Lumber and Trex Market Update: 1/29/2022
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Freestanding Vs. Attached Decks: Which Should You Choose?

2nd story grey composite deck with unique and beautiful landscaping under the deck

Are you debating with yourself over building an attached vs. freestanding deck, trying to visualize how both will look next to your home?

The good news is you won’t be able to tell them apart while you’re standing on your deck. Both create a beautiful extension of your home and a place to enjoy spending time with friends and family.

Today, these two types of decks are going head to head so you can discover the advantages and disadvantages of both. Plus, we’ll also share our two cents on what we believe is the better choice. 

Attached Decks

An attached deck, also known as a ledgered deck, is secured to your home using a ledger board, so it relies on both structural posts and your house framing for support. 

Pros

  • Fewer structural posts are needed to support the deck
  • It leaves more room to build a patio or for storage underneath
  • It will sway less than a high, off the grade (10’+) freestanding deck 

Cons

  • Improper installation can lead to water damage in your home
  • Poor connection from the ledger board to your home can lead to deck failure
  • Complex ledger board installations can be tedious (through brick or stone veneer)

Special Considerations

Ledger Board Precautions
The #1 reason decks fail is from an improperly installed ledger board. Its connection to the house is crucial to the longevity of the deck and the safety of everyone who enjoys it.

Contractors must use enough proper metal fasteners to secure the ledger board and deck to your home; the flashing also needs to be installed correctly. Otherwise, you can find yourself with water penetration issues or a deck that could break away from your house.

Attaching Ledger Board to Brick
For safety reasons, attaching a deck ledger to a stone or brick veneer is not permitted by code in most municipalities. But many building departments are now accepting decks with ledger boards attached through the exterior and into the house’s framing – with specialized fasteners designed for this purpose. 

Fortunately, Simpson Strong-Tie creates a fastener just for this purpose called the Brick Veneer Ledger Connector or BVLZ (the Z stands for Z-Max, which is their exclusive coating for exterior fasteners). 

This kind of installation requires access through your basements’ ceiling. That could mean cutting the drywall (but don’t worry, not your walls) or, in the case of a drop ceiling, simply moving the panels out of the way.

Freestanding Decks

Freestanding decks are the most common and are separate from your home, relying entirely on structural posts for stability. 

Pros

  • No penetration into your home so there is no possibility of water getting into your home and causing damage
  • More compatible with brick, stone, or oddly shaped houses
  • It doesn’t add extra weight to the structure of your home
  • It’s simpler to build compared to complex ledger installations

Cons

  • Higher off the grade decks (10’+) can have slight sway to them
  • Improper installation of the footings can lead to the deck slanting or drifting away from the house

Special Considerations

Deck Footing Depth
One of the most critical aspects of building a freestanding deck (or any type for that matter) is making sure the footings are installed below frost level. Doing so will ensure your deck doesn’t shift during freeze-thaw cycles.

Freestanding Deck Height
Also, consider the height you’d like to build your deck. The lower it is to the ground, the less you’ll have to worry about it swaying. But that problem can be significantly reduced with taller decks using diagonal sway bracing.

Freestanding Vs. Attached Deck Costs 

Building an attached vs. freestanding deck will cost about the same for many homes with siding. Even though you have fewer structural posts to install when using a ledger, removing the siding, installing the ledger board, and attaching the flashing takes time. 

Things get more labor attentive when you need to drill through the brick veneer to attach the ledger to your home’s rim joist with the BVLZ. It can cost approx. $1,500 – $2,500 more, depending on the deck’s size and design.

Which Should You Choose?

A freestanding vs. attached deck, what is the better choice?

Well, the best type of deck for your home will depend on various factors, including the design of your deck, the style of your house siding, the deck’s proposed height, and the need for space underneath. But an experienced deck builder will reliably be able to build either and have it last for decades.

However, if you aren’t planning on installing a patio underneath, an attached deck has few major benefits. That, on top of the potential for water damage, is why we typically recommend building a freestanding deck. 

Ready to Start the Building Process?

At Custom Deck Creations, we’ve built over 150,000+ feet of composite decking. If you’re in Southeast Michigan and ready for a deck of your own, get in touch! We’d love to chat about your project!

Please feel free to also check out our blog if you want to learn more about composite decks and how they compare to wood. We’ve also created an FAQ full of the most popular questions from our customers. 

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About Custom Deck Creations

From design to installation, Custom Deck Creations combines beautiful decks with fair pricing and unparalleled customer service. Our designs stand out, while our install processes exceeds expectations. We are a certified TrexPro Platinum builder. Custom Deck Creations is located in and serves Southeast Michigan. 

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Lumber and Trex Market Costs Update

Last Updated: 1/29/2022
Custom Deck Creations

A brief look into the current and expected inflation

Quick Summary

Lumber rose +28% locally from November 2021 to January 2022, and is expected for another significant double-digit increase impacting us in June 2022. We’re also anticipating a cost increase  from Trex around that  same time frame. Depending on size and material selection, decks are anticipated to increase in cost an average of $2,000 to $4,000 come June 2022. Custom Deck Creations is currently scheduling projects for April/May, before we feel these cost increases. Schedule a quote with us today to lock in today’s costs.

For a more detailed look into the market, please continue reading:

Lumber

The lumber market continues to see pressure on the supply side. Canadian truck drivers are protesting COVID vaccine mandates, threatening to disrupt deliveries in Canada and possibly into the US. Fuel prices are also increasing. Overall demand for Southern Yellow Pine (pressure treated lumber used here in MI) remains steady. Mills are not sitting on a lot of inventory. Lead times from mills to dealers are getting extended.

Pressure treated lumber costs increased locally +28% from November 2021 to January 2022.

Lumber is expected to increase another ~+40% in June 2022. 

Custom Deck Creations is currently scheduling projects for April & May 2022, before we’re impacted by these increased costs.

Trex

Data from Trex distributors nationwide are seeing a steady growth in purchases even through winter.

Trex continues to see huge demand increases nationwide. 

Our Interpretation

Lumber will continue to rise in price throughout 2022. We don’t believe we’ll see pre-2022 lumber pricing any time soon.

In 2021 Trex put out 4 separate approximately +10% price increases. We believe more are to be expected in 2022. We do not expect Trex to ever lower their pricing.

No Inflationary Clause

Custom Deck Creations does not have an inflationary clause. Lock in today’s lumber and Trex costs with a signed agreement which puts you on our schedule. We will not charge you more even if our costs go up.

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