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Avatar for Quality Hardwood Flooring LLC
Quality Hardwood Flooring LLC
5.0(
6
)

Serving Howard, PA and surrounding areas

In business since 2019

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"Team is excellent - refinished 1 room, stairs and a hallway for us. The results were outstanding - we hired again to refinish 3 other rooms. Will definitely hire in the future for any news flooring installs"
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+15

Recommended by100%of homeowners
Kephart Custom Building & Remodeling
3.8(
10
)

Serving Howard, PA and surrounding areas

In business since 1992

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"We were very pleased with the workmanship and professional results, which exceeded our expectations. He took the time to explore options during the initial on-site review and to point out both positive and negative aspects of each option (i.e., a "no suprises" approach). He used only quality materials on our deck roof. He followed up with questions as needed to verify our preferences. He started and completed the job on schedule and cleaned the work site."
Foundation
cd and record storage
Framing / Service
Tv Box
Addition

+7

Recommended by87%of homeowners
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Deck Maintenance questions, answered by experts

A deck that isn’t attached to a house is called a floating or freestanding deck. These standalone decks are built near ground level, so they usually don’t need deck stairs. Some don’t even require permits. Generally speaking, building a floating deck is faster and more DIY-friendly than constructing one that’s connected to your home.

Deck stairs should have at least three stringers rather than two. The recommended minimum width for stairs is 36 inches, and the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors recommends at least three cut stringers to provide sufficient support on wood decking stairs of this width. Generally, stringers should be a maximum of 16 inches apart for wood decking and 12 inches apart for more flexible composite decking.

Typically, most residential wooden decks are designed to support approximately 40 pounds per square foot, including the deck’s weight and any items placed on it. While this is fine for typical use, it is usually not enough to hold the weight of a hot tub filled with water and people. To safely support a hot tub, your wood deck will likely require reinforcement. Therefore, it’s best to have a contractor or a structural engineer assess it before hot tub installation.

A sunroom will add more value to your home than a deck, but with a much higher up-front cost. Depending on its construction and function, a sunroom may be counted as additional living space, while a deck is strictly an outdoor feature. Both will increase your home’s value, but the sunroom will have a much bigger effect.

Footings for ground-level decks need to be at least 12 inches deep, and some areas require them to be even deeper. A standard range for deck footings is anywhere from 12 to 48 inches. The minimum footing depth is determined by an area’s frost line and soil conditions. If you’re unsure how deep to install deck footings, check local building codes to find the minimum footing depth in your area. 

The Howard, PA homeowners’ guide to deck maintenance services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.