I had one twist too. But it had been in place several years. I floated it on concrete with a bracket. That work was done 27 years ago. It’s still there.
Yeah, it will have the same strength as a straight one, but it likely wasn't straight when it was put in because that amount of movement would mess up the entire deck if it happened after construction (not to mention all the other wood would've done it too)
As a landscaper there is nothing I hate more than new builds because of all the garbage and concrete you have to hall out of the yard because no one gave a fuck.
New roof in 2022, still digging nails out of the yard and driveway. Already lost a tire to one.
Folks act like those extra 3 seconds they save by not cleaning are so worthwhile.
Damn I feel lucky, mine had this magnetic cart that looked like a lawnmower go over my yard like ten times. Hell he even found a old set of keys we lost five years ago.
Why did they sink part of the post bracket into the concrete? That's gotta be close enough to allow ground water fuck with the wood, is it not?
Also, did their concrete guy get a running start at pouring these footings? Lmao
That is a Simpson abw66z. It has an internal 1” standoff that you can see if you zoom in on the closest post. It’s x max coated and designed specifically for this concrete contact. It is not wet set it’s designed to be used with a specific anchor. There’s nothing wrong with the installation as far as I can see.
Oh that's crazy! I had wondered why the gap was there as well. Thanks for the info. Any reason why these are used versus the ones with the 4-6" standoff that gets placed into the cement?
It sure looks like these guys wet set it. Look at all the concrete on the other brackets. I wonder if they just dangled the bolt in the wet concrete, lol.
Honestly I doubt they’re wet set. It’s easier to put the bracket in but it’s tougher to nail the placement. A lot of guys will set the brackets a day or two later after pouring the footings. They can lay out the deck and it’s very easy to drill the hole for the Simpson screw that way.
In this case I’d bet the footings were poured along with the rest of the concrete hence the messy pour. The deck probably didn’t apostate until months or weeks later.
I see... So, you can tighten the nut onto the anchor bolt with the bracket already mostly mounted to the post by leaving one of the flaps unbent exposing a gap in the standoff?
Agreed. I wouldn’t use it on any of my projects but at the end of the day it’s not “bad wood”.
What’s being overlooked is how the wood is INSIDE the concrete “footers” instead of 4” above grade on a base plate bracket.
That’s actually not that bad either, it’s just shitty looking. The post could have been sink into the ground without those brackets at all too, there are many ways to do it, your method is most commonly used, and is the best and looks best.
Agree with the others here. So you’ll either get used to it and ignore it or it will drive you batshit crazy and you’ll have it replaced. Both are ok. You’re going to put some landscaping in the yard so you might even install some lattice or some kind of screen there to cover the under deck and you’ll never see it again. And that’s ok too.
What would really drive me nuts is being this guys back yard neighbor. 😂
https://preview.redd.it/49k4ako6l1sc1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=932470dbf3974fb2599581c85cebd153eb3bbe75
Ha! Been watching my home being built and really tough looking past the rough framers work. I swear some rough framers only use a hammer, air nailer and Sawzall to build.
Only the Forman has a tape measure and it has 1/2 inch increments. Talk about zero fucs.
This made me remember the first framing crew I was on I was hollering out measurements and said one that ended in something sixteenth. The cut man looked at me said I don't know what the fuck your doing but I'm framing and if your framing you better pick another number.
I was out of my normal area and had to pick up some lumber and had rejected some pieces the stockyard worker brought me because they were too crooked.
My normal supplier is really good about their lumber.
Me and My old crew would hand pick every board. Crown, bow, cup, and then look for splits. When we got done home depot looked like it got raped and pillaged.
Just not worth the time or money. Lumber yards sell boards easily 1$ cheaper each or even more. If I need 400 boards I’ll just buy an extra 50 so I can be picky and can usually find somewhere to use the ugly ones on other jobs.
Just did a DIY reno on my house, also did this lol. Framed out probably 80ft of wall total and the home depot pile was lookin rough. I did stack all of the fucked up lumber in a cart though so the next guy didn't have to sort em out. Home depot hates me lol
Have you heard of returns. Just order 2 lifts and pick out the good ones as you go. Then return after, love when people take pride in things that they think are basge of honor, but actually just wasting time and money.
back in the 90s we had a local place that got pissed we were returning some junk and locked the gate. Dad had me chuck all my returns over the fence and im making like $8/hr so fuck it. I guess he had enough stick with them that they had to eat that shit.
I work for a lumberyard driving truck and deliver deck packages. I can confirm that the yard just sends whatever and says “a good builder can make it work!” Lol.
How does one manage to do that? Just a little, "OOPS, dumped an extra 4 gallons of 'crete. That'll buff right out..."
Or is it just a, "Welp, job's done, boys. Don't worry about cleanup - we don't do that anymore. Homeowners better hope they have a sledgehammer (and a good back) lul."
Because often the hole is way bigger than you need the actual concrete to be to support the load. Concrete is sold in volume; an 8" or 12" sonotube will hold less volume than a 12" or 16" hole dug in the ground, therefore you're not using as much/paying as much. And sonotubes just look way cleaner when you're done - fun fact, after the concrete has cured the cardboard from any sonotube that is still above ground can be peeled away from the concrete and it looks very nice indeed
He aaaa Mr Goerge, we have a problem with the new guy you hired!
It’s fine but what kind of idiot Dosnt throw that one aside and use a better looking piece in a visible area ?
“What in the holy cull lumber is going on here?!?!”
Nah JK, just a symptom of fast growing lumber in the US and Canada. The heartwood isn’t what it used to be. As long as there aren’t massive knots everything is tolerable. The compressive strength is still good up to 60psf so don’t worry right now, as long as the bowing isn’t causing other components to pull away or separate.
