Why Hire a Structural Engineer for Residential Deck Design?

Build Your Deck on a Strong Foundation

A residential deck can transform your outdoor living space into an area for entertaining, relaxing, dining, and enjoying your property. But while a deck may look simple, its design involves much more than choosing decking materials and deciding where to place the stairs. A properly designed deck must safely support its own weight, occupants, furniture, railings, and other loads while also connecting securely to the existing home. That is why working with an experienced structural engineering firm such as BUSTAMANTE ENGINEERS can be an important part of your residential deck project.

Deck Design Is More Than a Drawing

A deck is a structural system. Posts, beams, joists, footings, connections, ledger boards, stairs, and railings all work together to safely transfer loads to the ground and the existing structure. BUSTAMANTE ENGINEERS provides structural design services for many residential projects, and the engineering team can evaluate your project to develop solutions based on the specific conditions of your property.

• SAFETY COMES FIRST - One of the most important reasons to involve an engineer in deck design is safety.
  A deck must be designed to handle anticipated loads without excessive movement, deflection, or structural failure. The details are especially important for larger, elevated, multi-level, or uniquely configured decks. BUSTAMANTE ENGINEERS has extensive experience evaluating structural systems and designing residential and commercial structures. Our engineers consider factors such as:
• Deck Dimensions & Configuration
• Beam & Joist Spans
• Post Locations & Footing Requirements
• Connections to the House
• Stair Construction
• Guard & Handrail Requirements
• Expected Live & Dead Loads
• Existing Structural Conditions
  
  
• DESIGN FOR YOUR SPECIFIC PROPERTY - Every property is unique and your home's layout, grade, existing foundation, soil conditions, property lines, drainage, and desired deck configuration can all affect the design.
  Instead of adapting your project to a generic deck plan, our engineers can develop a solution around your home's specific conditions and your goals. We will provide a plan to safely integrate the proposed improvements with the existing structure. This can help prevent problems associated with inadequate connections, water intrusion, or transferring loads to structural components that were not designed to support them.
  
  
• PROPER FOOTING & FOUNDATION DESIGN - The deck structure ultimately transfers its loads into the ground. Properly designed footings are therefore an essential part of the project.
  Site conditions, deck height, soil characteristics, structural loads, and local requirements can all influence the appropriate foundation solution. An engineering evaluation can help determine the appropriate support system rather than relying on assumptions or a one-size-fits-all approach. For unusual site conditions or more complex deck projects, professional engineering can be particularly valuable.
  
  
• HELP WITH BUILDING CODES & PERMITTING - Residential deck projects may be subject to building codes, zoning requirements, setback requirements, and local permitting procedures.
  Professional engineering can help homeowners understand the structural requirements applicable to their proposed deck and provide appropriate design documentation when required. BUSTAMANTE ENGINEERS' residential engineering experience includes structural design and assistance with building-related options as well as familiarity of the exact requirements that vary by municipality and by project.
  
  
• AVOID COSTLY MISTAKES - A well-designed deck should be more than attractive, it should be safe, durable, functional, properly integrated with your home and enjoyed for many years to come.
  Whether you are planning a new deck or replacing an existing structure, consulting with an experienced engineer early in the process can help you make informed decisions and avoid costly surprises. Fixing a structural problem after construction can be significantly more expensive than addressing it during the design stage.
  

Experience You Can Rely On

Choosing an engineering firm with broad residential structural experience gives homeowners access to more than just deck-specific knowledge. BUSTAMANTE ENGINEERS has decades of engineering services experience throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware providing structural inspections, stormwater management, building envelope consulting, construction defect evaluation, and other residential engineering services. Our team can help you address the engineering considerations involved in your next deck project. 

Ready to start your residential deck project?  Click to contact BUSTAMANTE ENGINEERS to discuss your project and determine what engineering services we can provide today!