Building trade terms for deck components

Baluster: One of a series of vertical supports used between posts of a railing; also called a spindle.

Cap rail: The top horizontal piece of a railing, usually placed to give a finished appearance.

Dead load: The weight of the structure itself, which includes the plank system, support structure and any railings, built-in benches and other permanent features.

Expansion and contraction: Boards expand when they heat up and contract when they cool down.

Fascia: The boards used to cover rim joists and end joists; also called "skirt."

Fasteners: Generic term for nails, bolts, screws and other connecting devices.

Footing: The below-ground support of a deck's post, usually made from concrete.

Joist hanger: A pre-manufactured metal piece typically attached to a ledger or beam to support a joist.

Joists: Horizontal framing members that support decking; a system of subdeck structural elements located directly beneath the deck boards, commonly using two-by-six or two-by-eight lumber.

Ledger: A length of board that is horizontally attached to the side of a house and supports one edge of a deck.

Live load: The amount of weight a deck is designed to support. Most deck designs call for a live load of 60 pounds per square foot.

On center: A method of measuring distance between two structural members, such as joists, where you measure from the center of one member to the center of the other. The distance between the center of each joist, commonly 16 or 24 inches. Joists spaced 16 inches on center are actually 14 1/2 inches apart.

Pier block: A masonry post. Piers often serve as above-grade footings for posts and often are made of precast concrete.

Post: The vertical structural element that rests on the footing and supports the beam.

Post anchor: A metal piece attached to or embedded in the footing that attaches the post to the footing and keeps the post from being exposed to moisture in the ground.

Post cap: A small piece of material (often wood) attached to the top of the post to cover the post's wood grain and protect the post from the weather.

Rise: The vertical distance from one stair tread to another.

Riser: The vertical piece between two stair steps.

Shade structure: A structure built above decks, usually of posts and lattice, to provide a shaded area on the deck.

Span: The distance between supports.

Substructure: The deck construction that is located below, and supports, the deck boards and railing system. Components include joists and hangers, ledgers, rim joists, beams, posts, anchors and footers.

Wind load: The lateral pressure on a structure in pounds per square foot, due to wind blowing in any direction.

Source: The North American Deck and Railing Association (nadra.org).

HomeStyle on 06/07/2014

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