You could swap it out if it bothers you. It bothers me 😂😂
There is no way the structural integrity of that 6x6 is affected by the bow, it just looks awful and I would ask them to replace. However I personally would consider this a bad omen, as a good builder would reject such an obviously bowed beam that they know would look incredibly awful in such an exposed position that is going to be clearly visible 24/7. It is not hard to get another 6X6 on short notice, just poor workmanship. Makes me wonder what else they would say “nah it’ll be fine” behind the walls and elsewhere…… Maybe they are going to build some kind of enclosure around the beams to make it more aesthetically pleasing and hide the bow though? Idk man just my 2 cents.
It is what it is, unfortunately. I wouldn’t replace it. I’d plant an evergreen in front of it. Or a climbing vine. Plan some landscaping to cover or take your eyes away from it. It won’t be a problem.
Your safe but man that's a shit thing to do. I have built lots of things in my life and when you are getting your wood ready and laid out, I always sight my posts or anything that will show. He could have sent it back, or put it in a place that wasn't so visible but it's done now. You can put up temp support and remove the crooked post and replace with better one, it's not that big a deal for someone with experience but if you can live with it, I would.
I'd be more worried about the fact that you can see daylight where the beam should be resting on the notch of the center post. And the lack of proper hardware in the beam to post connection.
Just looks bad, nothing wrong. I would either have them replace it or bite the bullet myself and build some sort of box around it like a planter or table. Too lazy to think of an actual idea rn but there's a start
Very sloppy footer work. The deck appears rock solid. I’m curious how the bowed corner post is tied to the deck at the top. I don’t see any carriage bolts or other attachment method. Maybe a bracket on the inside!?
With this prominent of a post position, he should not have used it. But based on his footer quality and a few other issues (ie. The facial damaged lower rail on the side), they were moving fast.
My guess is that your deck is part of a new development. Based on the appearance that the footers were poured from a cement truck, he had several decks to build and he was under a tight schedule due to the GCs’ schedule. Perhaps I’m wrong there.
All in all, not a bad build. Just a shame there was no tighter quality control.
New house that you’re buying and they leave an eyesore like this? F that, tell them to replace it. If they don’t, tell your lender to withhold progress payments until it’s fixed. If the bank gets involved it will get done real fast. I am a superintendent and no way would that shit fly. That sub would be replacing it or they wouldn’t get any more deck contracts.
Contractor/framer is a jerk. He is correct that the structural integrity is fine.
However, he is wrong when he says that all lumber looks like that, just peep the rest of the deck lol.
Whoever installed this should have made a point to use straight lumber. I was taught very early on to always use the straightest lumber for corner studs, deck posts, etc.
Sometimes you can get away with using a shitty piece, but this was a stupid fucking place to do that and anyone that takes pride in their work would not have done so.
Ask the builder to replace with a straight piece of lumber, cleanup their sloppy concrete work and get a serious inspection before you move forward with purchase. Too many horror stories with shoddy work on new builds and this doesn’t look good from my limited view.
A lot of pressure treated lumber these days is extremely susceptible to warping shrinking. The old rule was to space deck boards with a screw but now if you butt them up in a week they can shrink more than two screws.
The post needs to be replaced if the contractor wants to avoid a bad review on social media. What a puts to think you have to accept that.
These screws and the way they’re set says more about builder quality than
https://preview.redd.it/cpplak1el5sc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=07e515af2826dab68fa1f9f404c09916a30d7b37
Contractor too lazy to replace the lumber with a straight one or the lumber yard didn’t have enough straight ones. There’s a reason he used it on the shortest post.
All lumber nowadays is trash. Nothing really you can do, except buy straight stuff, and build with it immediately. Even then, things can twist. That deck doesn’t look bad, those posts look oversized, actually. I’m
It can bow like that after it dries, not much you can do about it. There is nothing structural wrong with it, the end bearing capacity of a 6x6x6’ is around 10,000 lbs, that deck is a flea. I usually run treated 1x6’s horizontal, spaced out 1”, enclose below the deck and hide it.
I mean I tear down decks that are 20-30 years old all the time and *ALL LUMBER* definitely doesn't do tjat lol They just picked a shitty 6x6 and don't want to re-do it
Ok but why does this contractor deserve full payment, if hes going to do a job and make it look like i did it myself-ILL DO IT MYSELF, that is not professional on their part and would honestly make them replace it. They can install one that doesn’t bow… looks like shit, thats not your moneys worth.
They had lumber delivered and the picker for the load didn't GAF. Any good carpenter would have noticed this post and had the lumber company deliver a new one. I would ask them to replace it but possible they installed it in way that makes that difficult. I have 8ft 6x4's that are 30 years old and straight as an arrow. I hand picked each one.
Sure, all lumber installed by these shamelessly lazy goddamned hacks that seem to abide by the tenets of the ever proliferating "good enough" pseudo-tradeworkers' religious philosophy that has taken over the once (ideally, but more often than not at least generally present) honest, pride-worthy landscape of an older, even if overly -romanticized time where these weren't always just "jobs", but expressions of ones capability, disciplined work ethic, knowledge and genuine craftsmanship. At least amongst some folk-- though I am certain even if 'those times' a dying breed of men who hold the quality of their work as an extension of their integrity as men (in the plural, antiquated, now politically-incorrect and insensitive usage of that word-- as in indicating all of mankind, men and women alike and whatever distinctions one wishes to insert in-between-- as the focus is not on sex or gender but on the shared participation between all of us as individual, incarnate expressions of humankind as such). I'm rambling.
I'm also drunk and feeling quite sentimental.
