Footings & Piers - You can count on your deck being built on a solid foundation. We always use at least a 12” diameter concrete pier set well below the frost line on all our decks. We very rarely if ever put treated posts in the ground. Posts need to be set on a pier; to give a larger footing and to keep moisture away from the lumber. The larger the footing, the less likely your deck is to settle over time. For those customers wanting an even larger pier footing or a deck that will be carrying excessive weight, we offer the Bigfoot system as an upgrade.

Framing - Treated lumber needs to be used on all decks for the structural members.  Pressure treated is a term used for lumber that has been made to resist the elements and insects.  The “pressure treatment” is a process where the lumber goes into a closed cylinder, vacuum and pressure forces are exerted into the cylinder forcing the preservatives into the wood.
Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) was used prior to 1994 to treat lumber. CCA lumber contained high levels of arsenic as a preservative which created environmental and health concerns. Today lumber is treated with Alkaline Copper Quaternary (ACQ). ACQ is a direct replacement for CCA lumber. 
Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) treated with ACQ is the most widely available deck framing lumber in our area. While this treated lumber is safe and durable it presents a couple of problems, fasteners and connectors. The fasteners once used on CCA lumber will rust and decay in a matter of months when used in ACQ lumber. Fasteners and connectors must be specially coated for use in ACQ lumber. We make it our point to be sure we use the highest quality fasteners available.

Fasteners & Connectors - Examples of fasteners are screws, bolts and nails. Examples of connectors are joist hangers, hurricane straps and post bases. Your new deck is only as strong as its weakest link and the weakest link may very well be the connectors or fasteners. ACQ lumber can corrode fasteners or connectors in a matter of months. The last thing you want to see on your new deck is a rusted joist hanger a few months after it was built. The thickness or how well a fastener is coated (hot dipped galvanized) dictates how well it will perform in ACQ lumber. That is the main reason we do not use cheap fasteners. We will only use top quality brand name fasteners and connectors from paslode, hitachi, fastenmaster and simpson strong tie to name a few. We offer a stainless steel upgrade package for all fasteners/connectors, for those customers who want the best protection from the elements and ACQ treated lumber. If you choose this option please understand hot dipped galvanized fasteners cannot be used with stainless steel connectors or vice versa.

Filter Cloth & Gravel - Have you ever tried to mow under a deck that is 4 feet off the ground? Tough isn’t it? That is why we highly recommend our filter cloth and gravel option, especially if your deck is less than 8 feet off the ground. Installation of filter cloth and gravel will aid in drainage, prevent weed growth, keep the area dry and also make for a nice clean finished look below your deck.

Deck Protection - Joist rot and fastener/connector corrosion is an issue that shouldn’t be overlooked. Joist rot occurs when water can make its way towards the center of the joist (the point in treated lumber with the least amount of preservative). We will use Grace Vycor Deck Protector where we feel your deck is most vulnerable. We also offer a more extensive protection option as an available upgrade, to protect your fasteners and connectors even further. We can discuss this upgrade further at one of our consultations.