Deck Builders FAQ for Medina, OH

Most homeowners do. Ohio's residential code skips the permit only for a freestanding deck of 200 square feet or less that stays within 30 inches of grade and does not serve the required exit door. Townships around Medina also require a zoning permit for decks, so check both steps. Each town page lists who handles them.

A 14x20 deck is 280 square feet, so it is past the size limit for a permit-exempt deck in Ohio. Its price swings mostly with height above grade, board material, railing type and stairs. Send the size and those choices through the request form and the contractor can price your exact layout.

Treated lumber, composite and PVC all handle Ohio winters when the frame is built right and the footings sit below the 38-inch frost line used in Medina County. Composite and PVC mainly save on sanding and staining over the years. The composite deck page compares the trade-offs.

Attached decks are common, and Ohio's code spells out how. The ledger must be at least a 2x8, fastened to the house band joist with staggered lags or bolts, and flashed so water stays off the house framing. The City of Medina's deck guide adds that a ledger cannot attach to veneer, a cantilevered floor or a window.

Build time depends on size, height, material and how quickly the zoning permit, building permit and footing inspection line up. Medina Township, for example, says approved zoning applications get permits within 10 business days. The deck builder can give a schedule once the design and permit path are known.

Ohio's residential code lets a deck skip the building permit only when it is 200 square feet or less, no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to the house and not serving the required exit door. Most custom decks are larger or attached, so they need a permit, plus a township or village zoning permit in much of Medina County.

Sloped lots are common around Medina, and the usual answer is taller posts on the low side or a multi-level design that steps down the hill. Once any part of the walking surface is more than 30 inches above the ground within 36 inches of its edge, guards are required there. See deck railings for what that means.

Ohio law expects whoever digs to notify OHIO811 at least two working days, and no more than 16 calendar days, before digging. When you hire a contractor, the contractor makes that call. Private lines, such as a buried line to a shed or lamp post, may not be marked, so point those out.

It depends on how long you plan to stay and how much upkeep you want. Composite and PVC cost more at the start but skip the regular staining and sealing that wood needs after Northeast Ohio winters. If you plan to keep the house many years, the lower maintenance often wins. A contractor can price both for the same deck layout.

Ohio requires composite boards to carry a label with their maximum allowable span, and the joists must be spaced to match it. Many composite lines call for closer spacing than older wood decks used, and diagonal patterns need closer spacing again. That is why re-boarding an old frame is checked before it is quoted.

They can, as long as they meet Ohio's code. The 2019 Residential Code of Ohio says exterior plastic composite stair treads must follow the stair rules in Section 311.7 and the composite rules in Section 507.2.2, including the ASTM D7032 label. Stairs still need risers of 8 1/4 inches or less and treads of at least 9 inches.

New boards on an old frame work when the joists, beams, posts, ledger and footings are sound and the joist spacing suits the new boards. If the frame has rot, side-bolted beams or shallow footings, new boards only hide the problem. A deck builder can check the frame and quote both options so you can compare.

Rebuilding a deck is treated like building one, so plan on the same steps: a township, village or city zoning permit where required, then the building permit, a footing inspection before concrete and a final inspection. Starting without the permit can add a fee, as the rules above explain. Each town page lists the offices.

Lifespan depends on the lumber, how well water drains off the frame, flashing at the ledger and how often the deck is cleaned and sealed. Decks with good flashing, proper footings and regular care last much longer than neglected ones. When boards are worn but the frame is solid, composite re-decking is one way to extend its life.

It can, if the deck's posts, beams and footings can carry the roof load or are reinforced or replaced to do so. Many older decks were built only for an open floor. A deck builder will check the frame and footings first, then quote either a roof on the existing deck or a rebuilt deck with the roof framed in.

Plan on it. A roofed deck or porch is a structure that needs a building permit, and townships such as Hinckley and Lafayette list porches among the projects that need a zoning permit first. Inside the City of Medina, permits go through the city's Building Department. Check your town page for the offices.

They differ mainly in walls. A screened porch has a roof and screens, while a three-season room usually adds windows or glass panels that close against wind and rain. Each needs plans, a permit and the right guards or windows at the edges. Tell the contractor which you want so the quote covers the right walls.

Ohio's code does not state a baluster spacing directly. It says a 4-inch sphere must not pass through any opening in a required guard, from the deck surface up to the guard height. In practice that keeps clear gaps under 4 inches. Composite and aluminum systems are built to that rule when installed as the maker specifies.

Railing-only replacement works when the posts are solidly attached to the frame and the deck boards are in good shape. If posts move, or the deck itself is aging, it can be smarter to pair new railings with resurfacing or a rebuild. A contractor can check post attachment before quoting.

Ohio's code sets the performance rules for guards, such as the 36-inch height and the 4-inch opening limit, rather than banning a material. Cable systems are designed to keep cables tight enough to pass that test, so tensioning and post spacing must follow the manufacturer. Ask the contractor how the system they quote meets the opening rule.

It can when the deck frame is checked and reinforced where the posts land, or when the posts pass through the deck to their own footings. Bolting posts to the surface boards alone is not a structural connection. A deck builder will look under the deck before quoting a pergola on it.

Pergola posts are commonly set on footings for stability and uplift, and posts tied into a deck follow the deck's footing rules, which in Medina County means 38 inches below grade. Requirements for a freestanding pergola depend on its design and the building department, so the contractor should confirm with the office that covers your address.

An open pergola gives partial shade that shifts through the day, depending on slat spacing, depth and direction. Adding a fabric canopy, closer slats or adjustable louvers increases it. If you want shelter from rain too, a covered deck is the better fit.