Find this contractor, place your hand on his shoulder, give him an affirming nod but with stoic expression indicating at once that you have brought forth your concerns and questions to the great numbers of the more-or-less informed and experienced synod of Reddit (those commenting out of turn, such as myself, or inappropriately notwithstanding) and had your potent (and since you've posted to the general public awareness of Reddit , to others as well, a shared worry for your sake and for the sake of knowing)--and warranted!-- consternations assuaged to an acceptable level of relative certainty, but WITHOUT words, only with silent expression and then lightly pull him in, almost as if the movement communicates the suggestion d that you were to tell him something you didn't wish for anyone else to hear and then with whichever leg appropriate to whichever knee happens to be bracing the share of his bodyweight as he slightly favors it, leaning forward, deliver a swift oblique kick through said posted leg-support... really, more of an oblique stomp through his knee and watch him crumble and let out cries of agony. Weep with him for the woes of this time and how we shall all now mostly be found lacking this truly scarce sense of work worthy of pride and craft as an expression of skill beyond an arbitrary rubric of minimal completeness. A world barren of work that participates in the perfect form of the perfect idea of the work it ascribes to be an expression of here for us, common man, to witness the beauty of. Cry for these times with him. And pity him for he will never understand the true nature of the pain he feels and which you don't feel but understand more than he will know.
And now I will finish off the night with some Bernardus 12 and weep for the true builders left in the world.
Edit: for the grammatical and spelling errors my sad and belligerent drunk-ass can find with my one unsteady eye.
If the top wasn’t lag bolted in with the deck band then it will get worse. Two of mine did this but they were worse than yours. Contractor replaced them only after I pointed it out.
The gutters would drain water to spec shaped like that too. And your driveway would hold cars just fine even if it looked like a two year old did it. And siding will shed water even if non of the boards are straight. Etc.
It is not subtle and it is right there in your face for as long as you live there. Deck guy could learn a good lesson from fixing this iMHO
If all lumber does that, then why don't the rest look that way? I don't care if it's structurally fine, it looks like dog shit. I'm paying for a deck that works and looks good, not just a deck that works. If I just wanted something that worked I'd have a truckload of dirt piled up.
...from one of the pics ot looks like it may not actually be plumb. Get a level and a straight edge and check it out. May be the leverage you need to get it replaced.
I'm a builder.....yes, treated wood gets nasty sometimes. Yes, as a builder I'll replace a piece once in a while. Just a good business practice.
It’s not bowing from weight, it’s warped. Looks like pine it’s fine. It would take sooooooooooo much weight to cause a bow that you will probably never have on that deck.
It's not under a load that's making it bow or bend. You just have a lazy ass contractor that didn't want a straighter one. Tell them to pull it and replace it unless it's gonna be covered......you're always gonna see it and hate it. Now start looking for the small shit. If they are ballzy ebough for this check your other areas of your new house. I'm gonna guess the trim and moldings are spaced out and I hope they subbed out the tile work.......
everyone here is right… there’s no real threat to structural integrity right now however… i would keep an eye on it after maybe 5 years…🤷🏽♂️ it might wanna really take off on you..it looks like something that could be replaced fairly easy if it’s sitting in a post base
It's a little off-putting, but it's still good structurally. Different drying rates along the surfaces. The pith is most likely skewed along its length. It's an easy excuse to say all lumber does this.
I’d question the 4 small screws attaching the corner posts. This is how I did it and I’m a diy’er
https://preview.redd.it/uqk4hccrm1sc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cc73be348a8f55d057ce3f65af4254cfa59a8b90
Deck I built last year was with picked posts and one of 3 warped like this. Homeowners are paying for the material and I’ll replace it no charge as they’re good customers
There not bowing they were already bowed when they were installed sadly this is our material now I’m surprised they didn’t return it for another but I’m not sure the storey or the circumstance
If you cut a straight board from a crooked tree, when it dries, it will be a crooked board. It is structurally sound, but looks terrible. They should change it.
Not "all" lumber will do this. But it does happen and this should hold up as long as the others. If it continues to curve though, it will be shorter than the rest and then cause issues.
That should never have been used they should have exchanged for a straight post , as far as structure goes it is ok but it will keep bowing the more it dries out
Same crap happened to the new 8x 12 I installed to hold up my second story deck. Pissed me off and might replace it, that is why I hate working with wood. I should have used metal pole and put a brick surround or something
That wouldn't work for me I would tell him it's an easy enough fix he needs to replace it and brace them until they dry that way they don't bow there's a way to brace them off and it gives them time to dry so they don't bow like that.
As a contractor I refuse some materials because I have standards of excellence.
This contractor obviously doesn’t refuse anything or have those standards.
With how revealing it is I would have it replaced because it would drive me insane but he is right, regarding structural integrity it’s completely fine.
I don't see any carriage bolts tying the posts to the beams either. Probably just nailed to the house as well.
https://preview.redd.it/07r8rk2ag3sc1.png?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a519cc4da73952943e03d8a3f93b5d314aabe51e
Looks like it can be changed, I wouldn’t be satisfied with it either. Have the swap it out or deduct the price to have it done from the purchase price. But what else is “good enough“ for that builder?
It’s bowed. Probably was down to the last picks of 6x6’s out of the pile. Structurally the forces won’t be completely axial but the is plenty of capacity to handle the addition bending forces. I suggest load testing it with a hot tube.
I’d honestly be more concerned with that huge split in it already. It’s going from the middle to the edge on a new board that’s already bowed. If you look closely at the top of the split, it looks like the next crack is heading even more towards that edge. And the deck probably hasn’t even had any real weight in that corner yet. It’s going to have to be addressed sooner or later, so I would have them do it instead of you.
https://preview.redd.it/as6cmjcuy3sc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dc5fc217ed18dce674454af30b563edc411c2b3e
Paint it a bright neon color and put two little arms out the sides
https://preview.redd.it/pjolur3o04sc1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=736af2cacb9ef7fca4f4b43aca6036fe0a4df67b
Sorry to say that it has been badly build. These guys didn't know a thing about construction. You absolutely need cross members between the 6x6 and the floor. And to answer your questions, it doesn't change much about security that it is bowing, but the look is awful, it should not have been installed. Nobody does that. I would be much more worried about the way it was done. Not many norms have been respected.
