantilevered?) load and the tap cons connection method isn’t adequate. IMHO.
At least that’s what it looks like from N. MI and a big 
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That was not designed by an Architect. Someone has a lot of faith in those tapcons under those braces.
And Scott has it right on that pulling force away from the house and it is all being transmitted to the deck board attachment to the ledge on the wall. So the ledger might be bolted with 3" bolts but does not matter. The deck board connection will give out first.
I would be writing this one hard and recommend a SE to run the #'s.
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I would state that this deck requires engineering approval and if the builder can provide sealed drawings for this system it may acceptable provided those planes were properly executed, otherwise further evaluation by an engineer having experience with these systems will be needed along with corrective actions.
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