Once we receive your Project Information Worksheet and deck sketch, we will review the materials to see if we are missing any information. We will email you with questions as needed. In most cases we can deliver a completed set of plans in one-two business days. Once you review the plans you can email us with any changes or send us a marked-up plan with revisions. Prompt service our goal with every project.
Yes, we can add your branding to the plans. This can be a nice professional touch when presenting project to your clients.
In most cases, building inspectors and plan reviewers love our plans! Occasionally an inspector will add a few notes to the plans. We are also happy to work with you to add any additional information to the plans to satisfy the city inspections department.
We typically design decks with 2×10 framing and 16″ diameter footings, following the guidelines in the International Residential Code for 40 lbs live load and 10 lbs dead load. You can add notes to the Project Information Worksheet if you need specific materials or methods (i.e. 2×12 framing 12″ OC). Your selection on the form will indicate if you are connecting to a ledger board or building a free-standing deck. We will use those notes, your sketch, and the house picture to identify any questions before drafting the plan.
Most building departments do not require a stamp from an architect or structural engineer for a deck project unless there are out of the ordinary circumstances. We do not have the ability to stamp plans but it is possible to submit our plans to a local professional for a stamp if necessary.
Yes, we offer gable, shed and hip style roof screen porch plans for $299. These plans include floor framing, footing, roof framing, and elevation plans. Contact us for more information.
We can add notes for the locations of these features, but we don’t include detailed drawings for them. These features are decorative, rather than structural, so most inspectors and plan reviewers are not concerned with them.
Yes! If you are planning on placing a hot tub on the deck it is very important to properly design the frame to support the additional loads. We typically place large footings and support posts under each corner of the hot tub and strengthen the frame accordingly.
Generally, the plans will be similar for composite and pvc decks as with wood except for the stair stringer spacing. We can add a note to install stair stringers to meet manufacturers installation instructions. If you are planning on installing decking diagonally, we will need to space the joists at 12″ on center.
Yes! We just need to know the size, shape and height of the pool. It is helpful if you can include a photograph of the spec sheet for the pool.
Yes, we can note that you will be using helical piers or diamond piers on the project. You can send our deck plans to your helical installer for them to generate a report for the city inspectors to verify the correct installation.
We can work with you to remove a footing and support post from a deck frame. We would list the beam as “Engineered Beam sized by others”. You can send the plan to your local lumberyard for sizing and have us update the plan with the beam specifications. However, it is important to note that removing a post/footing will increase the footing sizes of your other footings.
Yes, we do. Homeowners can purchase a custom deck plan and follow the same process of uploading a sketch and photo.
Yes, building plan review usually wants this information listed on your plans. The most common ledger fasteners used are LedgerLOK Structural Wood Screws, Simpson Strong Tie SDWS Timber Screws, GRK RSS Rugged Structural Screws and 1/2″ lag bolts with washers. We can add these notes to the framing plans and the ledger board detail on your elevation drawings.
Yes, many builders have their own “style” of plans that they are accustomed to working with. We can do our best to reproduce this style to match as best as possible.
Yes, we can produce plans for roof structures over patios. We can use your project information to draw hip and gable-style roof plans.
If you provide a scanned plat drawing, we can add the deck to the drawing and include setback dimensions. Ask for pricing.
The plans are ¼” = 1’ scale when printed on 11×17 paper.
Yes we do. We design our plans to meet the International Residential Code. The most significant different between local deck building codes is the footing depth. (Frost depth.) Some areas of the country have slight differences in building practices and codes. We have experience drafting plans in most areas. Some building departments may require a local Architect or Structural Engineer to sign / stamp deck plans for certain types of projects. This is rare, but we don’t have the ability to do this. Please contact us or your local building department if you have any questions or concerns regarding your local plan review.
Contact us online or call 1-888-691-0838 to discuss your company’s deck planning needs.
