Terms & Definitions

(as they refer to the Floating Foundation Deck System)

# | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

- # -

3/4” Plywood – 4’x8’ sheet of a laminate, 3/4” thick, made of thin layers of wood.

2"x4" Pressure Treated Lumber - 2” x 4” pressure treated lumber in various lengths, In deck construction it is often used as handrails.

2"x6" Pressure Treated Lumber - 2” x 6” pressure treated lumber in various lengths, use as support boards and surface boards.

4"x4" - a 4" x 4" post used as a support brace in deck building.

5/4" Decking Material - a lower profile decking. When using this material your support boards should be 16" on center.

16 inch Centers - this is the typical spacing between support boards for 5/4" wood and most composites. When building with composites always check the manufacturers specifications.

- A -

Anchor Kit - in high wind zones, the use of a Anchor or tie-down kit may be required by local building codes. The kit works by using two augers that screw into the ground, and have an attached cable or strap that run over the deck. Often times it is installed between the support frame and the decking.

Arbor - a shady resting place in a garden, park, or yard often made of wood or latticework on which plants, such as climbing shrubs or vines, are grown. These should be secured to the ground with footings.

- B -

Blocking Board - a board up to 7.5" in length added to the outside support boards that will allow for a fascia to be installed.

Bracing Board - (see blocking board)

Building Code - set of standards established and enforced by local government for the structural safety of buildings and other structures.

Building Inspector - an individual who examines buildings and structures to ensure that their construction, alteration, or repair complies with building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications.

Building Permit - a document authorizing the holder to construct a building or structure, of a particular kind, on a particular lot.

- C -

Carriage Bolt - round headed self holding screw due to its ability to sink and hold itself in wood. The bolt is secured with a washer and nut.Chalk Line - a cord rubbed with chalk used to mark straight lines on boards or other material. Usually used to aid in cutting or laying out material in a straight line.

Circumference - the length or total distance of a circles outer edge.

Composite Decking Material - decking product manufactured from recycled materials. The average composite decking requires support boards that are 16" on center though some may require support boards spaced as close as 12" on center. Always check the manufacturers specifications..

Compound Miter Angle - an angle of both the horizontal and vertical access.

Compound Miter Saw - allows a cut to be made at both a vertical and horizontal angle.

Counter Sink Bit - allow screws and bolts to seat into the wood properly.

Coping - the top layer or course of a wall, usually having a slanting upper surface. Often found around the edge of a swimming pool.

Corner - when two boards come together at an angle they will form a corner.

Corner Bracket - used on some decks for additional support and connection strength where two boards come together forming a corner.

Cross Bracing Boards - used to add stability to taller structures. We recommend using cross-bracing around the perimeter of your deck any time your deck height exceeds 30" (Also note that we do not recommend deck heights over 5 feet). This is typically done with 2"x4" boards secured at alternating angles between the 4"x4" support boards.

- D -

Deck Screw - used to secure and hold deck boards together.

Deck Spacer Tool - used to quickly space your decking or balusters at equal distances.

DekBrands - your source for the floating foundation deck system.

Dek-Block® Piers - concrete block that accepts a 2"x6" board or 4"x4" post, used to build decks without the need to dig footings.

Dek-Block Pocket - the recessed area on the top side of a Dek-Block Pier® that accepts a 4"x4" post.

Dek-Block Slot - the areas on the top side of a Dek-Block Pier® that allow a 2"x6" support board to rest in the block.

Diagonal Bracing - (See Cross Bracing)

Diameter - the length of a straight line passing through the center of a circle and connecting two points on the circumference.

- E -

Elevation - the height to which something is elevated above a point of reference such as the ground.

End Board - the 2"x6" board on located on two sides of the decks perimeter and attach to the end of each support boards. Hoses boards do not have dek-block piers under them and are non-load bearing.

- F -

Fascia - can be placed on the outside support boards with the use of blocking boards to cover up the exposed deck block piers.

Finished Lumber Size -the actual size of a finished board is typically 1/2 " smaller than the boards name states. For instance a 2" x 4" is actually 1.5 " x 3.5 ".

