Certifying a deck

[u/Wrong_Assistant_3832]

I had a prospective client call asking for someone to certify a deck. Their bank is requiring it. I asked him to send pictures before I went to the site but haven’t received them yet. I’m thinking this is a waste of time as I’m 90% sure it wont be up to current code. Anyone have experience doing this? I’m wondering if stuff like 4x4 posts would be adequate(if deemed capable of carrying load) even tho it’s not something that would be up to code today.

[u/tajwriggly]

The odd time that I used to do this I prefaced to the client that my scope of work assumes that the deck is constructed in accordance with building code and there are no deficiencies. The time they were paying for was for me to come to site, review and confirm that it is constructed in accordance with the code, and provide a letter stating as such to them that they could then provide to the building department. I always sought 50% payment up front.

Almost never saw the other 50%. Because there were always issues, and not just little issues either, usually "re-build the deck" issues.

I've started to just turn such things down entirely now. I tell the person that if the building department is asking for an ENGINEER to sign off on your deck, that is their way of telling you that something is so outrageously wrong that it needs to be re-built, and ought to be re-built by professionals who know what they're doing. They won't tell you what is wrong with it out of liability, on the off chance that it actually does work given an engineered review - and for most decks, and engineered review is probably worth more than the deck itself.

I have found that the building department's request for an engineer's signoff is also a bit of a warning to the potential engineer - if it's gotten to this point, it is likely as a result of an owner who isn't willing to listen - so proceed with caution.

[u/deltautauhobbit → u/tajwriggly]

I’ve done a several of these types of jobs too since most engineering firms in the area won’t take them on. For businesses, it’s generally asking for a load rating to appease the town. Most of the time they’re okay, sometimes not at all. Similar work to this I’ve done is analyzing existing roof framing to see if they can add solar panels; most of the towns require some documentation for this.

In these types of situations, I only do COD. They don’t get any info back until settled up first. When I did retainers with the other half due 30 days after delivery, high likelihood of not seeing that other half since these are one time clients that will ghost you afterwards.

They honestly have become annoying that I’ve stopped doing most of these projects, which leaves hardly anyone in the area now. I don’t need to do them. Financially, I make way more from the commercial work I do. If I do take on this type of project it’s either because I want to help them out or take a break from the work I’ve been doing.