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Don’t Frame Your Deck Without Considering These 3 Things

in Construction Tips / Member Spotlight

How much joist spacing do you need between your deck framing?

One major reason your deck could fail sooner than expected is due to poor framing. Having a solid frame is key to an even decking surface that doesn’t bow over time.

As a rule of thumb, most decks will require 16″ on center joist spacing, which means there is 16″ from the center of one joist to the other.

Beyond that, there are three things to consider when deciding the spacing on your deck framing.

Decking Material

First is the decking material. Composite and softwood decking will follow the 16″ on center rule, but hardwood decking can handle greater spans with similar dimensions. For example: 5/4 x 6 cedar can span 16″ on center, but Ipe can be a 1 x 6 dimension for the same span. 5/4 x 6 Ipe can actually span 24″ on center.

Decking Material Thickness

This brings me to the second thing to consider: the thickness of the decking material. Most composite brands have the same thickness, but softwoods and hardwoods will range from 1″ to 2″ thick for decking. Softwoods should be at least 1 1/4 inches thick for a 16″ on center span. 2 inches thick will allow for a 24″ on center span. 1″ thick Ipe will have a 16″ on center span, an inch and a quarter will have a 24″ on center span, and 2″ thick can have a 32″ span.

Surface Board Angle

The last thing to consider when figuring out the correct joist spacing is the angle of the surface boards. If you are laying the boards at a 45-degree angle to the framing then you need to shorten the span. 16″ on center would drop to 12″ on center, 24″ would become 16″ and 32″ would become 24″ on center. If you are installing a commercial project, it can be a good idea to shorten the framing spans as well since the deck will have significantly more traffic.

These considerations are just guidelines, so reference your local building codes for specific span and spacing ratios.

This tip-filled post comes courtesy of Austin NARI member TimberTown.

Members Spotlight: Erica Volkmer of Evensen Design

in Member Spotlight

Erica Volkmer, owner of Evensen Design, is a local NARI member, who not only values professionalism, but is also committed to providing a high-standard of design and supporting the growth of NARI in Austin.
Erica started Evensen Design in 2013, since that time, she has had the honor of appearing on HGTV’s House Hunters Renovation, been named an Austin Top 10 Designer by Austin Architects and Culture Map and has earned Best of Houzz for Design and Service.

“Our firm’s experience with turn-key projects allows us to become an advocate for our clients throughout the design and construction process. Taking on a supportive, hands-on approach we work with the team involved to develop a personalized plan for each client.” – Erica Volkmer

Erica’s resume includes everything from new construction in Tarrytown, a historical renovation in Pemberton Heights, to modern penthouses downtown. Her unique collaborative approach helps to streamline the process for an array of luxury projects. “Our goal is to create a collaborative environment so that construction is as seamless as possible.”

We asked Erica a bit more about her design aesthetic and business:

Q: What do you credit your trendsetting design aesthetic to?

A: My design aesthetic comes from my love of travel, layering different styles and understanding that first and foremost, homes are meant to be lived in and enjoyed.

Q: What’s your specialty?

A: I specialize in new construction & renovations, I specifically enjoy working with a client who can appreciate a fresh edge on a transitional project.

Q: How would you describe your portfolio?

A: Casually elegant and curated for our client’s individual personalities. You’ll find clean lines, bright spaces and luxurious details throughout our projects. We are passionate about designing homes and boutique spaces that are inviting and maintain a keen eye for quality and workmanship.

Q: What is your favorite part of being a NARI member?

A: I love that I am able to connect with other like-minded professionals, who are all interested in the success and growth of each other’s businesses. One of my business goals for 2019, was to improve my visual brand identity and website – to better align with my portfolio and client demographic. It was no small feat, but I was able to find a NARI member who not only helped me develop a strategy for doing so – but also was able to bring it all to life with my brand design and new website launch. Thanks Nikki and Shanan at Click & Co.! I am beyond pleased and you made the process so easy.

Q: What’s the best way to connect with you?

A: evensendesign.com / erica@evensendesign.com / 512.815.2740 / @evensendesign

Photo Credit: Aaron Dougherty Photography

Remodeling association helps father who lost wife to cancer

in Local NARI News

Austin NARI’s partnership with Wonders & Worries is very special to us. It provides us an avenue to assist folks going through tough times, as noted in this feature from the Austin American-Statesman:

David Davidson of Realty Restoration read Duroy’s story in the Statesman, and, “it really touched my heart,” he said. “We’d like to get involved.”

Davidson is a past president of the Austin chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry as is his son Christopher Davidson, who is an architect. Davidson reached out to the association’s Austin board to see if the organization could help Duroy move from recreational vehicle to finished barndominium. “The board approved for us to get involved and help in any way we can,” Davidson says.