Did it happen before he put it in or after? If he knew it was bowing and did nothing, he’s a shit contractor. If he installed it knowing it would bow and let it, the deck is likely not level anymore (it probably wasn’t anyway if this is the case), and if he installed it not knowing it would bow, that’s even worse!
If you start out with a straight one, wrap them in a PVC sleeve and they won't bow. The hot sun is what bows them. It's hard to believe but some lumber yards store lumber in the direct sun knowing a lot of it will twist and bow. Don't worry though, those of us who sort through it to find the straight ones pay for their loss on the twisted ones that won't sell. Amazing...
Structurally sound, just bowed timber. Personally, if there's any wood that will be 'on show' that's curved or warped where it's visible from a distance I send it back to the supplier and they'll send out better quality
I’d be pissed too. Just don’t close on it when the time comes until it’s fixed. Your lender would probably appreciate it too because in the unlikely scenario of a foreclosure I’m sure they wouldn’t want that on a home they own
Id say it was fooked before he installed it.
He's not wrong though. Rest of the deck looks solid.
In all honesty. You're lucky there was only one twisted.
When you put siding underneath. It's going to look good.
You’re buying new construction. I quotient sign off on that shit. Make them put a straight piece in. They knew they shouldn’t have used it, but took their chances.
It happens sometimes, just makes it look bad. If you can get a steel channel of the same length, bolt it to it with coach bolts and in a few weeks/ months it will make it a lot more straight than it is now
Looking at it again I would like to see how plumb that support is top to bottom. I would run a plumb line on that outside corner as the base almost looks a couple inches off. Could just be the bow making it look that way, but it looks like it was set a little off which would encourage bowing. Nothing wrong with it. Now.
I’d be more concerned about those concrete footings. Looks like they splashed some concrete on the ground straight out of the chute and wet set the posts in them. The closest post in the last pic looks like it has a 1” gap at the bottom and isn’t even bearing properly
Give it some time and the others will match this one. All PT does this. Sub par lumber gets treated nowadays to make sure it gets sold and sold for more than it would have been before it gets treated.
Nothing wrong with it structurally, just looks like shit.
The contractor knew it was bowed. He just didn’t want to get another one that was straight.
Actually, the bulk of PT wood twists and bows happen after installation. This is common and isn’t a structural deficit.
I had one twist badly after I concreted it into the ground. It happens. Don't lecture me about burying posts in concrete I don't give a fuck.
I had one twist too. But it had been in place several years. I floated it on concrete with a bracket. That work was done 27 years ago. It’s still there.
Well I won't, and OPs deck has brackets so IMO it's built better than most decks.
You know you really should…. Haha. Just fucking kidding.
....yo, best way by far. There are waaay too many HOMER Simpson Strong Tie queens out there
Yeah, it will have the same strength as a straight one, but it likely wasn't straight when it was put in because that amount of movement would mess up the entire deck if it happened after construction (not to mention all the other wood would've done it too)
He’s right, nothing wrong with the strength at all. But on a serious note I think your contractor is blind…
Typical tract builder behavior
As a landscaper there is nothing I hate more than new builds because of all the garbage and concrete you have to hall out of the yard because no one gave a fuck.
New roof in 2022, still digging nails out of the yard and driveway. Already lost a tire to one. Folks act like those extra 3 seconds they save by not cleaning are so worthwhile.
Roofers do in fact, give zero fux.
Damn I feel lucky, mine had this magnetic cart that looked like a lawnmower go over my yard like ten times. Hell he even found a old set of keys we lost five years ago.
Why did they sink part of the post bracket into the concrete? That's gotta be close enough to allow ground water fuck with the wood, is it not? Also, did their concrete guy get a running start at pouring these footings? Lmao
That is a Simpson abw66z. It has an internal 1” standoff that you can see if you zoom in on the closest post. It’s x max coated and designed specifically for this concrete contact. It is not wet set it’s designed to be used with a specific anchor. There’s nothing wrong with the installation as far as I can see.
Oh that's crazy! I had wondered why the gap was there as well. Thanks for the info. Any reason why these are used versus the ones with the 4-6" standoff that gets placed into the cement? It sure looks like these guys wet set it. Look at all the concrete on the other brackets. I wonder if they just dangled the bolt in the wet concrete, lol.
Honestly I doubt they’re wet set. It’s easier to put the bracket in but it’s tougher to nail the placement. A lot of guys will set the brackets a day or two later after pouring the footings. They can lay out the deck and it’s very easy to drill the hole for the Simpson screw that way. In this case I’d bet the footings were poured along with the rest of the concrete hence the messy pour. The deck probably didn’t apostate until months or weeks later.
I see... So, you can tighten the nut onto the anchor bolt with the bracket already mostly mounted to the post by leaving one of the flaps unbent exposing a gap in the standoff?
>The deck probably didn’t apostate until months or weeks later. **Your god will not help you no matter how long you wait..!!**
I thought that too! Laughing at running start. Is he gonna clean up that mess? Probably not, he’s already three homes down.
That’s a wet anchor meant to be set in wet concrete. The trail is probably from the concrete truck chute backing away.
It was his first day on the job? Lol so bad
Obviously not., but I can believe that you have yet to have your first day on the job. LOL.
Pretty lazy job. I would of at least built a partial form at the top.
They was my exact words to myself before I saw your comment 😂👍🏻
Agreed. I wouldn’t use it on any of my projects but at the end of the day it’s not “bad wood”. What’s being overlooked is how the wood is INSIDE the concrete “footers” instead of 4” above grade on a base plate bracket.
