Building a deck over a slab

Posted by jtumis on September 28, 2006, 11:32 pm

I want to build an 12x16 deck on top of an 8x10 slab. Slab is in good

condition. I want to lay the floor boards across the slab. I was
going to build a frame ( with2x6's) that would be on top of the ground
and in some areas partially underground to attach the floor boards too
where the wood deck would overhang the slab. Is this real for me to
do? Would the whole deck be able to withstand freezing? Should the
support beams in and on the ground be cemented or supported with stone.
I don't want any railing since I planning on building a pergola above
it in the spring? Kentucky winter?

Posted by tim1198 on September 29, 2006, 6:28 am

> After the last one had me going, I can't wait to see how this one
> transpires..
> Searcher

The last one In retrospect dumping the salt OUT OF the bags into wheel
barrow ( clean) spreading around the pool with shovel might of been a better
idea, to bad I didn't think of that.

Posted by Tim Fischer on September 29, 2006, 11:10 am

>I would at least anchor the 2x6 framing to the slab. As for the ones
> that are outside the slab, dig down past the frost line or else you may
> have a lot of movement.

I disagree. The slab is almost certainly floating (no footers below the
frost line). You don't want one section of the deck on frost footings and
the other floating. You either need to make the entire deck float (which
means it cannot be attached to the house, although it can sit right next to
it) or break up the concrete and install frost footings everywhere. You
wouldn't need to remove the entire patio, just break it up where the
footings go.

-Tim

Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on September 29, 2006, 11:35 am

>>I would at least anchor the 2x6 framing to the slab. As for the ones
>> that are outside the slab, dig down past the frost line or else you may
>> have a lot of movement.

> I disagree. The slab is almost certainly floating (no footers below the
> frost line). You don't want one section of the deck on frost footings and
> the other floating.

I disagree with both of you and the OP. Why not extend the patio? In the
long run, it will require much less care, be stable, easier to maintain in
snow, no rodents taking up home under a deck, and probably a dozen other
reasons.

Posted by jtumis on September 29, 2006, 10:41 pm

Ed, sounds like this is a better option, how much do yuo think someone
would charge, don't knowanything about concrete, don't want to get
taken advantage of
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

> >>I would at least anchor the 2x6 framing to the slab. As for the ones
> >> that are outside the slab, dig down past the frost line or else you may
> >> have a lot of movement.

> > I disagree. The slab is almost certainly floating (no footers below the
> > frost line). You don't want one section of the deck on frost footings and
> > the other floating.

> I disagree with both of you and the OP. Why not extend the patio? In the
> long run, it will require much less care, be stable, easier to maintain in
> snow, no rodents taking up home under a deck, and probably a dozen other
> reasons.

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