The group and the Davidsons have a special connection to Wonders & Worries. The Austin chapter holds an annual home tour and it benefits Wonders & Worries, and like the Duroy children, Christopher Davidson knows what it’s like to have a mother with cervical cancer. His mother is a cervical cancer survivor. “Isn’t it odd that we have this opportunity, and we know what they’ve been through,” Davidson said his son told him when they were talking about getting involved.

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Help Austin NARI Help The Duroy Family

Please consider donating to help Austin NARI complete our efforts to assist the Duroy family by using the PayPal donation button below.

Billy Guerrero Leaves CG&S

in Members In The News

Billy Guerrero stepped down as owner of CG&S Design-Build at the end of June, retiring after over forty years of service. His ownership passes to his sister Dolores Davis, CG&S’ General Manager and wife of owner Stewart Davis. The move makes Dolores CG&S’ new President.

This is a huge change for our company. In many ways, Billy was CG&S. He was here at the very beginning, working with his brothers under his parents, founders Clarence and Stella Guerrero. When it came time to go to college, Billy decided to stay with the company, and began the process of accruing decades of construction experience. In that regard, he is simply irreplaceable.

Apart from mastery of carpentry, his expertise enabled him to become a talented salesperson and construction estimator. At times it felt as if he had x-ray vision when looking at a house; he could evaluate a house’s condition in a moment. Of course you never really know until you investigate, and this too he would do. He has been in countless crawlspaces and attics, and scaled just as many roofs. He has worked every neighborhood and almost every street in Austin, and knows hundreds of shortcuts through the city. He has been the face of our company literally because for many years he was the first person our clients met. He hustled, he was tireless.

Billy was a fearless leader. He didn’t back down when pressure came, didn’t avoid the many challenges that characterize this business, and led CG&S through pretty tough times throughout his forty year tenure. He cared about his employees and treated them with respect and equanimity, just as he did with his clients. Respect was code to him; it was the first principle with which he operated. That respect in turn set the standard for everyone else, extending throughout the company.

He was an extremely hard worker. He gave everything to his work and his business, to make it successful for his employees and the families it supported, and to always come through for his clients. With him, through the example of Clarence and Stella, came the value that we take care of our clients for life.

To these qualities and so much else, we are incredibly grateful to Billy, and extend our deepest thanks and well wishes as he embarks on the next phase in his life. His is an extraordinary accomplishment and career, and it’s really exciting to think about what will come next.

As it will be for CG&S.

Dolores comes to ownership in a profession with very few female owners, let alone female latina owners. This will be a fresh perspective as we look to a new era in our industry and service area. Everything that Billy gave us is embedded in CG&S’ DNA. It is our mission now to build on that, to continue to innovate in our field, provide the most excellent service to our clients that is possible, serve our community, and sustain the work that Clarence and Stella Guerrero set in motion half a century ago. Onwards!

2017 Awards: The Best Night Ever

in Local NARI News

On Friday, November 3rd, Austin NARI celebrated the best night ever, revealing the winners of the 2017 Contractor of the Year and BUZZ Awards at The Mansion, featuring live music from “Austin Favorite Cover Band” Suede and Austin Chronicle award winner Jane Ellen Bryant. A grand time was had and we offer our sincerest congratulations to the winners!

2017 Austin NARI CotY Award Winners

2017 Austin NARI BUZZ Award Winners

Austin NARI & Rebuilding Together: The Mobility Project

in Local NARI News

Can you imagine not being able to leave your home for over a year? That was the case for Andrew Wheeler, who suffered a health crisis that left him confined to a wheelchair. While in the hospital, Wheeler asked a handyman to build him a wheelchair ramp for his home. Unfortunately, the ramp was not built to code and Mr. Wheeler was barely able to get inside his front door. He was told by paramedics to never attempt to go down that ramp, and for the next year he tried to find an organization that could help him rebuild his ramp so he could regain his freedom again.

After 6 months of searching, Mr. Wheeler found Cindy Lee of Rebuilding Together Austin. She recruited the help of Austin NARI members to donate labor and materials to build an ADA compliant wheelchair ramp. After months of planning and a few days of hard work, Mr. Wheeler was able to feel the warmth of the sun on his skin and experience freedom once again!

A special thank you to the Austin NARI members who made this happen:

Family built niche remodeling Austin as CG&S Design-Build

in Members In The News

The Austin American-Statesman has a nice article about Austin NARI member CG&S Design-Build:

CG&S Design-Build will celebrate its 60th anniversary Sept. 23 with a party for employees and friends of the firm. It’s a business that grew from a mom-and-pop operation to a company with 31 employees working on about 60 to 65 projects a year out of the South Austin house that once held the family of 10, plus the foster children the Guerreros took in.

