If You Were Building a Deck......
 

Ok I am putting in a 14x12 deck, 48inches off the ground. The guy that is doing it spaced my 4 posts with the following spaces between posts...

post 1 - post 2 = 36 inches...ok
post 2 - post 3 = 32 inches...hmmm ok I guess...
Post 3 - post 4 = 23 inches...WTF?

I get told since there will be a 2 foot cantilever I would not notice it.
Also the posts are going to get mounted on 8 inch concrete blocks.


Am I smoking crack or does this just not sound right?

Let me add I think the only reason we are doing a cantilever on a 12' deck is because he is trying to use the 2 previous concretere piers for the new deck.

Heh, at least you won't have to worry about the drainage, but you may want to use a bungee cord to hold your BBQ to a deck post.

What's that mean in english? And by english I mean Planet englis? :hmmm:

I'm just flipping you a little shit peregz. I can weld like a wild man, but you wouldn't want me building your deck if you catch my drift? I would ask Phobia or someone that is a hell of a lot better with working with lumber than I am. :doh!:

Good luck with the project and post some pictures when it's complete.

Your guy is smoking some stinky green.

Post 1-2: 36 inches, makes sense, things are clear and going ok.

Post 2-3: 32 inches, spacing out a little, 32 to is close to 36 and damn they look about the same distance when you stand back a few feet.

Post 3-4: toked, he reversed his already wrong numbers and hence you ended up with a 23 inch space. :bong:

If you were paying someone would you tell them to fix it or live with it? Seems to me that is sloppy work and I know since I hired a friend against advice of others, I am stuck eating the costs to re-do it. But I can't see leaving posts spaced improperly like that whether you can see it real well or not. Just sounds like shitty work to me.

No comment.

Oh come on!!! You are the one I am going to come running too more than likely!!! ROFL

If you want a shot at my kitchen floor pitty me now!!!!!

Seems to me he just eyeballed it.. As for post 3 to 4, is there some sort of angle going on for the deck to where he would do that??

he's thinking too much as the work progresses
mainly about the size of women you entertain

Went with the low bid.

Cantilevering a deck is perfectly acceptable practice - in fact, it's probably even preferred because you are hiding posts underneath the deck.

Placement of those posts doesn't have to be precise so long as the rules of 2 feet support for every one foot of cantilever are followed. Your beam doesn't need 3 posts so I'm confused by that.

It sounds to me like he's slightly lazy because he'll have all his equipment out to dig a 3rd piling so how much more effort would be required to dig the TWO required pilings with precise placement? That part confuses me based on your description but it's kinda hard to critique a man's work without the following:
1. Seeing the site or at least a drawing.
2. Hearing the rationale of the other contractor.

I don't like to second guess another contractor unless his work is very clearly shoddy and he's giving the rest of the us a bad name. He may have perfectly legitimate reasons that are not being adequately conveyed to you.

But if he's doing it wrong you should NOT be required to pay him to take it out and do it correctly. He should do that at his cost. However, if his support is adequate according to code and you're asking him to redo it simply because you don't like it then you should have to pay him.

It's hard to say without seeing the site.

Nope..he just through his boxes down and eyeballed it. He didn't pay attention if you ask me. That is what worries me.

Well if I knew how to upload pics here I would show you some. And I agree I don't need 3 and he is trying to squeeze in 4. Nevertheless I have 2 posts 1+ foot closer together than 2 others. That seems to just be not right to me.

And what about these 8 inch concrete blocks? That seems to be a little excessive as well.

I glazed over the 8 inch concrete blocks because that completely confuses me. I honestly have no idea what that's all about. If he already has pilings, then why is he installing 8 inch blocks?

This scenario sounds like an endorsement for permits. If dude has no idea what he's doing a drawing and inspection would have solved all these problems. But if you're trying to evade the inspection process, at least have an experienced contractor about whom you would have no concerns or trust issues. If your buddy is moonlighting as a contractor and he can't place the posts properly.... well, you probably don't need me to draw you a map.