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Can You Fix The Gap Between Deck And House? (How To)

When you look at the area between the deck and your house, you may notice that there is a gap. Is this an issue and if it is, can it be fixed?

A freestanding deck will have up to a three-quarter inch gap between the home and the deck. This is to allow water to go through and keep rot from taking place in either the deck or the framing of the house.

Wooden deck outside the house

Of course, not every deck is going to be freestanding and at times, you may have a deck that is built attached to the house but it starts to form a gap over the course of time. This is a different issue altogether.

Can You Fix The Gap Between Deck And House? (How To)

If you do have a gap between the deck and the house, it’s important to identify why it is occurring. Simply fixing the issue without taking care of anything that may be behind the issue is going to be problematic.

In addition, you need to ensure that you are doing everything properly so that the gap does not appear at any time in the future. Since you are already doing repairs at this point, now is the time to fix everything properly and permanently.

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why you would want to fill a gap between the house and the deck, what is causing it, and some ideas on how to fix the problem once and for all.

Why You Should Fix The Gap Between Deck And House

Man fixing the wooden deck

Perhaps one of the more common questions that many homeowners have is why they should fix the gap between the deck and the house. After all, if it isn’t a problem, is it really necessary to fix it?

One of the main reasons why people want to fix the gap between the deck and the house is because it looks bad. This is especially true if the gap continues to widen over time.

Aside from the cosmetic aspect associated with it, there may also be some other issues that can commonly occur as well. Here are a few to consider:

1. Tripping – Since you are going to be crossing the threshold from the deck to the house, any gap that exists could end up creating a tripping hazard. Although some gaps only widen horizontally, there are also some that gain a little height, and any ledge, even small, could cause someone to trip.

2. Dropped Items – It doesn’t happen very often but if you do happen to drop something that goes into the gap between the deck and the house, you may have a difficult time retrieving it. In some cases, it may only fall part way and become lodged in the area but if it is small enough, it could fall all the way under. If you have a deck that is not easy to access the underside, then this could be a problem.

3. Underlying Issues – When a gap appears between the deck and the house and continues to get larger, it is not always happening because of something easy. Sometimes, there are going to be issues that occur behind the scenes and those are issues that need to be fixed as quickly as possible.

What Is Causing The Gap Between Deck And House?

Confused man standing

As we discussed, there are reasons why this issue may occur and it may be more than just a simple fix.

A common reason why gaps form between the deck and the house is because of shrinkage or expansion. As decks are exposed to the weather, they will either gather moisture and expand or dry out and contract. This can cause a gap and can even cause it to widen.

Another issue that can cause a gap between the deck and the house is when the deck settles. This can occur in the first year, especially in areas that are prone to freezing temperatures.

As the ground freezes and thaws, it can cause the deck to settle and it doesn’t always settle evenly. Eventually, it may start to pull away from the home and that can be a problem.

One other potential problem is for the foundation of the deck to be rotting. If there is damage occurring to the foundation, then it is likely to show up as a gap. This includes the gap that could occur between the deck and the house.

How To Prevent Gaps From Forming Between Deck And House

Confused man standing

Sometimes, you need to dig in and fix the problem when a gap appears between the deck and the house. At other times, it’s better to act in advance to prevent the problem.

The easiest way to prevent a gap from forming between the house and the deck is to build the foundation properly. A solid foundation will keep the deck rock-steady and keep it from shifting, which is what often causes the gap to appear.

Sometimes, this may mean taking extra precautions when it comes to digging the foundation for the deck. This can be a problem because it is extra work but if you live in an area that has a freeze-thaw cycle, then you want to get the foundation low enough that it gets below the frost line.

Perhaps the best thing you can do is to check with a local engineer or at the very least, look at the regulations in your local area. Even nearby areas can provide information that will give you an indication of how the foundation to the deck should be built.

How To Fix The Gap Between Deck and House (Add a Ledger)

Confused man standing

If you notice a gap forming between the deck and the house, you sometimes need to rethink how the deck was built. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of attaching the deck and getting it over with.

Freestanding decks have their own benefits but sometimes, you need to attach the deck to the house to keep gaps from forming too quickly. It’s a quick fix compared to some of the other issues that can be looked into.

If you are going to attach the deck to the house, you will have to remove the siding and install everything that is necessary to connect it properly. This would include a ledger and flashing.

The problem is, if you are going to attach a freestanding deck to the house to prevent the gap, then you are going to have a lot of extra work in front of you. Sometimes, you have to take apart parts of the deck in order to get this to work properly.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on September 20, 2022.

In the end, it is really up to the homeowner to decide if they are going to attach the deck or leave it as a freestanding option. Honestly, if you have a gap of a few inches, that is not a bad thing.

How To Fix The Gap Between Deck and House (Fix the Foundation)

Confused man standing

When gaps form between the deck and the house, the foundation may be to blame. It’s not always about fixing what you can see but sometimes, it’s about fixing what you can see.

If the foundation is a problem, you don’t necessarily want to attach the deck to the house in an effort to fix the issue. The problem is, you will be using the house to keep the deck in place and that is not always going to work in your favor.

Sometimes, attaching the deck in this way is going to cause a gap to open once again. In addition, it can cause structural problems that may show up years later.

Disassemble the deck, fix any foundation problems that you have and add some additional foundation posts if necessary. You can then reconstruct the deck, install a proper ledger with flashing and attach it to the house. That should fix any problems you have.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on September 20, 2022.

How To Fix The Gap Between Deck and House (Add a New Beam)

Confused man standing

Is it always necessary to do something extreme when you have a gap between the house and the deck? Not always, but sometimes it’s the best choice.

One of the first things that most homeowners will do is try to add additional beams to help support the foundation when problems exist. This can work well, but you need to plan according to the area where you live.

If you live in an area where there is a frost line, you would obviously need to install the new support below that area. In the first freeze and thaw cycle, however, problems are likely to occur because some shifting will take place.

That shifting will occur with the newer beams and not necessarily with the older beams. That type of movement can cause problems with the overall deck, including buckling and additional separation.

If you install the new foundation properly, however, it can work along with the old foundation to keep the deck in place. You can then think about attaching the deck to the house to prevent any gap from forming.

ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on September 20, 2022.

If you have a gap between the deck and your house, it can sometimes be fixed by attaching the deck to the house. You need to consider, however, if the freestanding deck doesn’t have its own benefits, including allowing water to flow between the deck and the house and preventing damage to either in the process.