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Thanks gramps! that is a cool little piece of software. I looked at it some last night. I can see that it has lots of options as far as dimensions.
Rob, do you think the 30" elevation limit applies to a free standing deck? I suppose if it was looked at like that, then temporary structures on top of deck would not fall under the scrutiny of the inspector.
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Ya know, ultimately it will be up to the inspector. They can make things easy or difficult depending on how they feel. How they feel is often dependent on how they are treated.
It would be my opinion that the previous code (I can't confirm the current code but it should be right in the beginning under something like 'permit exemptions') would allow an unpermitted deck that was less than 30" in height from the lowest adjoining grade of the earth to the surface of the deck. If it was me I would go with a easily defensible 24".
Freestanding? Sure.
If I were to determine that the code made such an exception for an unpermitted deck I would be quite comfortable erecting a temporary tent on that deck. But you have to make your own decisions.
Assume the best and ask questions.
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If you want to be certain then you're not going to cut corners. You're going to just be smart about where you spend your money - and cautious on where you don't spend your money. Both can kill your budget in the end. Sounds like you'll have no problem living in the platform tent until you're ready to build because fines for unpermitted structures are a complaint driven system. Keep it low key and don't tick people off, that's a good strategy!
But it's always smart to build to code in case you want to permit it later. So get yourself a draftsperson, pay them to draft you something simple and base your building off that. Most are more than willing to help answer a few questions here and there. Just don't expect to pay them $100 bucks and get 100 hours worth of questioning for free. It never seems to fail... When people are looking to save them most, they end up costing themselves the most. Don't be that person.
Melissa Fletcher
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"Make yurts, not war" Bill Coperthwaite, 1973
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yeah, i'm liking the idea of having a permitted deck. it will probably be 4 - 6 feet off the ground, hence the requirement to permit. my girlfriend will probably like the idea, and that way when it collapses with us on it, she can't blame me !
another question, when assembling the deck, is it overly burdensome to assemble with screws? the thought is at some point i may want to move it to another part of the property. from a carpenter's point of view, is that just a silly hope, or is there a practical way to accomplish this? i've already recently disassembled a deck that was nailed in, and it was a considerable amount of work, although it had been put together in a pretty haphazard way.
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Here's how I see it, and we do a lot of drafting and permitting for the yurts.
If your deck is under 6' from the ground then it doesn't need to be permitted. The platform tent would be temporary, and can be taken down in a day, so I wouldn't worry much at all about that. If on the off chance you get a complaint, you have thirty days + to take the structure down, if the inspector demands it.
It's the structures that are more permanent and are over 6' tall that they will want to see a permit on, unless you are eligible for an unpermitted accessory building. To be eligible for that, you would need a permitted, primary residence.
But I would still build the deck so that it CAN meet codes, even if you don't permit it now. That way if you ever want to build on to it, say, add a metal roof and wooden walls, then you would be ahead of the game for no added cost. So it's permit-able as opposed to permitted. Legally, the platform alone wouldn't need to be permitted until/unless you add a more permanent structure to it.
Re: screwing the deck together: Go with star-headed, quality screws that won't rust, if you ever want to move it. For deck framing it might not always be possible, but if you use enough brackets, bolts and screws, you should be able to avoid using nails.
Melissa Fletcher
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I believe that any deck over 30" above grade requires guard rails.
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Any permitted deck, yes. And pickets or equivalent. And a concrete slab or equivalent at the base of the stairs.
Melissa Fletcher
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i saw a sign for alohasheds in Hilo-
http://www.facebook.com/AlohaSheds
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quote:
Originally posted by Rob Tucker
Ya know, ultimately it will be up to the inspector. They can make things easy or difficult depending on how they feel. How they feel is often dependent on how they are treated.
It would be my opinion that the previous code (I can't confirm the current code but it should be right in the beginning under something like 'permit exemptions') would allow an unpermitted deck that was less than 30" in height from the lowest adjoining grade of the earth to the surface of the deck. If it was me I would go with a easily defensible 24".
Freestanding? Sure.
If I were to determine that the code made such an exception for an unpermitted deck I would be quite comfortable erecting a temporary tent on that deck. But you have to make your own decisions.
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well i fouled that up... question I build a deck over a depression in the lava, depth may be 48" in areas down under the deck, but the edges, or step offs are 12" in one corner, 21" on another, and 28" on the other 2 corners, consistant along the edges. is this considered below the 30" rule for no permit required? thanks in advance
gramps