CG&S Design-Build has seen Austin’s home design style grow from simple and practical to more sophisticated and architectural. The company has won awards for its projects and had homes on numerous home tours. It’s weathered the lean years of 1986, 2001 and 2009 when the housing, building and remodeling markets were flat and years even before that that they can’t name. And it’s helped bring the concept of design-build to Austin.

Three generations of family have helped take Clarence Guerrero Construction into CG&S Design-Build.

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What You Need to Know About Insulation When Remodeling Around Austin TX

in Project Ideas

Did you know that 40-60% of your home’s energy bill is wasted? That’s right! The US Department of Energy reports that about half of a home’s energy is wasted when it is under-insulated and improperly air sealed. You can save $500 to $1,000 per year on energy bills by having your home properly insulated and air sealed.

How do you know if your home has enough insulation? Most homes 10-years or older do not have enough insulation according to the International Energy Conservation Codes (IECC). Your NARI Remodeler can help you understand what needs to be done to meet the building codes. Plus, your NARI contractor can advise you on what options to consider for properly insulating your home for energy savings, comfort, and health.

The bigger question, is your home effectively air sealed? There are several components to proper air sealing. The biggest and most important aspect is insulation. While there are many different types of insulation, only one product is an excellent air sealing solution: spray foam. It is the only type of insulation that stops all 3 types of heat transfer. Here you can take a deep dive into learning about spray foam insulation.

Can your house be air sealed even if your home has fiberglass, cellulose, or rock wool insulation? Yes. People are using cans of spray foam to seal the around common air leak areas like: electric outlets, windows, doors, HVAC ducts, framing connections, and plumbing entries. Then they fill the rest of the area with another insulation material like fiberglass. It works.

Which area of your house is most important to upgrade? The attic is where the majority of your energy is lost. In the Austin Texas area, your attic is where most of the heat comes into your home during the long hot summer months.

There are two different building science methods used in attic insulation: vented versus sealed building envelope. If you have a vented envelope with insulation laying on the attic floor, your attic will be 130-150-degrees in the summer. However, with a sealed envelope, your attic should be 3-5 degrees warmer than the conditioned living space in your home.

What is the cost difference between the methods? A vented attic seems cheaper when only considering the cost of blowing in fiberglass. However, when you add in the cost of attic fans and radiant barrier to get a lower attic temperature, then you will be much closer to the cost of a sealed attic.

How do you know if it worth creating a sealed attic? If you are simply fixing up the house to sell it in the next 2-years, go cheap. If you are going to be paying the utility bills, and will own the home for 3-years or more, invest in a sealed envelope. Your return on investment (ROI) over a 3 year period should be positive, and a 30 year ROI is tremendous.

When is the best time to have your home properly insulated? During remodeling the sheetrock is removed from your walls. That is the only time you can remove rodent infested, damaged, improperly installed insulation. Then your NARI remodeler can have an insulation professional install the proper insulation correctly.

What is biggest problem with remodeling when it comes to insulation? Many times the homeowner is focused on the remodel finishes. It is easy to overlook the core factors that will make your home:

  • more comfortable to live in
  • healthier for your family
  • quieter from undesired noise
  • and put more money in your bank account over time

Your remodeler’s job is to give you what you want, while complying with the building codes. Your remodeler is only required to address the insulation on walls, ceilings, and floors that are opened up. That means that if only half of your home’s walls have the sheetrock removed, then only half of your home’s insulation is fixed.

Plus, in most cases, the contractor is not required by the municipality to bring the attic insulation up to code. Remember, your attic is the most important place to upgrade. If you are building an addition, the new space will have the proper insulation. The existing structure will not be upgraded unless you require the upgrade and put it in the budget.

Here is what to do next: If you want to have a healthy indoor environment that is comfortable, and saves you money on utilities, then talk to your NARI remodeler about proper insulation.

Ask you contractor to:

  • measure the R-value of your current insulation
  • determine what you need to meet current IECC
  • have your house properly air sealed
  • explore the option of creating a sealed envelope
  • have your entire house brought up to code on insulation
  • at a minimum have the attic brought up to code

About the Author

Shawn Mansur is the founder of Stellrr Insulation in Austin TX. Shawn is famous for his 200% Money-Back Guarantee. He is laser-focused on delighting every client while helping them achieve stellar performance in their homes. Plus, with every purchase, Shawn gives 10% of the profits to the cause of the client’s choice. Learn more at https://www.stellrr.com or call 512-520-0044 today.