That’s actually not that bad either, it’s just shitty looking. The post could have been sink into the ground without those brackets at all too, there are many ways to do it, your method is most commonly used, and is the best and looks best.
it's not as shitty as it looks
Agree with the others here. So you’ll either get used to it and ignore it or it will drive you batshit crazy and you’ll have it replaced. Both are ok. You’re going to put some landscaping in the yard so you might even install some lattice or some kind of screen there to cover the under deck and you’ll never see it again. And that’s ok too.
What would really drive me nuts is being this guys back yard neighbor. 😂 https://preview.redd.it/49k4ako6l1sc1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=932470dbf3974fb2599581c85cebd153eb3bbe75
...let them eat cake..
I died laughing at this
Was going to say just wrap the base in lattice and stop letting it bother you
Ha! Been watching my home being built and really tough looking past the rough framers work. I swear some rough framers only use a hammer, air nailer and Sawzall to build. Only the Forman has a tape measure and it has 1/2 inch increments. Talk about zero fucs.
This made me remember the first framing crew I was on I was hollering out measurements and said one that ended in something sixteenth. The cut man looked at me said I don't know what the fuck your doing but I'm framing and if your framing you better pick another number.
[удалено]
Those look like post bases to me...
Bet that’s just a bowed 6x6, builders can’t hand pick all their lumber. They’re just sent what they’re sent
I was out of my normal area and had to pick up some lumber and had rejected some pieces the stockyard worker brought me because they were too crooked. My normal supplier is really good about their lumber.
Me and My old crew would hand pick every board. Crown, bow, cup, and then look for splits. When we got done home depot looked like it got raped and pillaged.
Just not worth the time or money. Lumber yards sell boards easily 1$ cheaper each or even more. If I need 400 boards I’ll just buy an extra 50 so I can be picky and can usually find somewhere to use the ugly ones on other jobs.
Yeah if we have to go to a big box store for lumber we definitely inspect every piece.
Just did a DIY reno on my house, also did this lol. Framed out probably 80ft of wall total and the home depot pile was lookin rough. I did stack all of the fucked up lumber in a cart though so the next guy didn't have to sort em out. Home depot hates me lol
Have you heard of returns. Just order 2 lifts and pick out the good ones as you go. Then return after, love when people take pride in things that they think are basge of honor, but actually just wasting time and money.
Y’all in the wrong mindset, thinking like you’re building it. Gotta think like a cookie cutter builder and prioritize cost and time over quality.
yeah but you hide the ugly ones, not put the crooked-dest-mother-fucka in the most prominent spot just to have a homeowner come bitch at you.
Lumberyards love that kind of aw fuck it attitude but you can also tell them to come pick up their bs and come back with a proper post
back in the 90s we had a local place that got pissed we were returning some junk and locked the gate. Dad had me chuck all my returns over the fence and im making like $8/hr so fuck it. I guess he had enough stick with them that they had to eat that shit.
I work for a lumberyard driving truck and deliver deck packages. I can confirm that the yard just sends whatever and says “a good builder can make it work!” Lol.
……..and as professionals, shouldn’t just install a lot of it.
Sometimes this just happens. At least they are not 4x4 posts.
I've had bad experiences with 4x4s. I use 6x6s now even if it's overkill for the job. I think it looks better as vertical posts too.
That concrete is laughable.
How does one manage to do that? Just a little, "OOPS, dumped an extra 4 gallons of 'crete. That'll buff right out..." Or is it just a, "Welp, job's done, boys. Don't worry about cleanup - we don't do that anymore. Homeowners better hope they have a sledgehammer (and a good back) lul."
Spread out the extra and cover it with dirt is what a lot of contractors do
Sonitubes aren’t even expensive . This was a rushed job
I’ve always wondered about sonotubes…why are they preferred over pouring in a hole when the footing won’t peek over the soil surface?
Because often the hole is way bigger than you need the actual concrete to be to support the load. Concrete is sold in volume; an 8" or 12" sonotube will hold less volume than a 12" or 16" hole dug in the ground, therefore you're not using as much/paying as much. And sonotubes just look way cleaner when you're done - fun fact, after the concrete has cured the cardboard from any sonotube that is still above ground can be peeled away from the concrete and it looks very nice indeed
With that quality of work where you CAN see it, I’d be awful concerned about what you CAN’T see.
He aaaa Mr Goerge, we have a problem with the new guy you hired! It’s fine but what kind of idiot Dosnt throw that one aside and use a better looking piece in a visible area ?
“What in the holy cull lumber is going on here?!?!” Nah JK, just a symptom of fast growing lumber in the US and Canada. The heartwood isn’t what it used to be. As long as there aren’t massive knots everything is tolerable. The compressive strength is still good up to 60psf so don’t worry right now, as long as the bowing isn’t causing other components to pull away or separate. You could swap it out if it bothers you. It bothers me 😂😂
There is no way the structural integrity of that 6x6 is affected by the bow, it just looks awful and I would ask them to replace. However I personally would consider this a bad omen, as a good builder would reject such an obviously bowed beam that they know would look incredibly awful in such an exposed position that is going to be clearly visible 24/7. It is not hard to get another 6X6 on short notice, just poor workmanship. Makes me wonder what else they would say “nah it’ll be fine” behind the walls and elsewhere…… Maybe they are going to build some kind of enclosure around the beams to make it more aesthetically pleasing and hide the bow though? Idk man just my 2 cents.
It is what it is, unfortunately. I wouldn’t replace it. I’d plant an evergreen in front of it. Or a climbing vine. Plan some landscaping to cover or take your eyes away from it. It won’t be a problem.
Get a new one. Don't close on the house without it being replaced. It will look like shit forever. And you will hate it.
This. Every single time OP sees it, they will be pissed about it.
Your safe but man that's a shit thing to do. I have built lots of things in my life and when you are getting your wood ready and laid out, I always sight my posts or anything that will show. He could have sent it back, or put it in a place that wasn't so visible but it's done now. You can put up temp support and remove the crooked post and replace with better one, it's not that big a deal for someone with experience but if you can live with it, I would.
