Deck building

I forget where you are in southern maine? i have a few scattered weekday days to help brainstorm and help frame it out if you want/need?

I am in portsmouth NH

 

I understand you'd rather work around it and it makes sense but at the very least I'd consult with a licensed contractor who's familiar with codes. Just so you don't run into problems later on when you want to sell. Someone could have you bring things up to code or deduct the costs to do so from the price.

 

If ever

im in Saco, and coach middle school baseball till 2nd week in June. Then Baberuth baseball. But am definitely open to some framing help.
My brother is also drawing up some thoughts. Once I see what his plan is, that will help. I’ll draw up what I am thinking and post it up shortly.

 

That’s right.. I had ask you about coaching before. I want to get into coaching and think I asked you about it in the past.

Feel free to give a shout out when your ready to roll. I have Tools... Lol

 

Thanks, I’ll pm you. I have some tools, including a chopsaw on loan. Crappy table saw and what not.

 

Whaaa!? You mean just toe nailing and bolting it over the siding with no flashing or caulking is a bad thing?


Yep, that's how it was done on my house! Pic was taken while I was in the process of tearing it off to rebuild it properly. It was a miracle only the siding was rotted and not the under lying framing.

 

I agree. That whole set up is awkward. As it is now, even if you come up with some type of solution for the bulkhead, you still have a sliding door that has half a deck under it. I'm looking at that set up, and thinking it was poor planning.

Not trying to offend, just giving an honest opinion.

Maybe ditch the sliding door, and entry altogether?

In either case, In think you should re-think that whole layout, and come up with a different plan before going any further.

 

Slider is there, just replaced that and rebuilt the deck that was there. I’ll look for old photos. I didn’t like the large platform I had to lift before, so the plan is to improve that part.

 

I would do it the same as before but frame it with square tube steel. You could even rig up a hydraulic piston to open and close it.

 

Thanks for all the thoughts, if I had been smart enough, I would have planned it out better, but too late I didn’t. I had seen a few of the ideas shared and if I was more sure of skills I might have taken on one of the better designs. I had to tear it apart as there was some safety concerns that I couldn’t address and the slider was in need of replacement.

My hope is to use up the lumber I have here currently. When it was all bought, the plan has been to put hinged doors over the bulkhead. It would have been completed by now, had we not had a major health battle on our side and him one on his wife’s side.



The half door on the right will be hinged to the side of the landing. But how do I do that? Currently there is a slight over hang from the deck boards.



I have been thinking I would add a board to the side



But how will that work with the hinge?



Can I hide it completely? How much space do I need between the deck boards? Is it better for the hinge to be exposed?


And then on the left side it would be hinged to the deck. I haven’t even begun to work that out yet, but the old setup was hinged to the old deck.

Somebody mentioned running some lumber under that can be removed, I like that idea, as the old setup sagged and was getting unsafe to cross.

My concerns with this plan are the doors meeting in the middle and not bowing down. And making sure they are even, with there only being a step down from the platform to the deck, not one in the middle.

 

Option #1
Build it the same height as the current landing.
Use a large shoulder bolt, or some sort of bearing plate like a Murphy bed hinge, as the pivot point near the top of the beam perpendicular to the house.
Across the house edge of the "Pivot deck" use the lumber on the flat rather than edge. The remainder are set normally.
At the yard side, plant a post for each corner and build a stair runner type of kickstand on another shoulder bolt. So as you lift the outer edge of teh deck the "kickstand drops by gravity and catches on the top edge of the post by virtue of the angle cuts, like a ratchet.
Then you can raise the outer door of the basement and do what you need to do.
Lower the deck by pushing it up and swinging the kickstands in and under the runners.
On the lower deck build a step (if needed) between the door level deck and the lower deck. This can house the shoulder bolt if needed. IF no step is needed, laminate a piece of lumber along the edge after setting he shoulder bolt/pivot assembly into it.
For added support you can lay stops under the pivot deck attached to the runners on each side and/or posts outside the door but under the deck for it to land on. ​

Option #2
One more option is to mount wheels on the edge at the lower deck and another set at the opposite corner that run parallel to the wall.
IF the deck section is too heavy for 4 wheels you can add more as needed along the length of the runners.
Add a ledge made of lumber to hold the deck up along the house. This could be held on the posts via pins so it is easily removed for access.
Put a flat length of lumber on top of posts.
Now the deck section over the door can be rolled out of the way like a drawer, then rolled back when access is not needed.
Use a couple slide bolts on the end by the lower deck to lock it in place so it does not roll unless desired.​

Just a couple alternative methods.

Good luck!!

 

Thanks

 

For under the doors to prevent sagging/bowing. Couldn't you cut a notch/ channel for a 2x4 to slide/set in. Kinda like loose skeleton framing. Open doors, remove 2x4's and descend.
I am no carpenter either just throwing ideas against the wall.

 

Not sure yet, but ya something like that hopefully will work.

 

You had me most confused with the bulkhead thing...kept thinking were's the boat.

Those are cellar doors!

https://www.homedepot.com/b/Doors-Windows-Exterior-Doors-Cellar-Doors/N-5yc1vZc5ib

 

What I have always know them to be.

 

Made progress today



Thanks @bajatacoguy it was great how encouraged and taught my son. He bragged later about what he did.

 

That’s great.. I was happy to lend a hand. Randy had a plan and it worked well.

Liam is a very polite kid who is not afraid to learn which is great to see this day and age.

Good luck and do not be scared to ask if you need a hand with the railings.

Be Safe

 

hey OP this thread is lit and ur deck is looking rad af. I'm not much of a carpenter, but I did some research and found some info that might be useful for you...

 

Who is the dingbat that put a slider over a bulkhead... they need to get a beat down. Move the slider. It will suck but it will be cheaper than moving the bulkhead. Slightly.