# Decks

> Building and fixing decks: footings, framing, boards and ledgers. Ask with your Sheet attached: homeowners who’ve done it and verified pros answer, and anyone can read it.

## Before you ask

The deck’s size, its height off the ground, the joist span, and your town for frost depth.

- **Attach your Sheet** so people see your sizes and the math.
- **Your town is enough.** Never your address; check photos for house numbers and plates.
- **Is it safe?** A safety question here goes to pros verified in general contracting or carpentry, unless you pick another trade. Only they can call it safe or unsafe.

## Deck or balcony

16′ × 12′ deck: 3 footings, 13 joists (2×8 at 16″ o.c.), a 2-2×10 beam and 28 deck boards, every hanger and screw counted.

What people get wrong:

- **No flashing over the ledger.** Water gets behind the ledger and rots the house’s band joist — the most common reason decks pull off houses.
- **Ledger on brick, stone or a cantilevered floor.** A ledger must bolt to the house’s band joist.
- **Footings too shallow.** Above the frost line they heave every winter; within 5 ft of the house they must reach the house footing’s depth.

[The worked example, every line's math and the code notes](https://studsheet.com/sheets/deck) · [Your own sizes in the app](https://app.studsheet.com/p/deck)

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- [Every group](https://studsheet.com/forum#every-group)

## How the community works

- **Open to read** from anywhere, no account needed.
- **Sign in with your email** to ask, answer and vote. No password.
- **The best answers rise:** votes, “worked for me” and a solved mark. Verified pros carry a badge.

Questions? Write to [support@studsheet.com](mailto:support@studsheet.com).