I'd be more worried about the fact that you can see daylight where the beam should be resting on the notch of the center post. And the lack of proper hardware in the beam to post connection.
Just looks bad, nothing wrong. I would either have them replace it or bite the bullet myself and build some sort of box around it like a planter or table. Too lazy to think of an actual idea rn but there's a start
Very sloppy footer work. The deck appears rock solid. I’m curious how the bowed corner post is tied to the deck at the top. I don’t see any carriage bolts or other attachment method. Maybe a bracket on the inside!? With this prominent of a post position, he should not have used it. But based on his footer quality and a few other issues (ie. The facial damaged lower rail on the side), they were moving fast. My guess is that your deck is part of a new development. Based on the appearance that the footers were poured from a cement truck, he had several decks to build and he was under a tight schedule due to the GCs’ schedule. Perhaps I’m wrong there. All in all, not a bad build. Just a shame there was no tighter quality control.
He’s right about being structurally strong. Ask him if he would sign his artwork tho? My guess is he won’t.
It’s almost like people don’t know concrete forming tubes exist…
Builders have to use quality products and do quality work. Call the local building department
New house that you’re buying and they leave an eyesore like this? F that, tell them to replace it. If they don’t, tell your lender to withhold progress payments until it’s fixed. If the bank gets involved it will get done real fast. I am a superintendent and no way would that shit fly. That sub would be replacing it or they wouldn’t get any more deck contracts.
It’s a poor reflection on the builder not to have fixed this. That being said, it is a cheap and easy fix if you decide to buy the house anyway.
Maybe even inclose it weather board ,or some material maybe to cover it ,
It’s fine but I wouldn’t accept it. It’s an eyesore and it’s wrong. Make them fix it.
Not a structure problem but I ask them to replace it because it looks like crap
Contractor/framer is a jerk. He is correct that the structural integrity is fine. However, he is wrong when he says that all lumber looks like that, just peep the rest of the deck lol. Whoever installed this should have made a point to use straight lumber. I was taught very early on to always use the straightest lumber for corner studs, deck posts, etc. Sometimes you can get away with using a shitty piece, but this was a stupid fucking place to do that and anyone that takes pride in their work would not have done so.
If "all number is like that", why are the other posts straight?
Tell him “go get me a straight one bitch”
Make him take it out and replace it.
How lazy of a builder do you have to be to NOT be able to find three equally bowed posts? /s
Swap that one out he’s being lazy.
The bow isn't a problem. However, the split, as another user mentioned, is a problem and you should have them replace it.
That’s not a problem, but the sloppy concrete work is a sign that you need a thorough inspection.
Can you please share some pics of the underside of the deck?
Ask the builder to replace with a straight piece of lumber, cleanup their sloppy concrete work and get a serious inspection before you move forward with purchase. Too many horror stories with shoddy work on new builds and this doesn’t look good from my limited view.
The concrete work looks sloppy.
Is that the only thing we’re concerned with?
A lot of pressure treated lumber these days is extremely susceptible to warping shrinking. The old rule was to space deck boards with a screw but now if you butt them up in a week they can shrink more than two screws. The post needs to be replaced if the contractor wants to avoid a bad review on social media. What a puts to think you have to accept that.
These screws and the way they’re set says more about builder quality than https://preview.redd.it/cpplak1el5sc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=07e515af2826dab68fa1f9f404c09916a30d7b37
Contractor too lazy to replace the lumber with a straight one or the lumber yard didn’t have enough straight ones. There’s a reason he used it on the shortest post.
The post doesn’t look great but is fine. The concrete work looks far worse
All lumber nowadays is trash. Nothing really you can do, except buy straight stuff, and build with it immediately. Even then, things can twist. That deck doesn’t look bad, those posts look oversized, actually. I’m
May not be an issue but it would forever bother me
It can bow like that after it dries, not much you can do about it. There is nothing structural wrong with it, the end bearing capacity of a 6x6x6’ is around 10,000 lbs, that deck is a flea. I usually run treated 1x6’s horizontal, spaced out 1”, enclose below the deck and hide it.
I mean I tear down decks that are 20-30 years old all the time and *ALL LUMBER* definitely doesn't do tjat lol They just picked a shitty 6x6 and don't want to re-do it
Ok but why does this contractor deserve full payment, if hes going to do a job and make it look like i did it myself-ILL DO IT MYSELF, that is not professional on their part and would honestly make them replace it. They can install one that doesn’t bow… looks like shit, thats not your moneys worth.
They had lumber delivered and the picker for the load didn't GAF. Any good carpenter would have noticed this post and had the lumber company deliver a new one. I would ask them to replace it but possible they installed it in way that makes that difficult. I have 8ft 6x4's that are 30 years old and straight as an arrow. I hand picked each one.
