How high off the ground can a deck be without a railing?

30-inch
He’d made a point of building his deck so as to stay under the 30-inch requirement–which is the maximum deck height you can have without a railing.

How many steps on a deck before you need a railing?

Building Codes

So when is a handrail required? The building code does not refer to the number of “steps” but it does require a handrail when there are two or more “risers”. For clarification, a “riser” is the vertical portion of a stair. The “tread” is the top of a step.

How high can a platform be without handrails?

29 CFR 1926.500(d)(1) requires every opensided floor or platform 6 feet or more above the adjacent floor or ground level to be guarded by a standard railing or the equivalent on all open sides, except where there is an entrance to a ramp, stairway, or fixed ladder.

How high can a deck be without a railing NSW?

The Building Code of Australia (BCA) advises that a handrail is required where there is the possibility of falling over one metre or more from a floor or building. In other words, a deck less than one metre (1m) above ground is not required to have a handrail, though depending on the height it may still be recommended.

How high can a deck be without a railing in California?

Deck railing height standards can vary from state to state but typically require a 36″ or 42″ railing. In California, deck railings are required to be a minimum of 42″ tall measured from the deck surface to the top of the guardrail.

What are the OSHA requirements for handrails?

The top rail must be at least 42 inches in height (§1910.29(f)(1)(ii)(B)) and the handrail must be 30 to 38 inches in height (§1910.29(f)(1)(i)) (as measured at the leading edge of the stair tread to the top surface of the rail).

Should a deck be level with door?

Unless a deck is covered, it shouldn’t be at the same level as the door to your home. There should be at least a 4-inch step down to the deck itself. If the deck is enclosed or has a roof that doesn’t allow water to get inside, you need not worry.

Do you need council approval for a deck NSW?

You may not need council approval, but you may need to comply with laws and legislations set in place by the local government. Adjoining property rights, for example, allow you to build a new pergola, deck or patio so long as it doesn’t interfere with your neighbours or their property.

How high can a deck be?

30 inches
The 30” Rule. As a simple rule, you need a permit for any deck that is higher than 30 inches off the ground. This rule applies to most decks. Anything lower than 30” is often considered a patio or “porch deck,” and no permit is required.

Does it matter which way deck boards run?

You will no longer be able to install the decking parallel to the house because the decking must run over the tops of the joists for support. You will need to either install your decking in the opposite direction of the joists or install the decking at a 45-degree angle.

Should a deck be lower than the door?

Plan on building a deck? Reduce the chance of water infiltration—install the decking a few inches below patio and entry door thresholds. It’s true that decking installed at the same level as the interior flooring looks great and makes for a smooth transition, but unless you live in the desert, it’s not a good idea.

Which way should decking run from house?

The correct way to lay decking boards for most decking is smooth-side-up, with the ridges there to prevent rot and mould.

Should deck boards be parallel to the house?

The default direction decking runs on an attached deck is parallel with the house. A few reasons for this are deck framing construction, water runoff and appearance. Decking running parallel to the house is beneficial structurally, aesthetically and costwise.

Do you have to stagger deck boards?

Staggering the seams or butt joints where the boards meet is an important part of how to lay out the deck boards. What is this? Staggering the deck boards decreases the number of screws or nails going into one joist, which can weaken or rot the joist more quickly.

Should a deck be level or sloped?

You need to make sure that the slope is not noticeable but sufficient enough to do the job of draining. Most contractors suggest sloping the deck 1/4th- 1/8th of an inch for every foot of decking.

How short can a deck post be?

Avoid Short Deck Posts

But posts under 10 inches in length, with nails securing fasteners at the top and bottom, are prone to splitting. You can usually design your way around short posts by increasing the beam size or raising the height of the concrete piers.

How far apart should the posts be on a deck?

8 feet
Starting with your perimeter, mark the location of each deck post to locate the fitting position. In general, posts should be spaced no more than 8 feet apart. Some builders position them every 4 feet for a completely rigid frame. The maximum distance between footings is determined by the size of your joist material.

How level does a deck have to be?

A solid deck needs to be sloped between a 1/8″ (3mm) and ¼” (6mm) per foot to encourage water drainage. Decks with properly gapped decking boards require no slope as rain will naturally run off the boards even when level.

How level do deck joists need to be?

Remember, you are looking for consistency between joists of less than 1/8” (3mm). A discrepancy of less than 1/8” (3mm) will not be noticeable on the deck and is hard to see from the edge of the deck. The easiest is a straight board or 6′ level, but a string line is more accurate.

What do you put under a deck on a slope?

Sand, soil, and mulch are options; stone is better. The best gravel for use under a deck is crushed stone. It prevents erosion, weeds, keeps moisture away from the underside of the deck, and looks much better than mud or weeds.

How do I know if my deck is level?

Place the level on the top edge of the rim boards to make sure they are level. Make any slight adjustments by tapping the wood with a mallet. To make larger adjustments, you may have to backtrack and look at the beams and ledger board to make sure they are level.