Cable Rail

Hello...

  Today is part 2 of the Low sloped roof deck, composite pavers, and cable rail project.


  To review this project it is a roof deck that is sloped for drainage with a EPDM rubber roof installed to provide a dry area underneath the deck. We installed Azek pavers and custom Timber Tech cable rail on this project.




The first step we did on the cable rail installation is to drill through the 4x4 rail posts and the Timber Tech Express post sleeves for the cable rail runs.

The tension and termination hardware is very expensive on cable rail so wherever the cables run can go through the rail posts,  the more affordable your project will be.

Here is a picture of Trex Rain Escapes flashing boots they sell for 4x4 rail post that would run through a low sloped roof deck or a deck drainage system like the Trex Escapes.


















This is a good illustration of the flashing boots we installed on this project.

Once we drilled out and flashed all the posts we install the proper code rail post connections. With two 1/2 Threaded bolts and one DTT2Z bracket.

Feeney allows for 70' of straight cable runs, and 40' of cable with two bends per section.

The cable is spaced 3" on center and you are suppose to have support posts every 3' ... We cheated a little at 4' on center posts on this install. Because of the flat roof, and Azek pavers. 

We did not know how well the Feeney intermediate balusters would hold up attached to a floating paver.

Once you get the cable threaded through the install is pretty easy. You have a tension quick connect fitting on one end and a lock termination fitting on the other end of the cable run. You slowly tension the cable runs starting from the middle working both ways alternating up and down. This takes 2-3 times to get the proper tension. From there you trim off the access cable and install the caps over the fittings.

The cable rail is one of my favorite looking railing in fills and I think it goes with many different styles of homes not just modern architecture. 

Upper balcony deck with the top tier of fascia spaced out for water to flow off the rubber roof, We could not install a gutter on this balcony because there was no place to run a downspout. 

Here are few final pictures of the view this beautiful house has looking out at the middle shipping channel of the St. Clair river.  Where Walpole Island Canada is on the other side of the river. Walpole Island is an Indian Preserve. The Freighters run through here 4-5 times a day and at times will cross paths two wide it is quite a sight to see !

Michigan deck builders - Autumnwood Consruction Inc.

Deck recover or replacement ? Review of a recover deck project in Clinton Twp MI

 Hello again ... Sorry we have taken so long to update our blog site. We have been in a mad dash to finish up our work before winter sets in here in Michigan.

Well onto our next project from this summer ( we have been reviewing most of the projects we have done this year 2010.)

 This project is a re-cover project the homeowner was working with a budget in mind and replacing the complete deck was not in their budget range. The under carriage or sub-frame ( Joists, Beams, Main support posts, and Footings ) were in good shape and they were only about 10-15 years old so we could save the homeowner some money by re-using the under carriage. (re-cover) Where as a (replacement) you have the added cost of the removal of the complete deck, new footings, new main support posts, beams, and joist.

Some things to consider on deck re-covers

1) Deck Joist spacing:

 On this project the joist were 2' on center which is the maximum joist span allowed for most all deck boards, the old decking was 2x4 and we replaced the decking with 2x6 Cedar. All deck boards have a span rating such as 12" on center, 16" on center, and 24" on center are the most common deck framing.

2) Deck Footings:

Footings are the main concern in re-cover projects, they are the first thing I look at when I am on a estimate. I believe if there is any frost heave of the footings/posts, rot of the main support posts, or over spanning of the beams I always recommend replacing the deck.

3) The decking products:

Most common recovers are from a old wood deck to some type of Composite or PVC decking. So how the old deck was framed and built will affect your choice or you will need to modify your exist framing to compensate for the new decking or railings manufactures specifications. Deck board spans, framing code compliance of the old deck, and the angle you intend to run your decking will need to be consider. Check the manufactures specifications and the local code authority.

4) Budget:

How does a replacement deck verses a recover deck compare, how much will you save?  I have never seen a new house built on a old foundation, but I have seen some really nice additions work out built on the original foundation. I usually quote both ways if the deck inspection is ok, and we let the home owner's budget dictate the outcome.

Hope that helps you make the best decision when it comes time to re-cover or replace your deck.


Now back to the project in Clinton Twp. MI     

In the picture below we have already removed the old deck boards, we doubled each joist with a new joist just as a pre-caution,  we have also removed all the old railings and installed new Cedar railing post that are recessed and blocked into the frame. 

Here we have just installed the two tiered 1x6 Cedar fascia boards which cover all the treated frame work

                                                        We are starting to install the railings.

The homeowner wanted to pick up the beige and white brick color of the house with the Cedar and white metal baluster combo.

The railing posts are 4x4 Cedar cut at 42" tall, the top and bottom rails are Cedar 2x4 cut to size.

The baluster connectors are spaced at 4.5" and attached with a stainless screw. The white 3/4 round Deckorators aluminum balusters slide into the connectors.

You also can see the decorative post skirt and the picture frame border. 

Finished railings with the Cedar decorative post caps. Under the center of the bottom rail is a small baluster squash block to protect from sagging of the bottom railing.           

The last note on this project is a request by the homeowner to build a fenced in area off the deck to enclose their small dog. They wanted the fence to match the deck railing which was kind of unique.

 We set all the fence posts 42" below grade, and cement them in, and we ran long threaded rods thru the center baluster of each fence section, the balusters are hollow inside so there was room to run a 3/8s threaded thru bolt with a nut washer on each end.

Thank you for reading our blog.

Monarch Prestige (Granite color) with Monarch Charleston railings (Slate color)

Here is what we have been working on for the last few weeks. Remove and replace a existing treated deck with Monarch Prestige. Prestige is there newest line which is a cap layer composite.

Top View

3D

Before

This was a bear of a project, the tear out went very easy we had the old deck down and loaded in a dumpster in about 2 1/2 hours. From there everything seemed to take longer than what we had thought.

The footings took some extra work because of large stones in the ground.

The framing took longer because of the building department, Rochester Hills requires a 1/2" through bolt connection for the ledger, and even the railing posts had to have 2)  1/2" carriage bolts per post and none of the 4x4 rail posts could be notched, and we had a double picture frame border to frame for and a two tiered fascia, and two levels.

Here we just installed the decking with hidden fasteners

Post sleeves just installed (Monarch Charleston Slate)

Here we just installed the railings and working into the homestretch

A few final pictures

Thanks for reading