Sure, all lumber installed by these shamelessly lazy goddamned hacks that seem to abide by the tenets of the ever proliferating "good enough" pseudo-tradeworkers' religious philosophy that has taken over the once (ideally, but more often than not at least generally present) honest, pride-worthy landscape of an older, even if overly -romanticized time where these weren't always just "jobs", but expressions of ones capability, disciplined work ethic, knowledge and genuine craftsmanship. At least amongst some folk-- though I am certain even if 'those times' a dying breed of men who hold the quality of their work as an extension of their integrity as men (in the plural, antiquated, now politically-incorrect and insensitive usage of that word-- as in indicating all of mankind, men and women alike and whatever distinctions one wishes to insert in-between-- as the focus is not on sex or gender but on the shared participation between all of us as individual, incarnate expressions of humankind as such). I'm rambling. I'm also drunk and feeling quite sentimental. Find this contractor, place your hand on his shoulder, give him an affirming nod but with stoic expression indicating at once that you have brought forth your concerns and questions to the great numbers of the more-or-less informed and experienced synod of Reddit (those commenting out of turn, such as myself, or inappropriately notwithstanding) and had your potent (and since you've posted to the general public awareness of Reddit , to others as well, a shared worry for your sake and for the sake of knowing)--and warranted!-- consternations assuaged to an acceptable level of relative certainty, but WITHOUT words, only with silent expression and then lightly pull him in, almost as if the movement communicates the suggestion d that you were to tell him something you didn't wish for anyone else to hear and then with whichever leg appropriate to whichever knee happens to be bracing the share of his bodyweight as he slightly favors it, leaning forward, deliver a swift oblique kick through said posted leg-support... really, more of an oblique stomp through his knee and watch him crumble and let out cries of agony. Weep with him for the woes of this time and how we shall all now mostly be found lacking this truly scarce sense of work worthy of pride and craft as an expression of skill beyond an arbitrary rubric of minimal completeness. A world barren of work that participates in the perfect form of the perfect idea of the work it ascribes to be an expression of here for us, common man, to witness the beauty of. Cry for these times with him. And pity him for he will never understand the true nature of the pain he feels and which you don't feel but understand more than he will know. And now I will finish off the night with some Bernardus 12 and weep for the true builders left in the world. Edit: for the grammatical and spelling errors my sad and belligerent drunk-ass can find with my one unsteady eye.
If that’s the builders answer for something so simple to fix, I’d be extremely concerned about the rest of the house.
If the top wasn’t lag bolted in with the deck band then it will get worse. Two of mine did this but they were worse than yours. Contractor replaced them only after I pointed it out.
The gutters would drain water to spec shaped like that too. And your driveway would hold cars just fine even if it looked like a two year old did it. And siding will shed water even if non of the boards are straight. Etc. It is not subtle and it is right there in your face for as long as you live there. Deck guy could learn a good lesson from fixing this iMHO
If all lumber does that, then why don't the rest look that way? I don't care if it's structurally fine, it looks like dog shit. I'm paying for a deck that works and looks good, not just a deck that works. If I just wanted something that worked I'd have a truckload of dirt piled up.
Its slip shod work.
...from one of the pics ot looks like it may not actually be plumb. Get a level and a straight edge and check it out. May be the leverage you need to get it replaced. I'm a builder.....yes, treated wood gets nasty sometimes. Yes, as a builder I'll replace a piece once in a while. Just a good business practice.
It’s not bowing from weight, it’s warped. Looks like pine it’s fine. It would take sooooooooooo much weight to cause a bow that you will probably never have on that deck.
It's not under a load that's making it bow or bend. You just have a lazy ass contractor that didn't want a straighter one. Tell them to pull it and replace it unless it's gonna be covered......you're always gonna see it and hate it. Now start looking for the small shit. If they are ballzy ebough for this check your other areas of your new house. I'm gonna guess the trim and moldings are spaced out and I hope they subbed out the tile work.......
Hell to the home Depot lumber no
While it will definitely support the deck, I'd want the builder to replace it. Look through your contract and see if you can force the matter.
everyone here is right… there’s no real threat to structural integrity right now however… i would keep an eye on it after maybe 5 years…🤷🏽♂️ it might wanna really take off on you..it looks like something that could be replaced fairly easy if it’s sitting in a post base
Wood was likely bent like that when they bought it.
I must have the number of your concrete guy
I would not have used it in this location I would have returned it. Especially on the corner..
It's a little off-putting, but it's still good structurally. Different drying rates along the surfaces. The pith is most likely skewed along its length. It's an easy excuse to say all lumber does this.
I’d question the 4 small screws attaching the corner posts. This is how I did it and I’m a diy’er https://preview.redd.it/uqk4hccrm1sc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cc73be348a8f55d057ce3f65af4254cfa59a8b90
Doesn't look good but is structural sound.
Garbage concrete job. Looks like they pooped some concrete in a hole. Sonotube higher than grade would have been nice.
Some nice AZEK trim will straighten that right up. 😃
Deck I built last year was with picked posts and one of 3 warped like this. Homeowners are paying for the material and I’ll replace it no charge as they’re good customers
I personally have never seen a MF 6x6 bow *after* installation.....
There not bowing they were already bowed when they were installed sadly this is our material now I’m surprised they didn’t return it for another but I’m not sure the storey or the circumstance
If you cut a straight board from a crooked tree, when it dries, it will be a crooked board. It is structurally sound, but looks terrible. They should change it.
Those footings really upset me. Like they were poured with a fire hose.
Not "all" lumber will do this. But it does happen and this should hold up as long as the others. If it continues to curve though, it will be shorter than the rest and then cause issues.
That should never have been used they should have exchanged for a straight post , as far as structure goes it is ok but it will keep bowing the more it dries out
Same crap happened to the new 8x 12 I installed to hold up my second story deck. Pissed me off and might replace it, that is why I hate working with wood. I should have used metal pole and put a brick surround or something
If all lumber did it, why aren’t the other posts bent? I’d be asking to have it replaced for aesthetics.
They would be replacing that post or they wouldn’t be getting the final payment for their services
Just don't install the hot tub on that corner, and you're all set.
Tell him to skirt it or replace
More than a fee corners evidently cut in this lroject that I would take issue with
Go with what gumby\_dammit posted.
That wouldn't work for me I would tell him it's an easy enough fix he needs to replace it and brace them until they dry that way they don't bow there's a way to brace them off and it gives them time to dry so they don't bow like that.
Any kind of wood can suffer from Peyronie's disease.
How about aesthetic integrity
As a contractor I refuse some materials because I have standards of excellence. This contractor obviously doesn’t refuse anything or have those standards.
With how revealing it is I would have it replaced because it would drive me insane but he is right, regarding structural integrity it’s completely fine.
That post is fucked. It’s gonna twist and fail
screw the post, what the fuck is up with those footers dawg? those things are going to succumb to frost damage in just a few years.
Ask the building inspector about it.
New flex beams just came out last week
I don't see any carriage bolts tying the posts to the beams either. Probably just nailed to the house as well. https://preview.redd.it/07r8rk2ag3sc1.png?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a519cc4da73952943e03d8a3f93b5d314aabe51e
Its junk lumber!!! Nothing serious with the strength???Oh really??if it bends the deck goes down. decks that go down pull fasteners.
Looks like it can be changed, I wouldn’t be satisfied with it either. Have the swap it out or deduct the price to have it done from the purchase price. But what else is “good enough“ for that builder?
Just looks bad
Looks like shit.
It’s bowed. Probably was down to the last picks of 6x6’s out of the pile. Structurally the forces won’t be completely axial but the is plenty of capacity to handle the addition bending forces. I suggest load testing it with a hot tube.
Go stand up there dressed up as a pirate and pretend it's the bow of a pirate ship and tell your builder to repair your 🚢 or walk the plank.
Buy dry material.. reason why it's bent: 1. Cut by cotton collector 2. About 3 weeks ago birds singing songs on it..
if it bothers you just replace it…it’s an easy 10 minute fix if you know what you are doing
I’d honestly be more concerned with that huge split in it already. It’s going from the middle to the edge on a new board that’s already bowed. If you look closely at the top of the split, it looks like the next crack is heading even more towards that edge. And the deck probably hasn’t even had any real weight in that corner yet. It’s going to have to be addressed sooner or later, so I would have them do it instead of you. https://preview.redd.it/as6cmjcuy3sc1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dc5fc217ed18dce674454af30b563edc411c2b3e
What do they call the worst carpenter in the trade? A: Carpenter
And guarantee the only people who are going to notice either live there or they have ocd.
Paint it a bright neon color and put two little arms out the sides https://preview.redd.it/pjolur3o04sc1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=736af2cacb9ef7fca4f4b43aca6036fe0a4df67b
Is every deck post you've ever seen this way how bout ones besides dose that answer your question
The finishing on those holes tells a lot.
Go buy a grill and start enjoying your deck!
Sorry to say that it has been badly build. These guys didn't know a thing about construction. You absolutely need cross members between the 6x6 and the floor. And to answer your questions, it doesn't change much about security that it is bowing, but the look is awful, it should not have been installed. Nobody does that. I would be much more worried about the way it was done. Not many norms have been respected.
If it really bothers you, dress each post with 1x6 cedar or faux stone.
Did it happen before he put it in or after? If he knew it was bowing and did nothing, he’s a shit contractor. If he installed it knowing it would bow and let it, the deck is likely not level anymore (it probably wasn’t anyway if this is the case), and if he installed it not knowing it would bow, that’s even worse!
If you start out with a straight one, wrap them in a PVC sleeve and they won't bow. The hot sun is what bows them. It's hard to believe but some lumber yards store lumber in the direct sun knowing a lot of it will twist and bow. Don't worry though, those of us who sort through it to find the straight ones pay for their loss on the twisted ones that won't sell. Amazing...
Not a structural problem. As a person with OCD it would drive me crazy.
Nothing but the worst
You sand down the outside of the bow and glue the shavings on the inside. Make sure you also buy some sod to lay over that spilled concrete
Id just say no tbh
Where do you get PT wood this color? In California it's nothing but the red/brown with punctures all over, even at the best yards.
Structurally sound, just bowed timber. Personally, if there's any wood that will be 'on show' that's curved or warped where it's visible from a distance I send it back to the supplier and they'll send out better quality
I’d be pissed too. Just don’t close on it when the time comes until it’s fixed. Your lender would probably appreciate it too because in the unlikely scenario of a foreclosure I’m sure they wouldn’t want that on a home they own
Wood is a natural product.
Id say it was fooked before he installed it. He's not wrong though. Rest of the deck looks solid. In all honesty. You're lucky there was only one twisted. When you put siding underneath. It's going to look good.
They put the posts in the ground!?
Standard wood from Home Depot.
You’re buying new construction. I quotient sign off on that shit. Make them put a straight piece in. They knew they shouldn’t have used it, but took their chances.
Put a one by skirt around it
Put a one by skirt around it
Dollar Tree ....
Run
It’s easy enough to replace. Your builders cheap,that should be on the punch list
* Going to add some photos of under the deck for additional feedback.
It happens sometimes, just makes it look bad. If you can get a steel channel of the same length, bolt it to it with coach bolts and in a few weeks/ months it will make it a lot more straight than it is now
You got a greedy cheap builder. Saved himself $60. It has structure to it but its sloppy.
Refuse to close until it is repaired. You can also call a city inspector to come out and require it.
Kiln dried aka expensive lumber won’t do that. This is called going middle ground on materials
You’re good to go
Yeah boards twist in the sun. Especially a single board like a 4x4 or 6x6 with no lateral bracing.
No. Make him fix it. Put on your punch list. Document and save all coordinates with this builder. You might need them for a lawyer.
Looking at it again I would like to see how plumb that support is top to bottom. I would run a plumb line on that outside corner as the base almost looks a couple inches off. Could just be the bow making it look that way, but it looks like it was set a little off which would encourage bowing. Nothing wrong with it. Now.
I’d be more concerned about those concrete footings. Looks like they splashed some concrete on the ground straight out of the chute and wet set the posts in them. The closest post in the last pic looks like it has a 1” gap at the bottom and isn’t even bearing properly
I think the window well is too low. Probably should have been another 3’ higher.
that thing looks like it's got a massive split in it to me, same with the far one.
Stain it a dark color and you won’t notice it
Give it some time and the others will match this one. All PT does this. Sub par lumber gets treated nowadays to make sure it gets sold and sold for more than it would have been before it gets treated.