Five Quarter Decking Material (5/4") - used for decking, the 5/4"x6" board comes in various lengths and wood types. When building with 5/4" you should have your support boards spaced no further than 16" apart.

Floating Foundation Deck System - a free standing deck built using Dek-Block Piers®.

Foliage - an ornamental representation of leaves, stems, and flowers, especially in architecture.

Foundation - the basis on which something stands or is supported; a base; lowest support of a structure.

Four by Four - a 4" x 4" post used as a support brace in deck building.

Framing Plan - downloaded from our sites deck plans section, the plans show how to layout the frame to your floating foundation deck system.

Framing Square - a tool used in construction that has a 90 degree angle.

Frost - when the temperature drops to freezing, the moisture in the ground can freeze causing it to expand.

Frost Footing- a post anchored in a large hole, shaped like an upside down "T' filled with concrete, at or below the frost line.

Frost Heave - a vertical movement of earth, caused by water that is trapped underground in layers of soil that has become frozen.

Frost Line - the depth to which frost penetrates the earth.

Friction Joint - a point where one object or surface rubs against another.

- G -

Galvanized - to coat (iron or steel) with rust-resistant zinc.

Gazebo - freestanding, roofed, usually open-sided structure providing a shady resting place.

- H -

Handrail - a narrow railing, around the deck, to be grasped by the hand for support.

Height - a measurement of an object usually an upward distance measured on a vertical axis. Most objects are measured in Length, Width & Height.

Herringbone Pattern - a pattern consisting of rows of slanted parallel lines with the direction of the slant alternating row by row.

Horizontal - parallel to or in the plane of the horizon.

- I -

- J -

Joist Hanger - metal bracket used to transfer loads from one support to another.

- K -

- L -

Lag Bolt - bolt that is used to hold two objects together by passing through both objects with a washer on both sides and then secured with a nut.

Lag Screw - large wood screw with a bolt head used to screw two objects together.

Length - the measurement of an object, usually the measurement of an objects greatest dimension. Most objects are measured in Length, Width & Height.

Level -a tool used in building that can determine whether a surface is horizontal, or vertical.

Long Side of Board - when a board is cut at an angle the angle has a long point and a short point.

- M -

Miter Box - used for cutting angles.

Metal Coping - the edging around most above ground pools.

- N -

New Construction - any land that has been recently backfilled, should be left to settle for at least 2 years before building.

- O -

Octagonal - having eight sides and eight angles.

On Center - when spacing support boards, you position the center of the support board at the spacing measurement not the side of the board.

Oval - resembling an ellipse in shape, elliptical.

- P -

Parallel -two objects that are equally spaced apart from each other and never touch. Railroad rails for instance.

Pergola - an arbor or a passageway of columns supporting a roof of trellis work on which climbing plants are trained to grow.

Perimeter - the outer limits of an area.

Perpendicular - intersecting at or forming right angles. The letter "T" has is made of two lines that run perpendicular to each other.

Plumb - to make perfectly vertical.

Post Pocket - Each Dek-Block® Pier has a pocket that will accept a 4"x4" post.

Pressure Treated - lumber that has been soaked in a chemical to resist rot.

PSI - acronym for Per Square Inch; unit of measure to describe a distribution of a measurement.

PSF - acronym for Per Square Foot, unit of measure to describe.

- Q -

- R -

Rectangular - having four right angles.

Redwood Decking Material - any of various woods having a reddish color or yielding a red dye used for decking.

Rise - see stair rise

Run - see stair run

- S -

Short Side of Board - when a board is cut at an angle the angle the angle will cause the board to have one side that is shorter than the other.

Sixteen Inch on Center - When building with 5/4" decking you should space your support boards 16" on center.

Spindles - vertical sections placed between the handrail and the stair tread or stair stringer.

Squaring the Frame - to ensure your deck is square, measure the distance diagonally from the corners of the deck. When both the distances are equal your deck is square.

Stair Stringers - inclined boards in which the treads and risers are attached. Stringers provide the support for the stairs.

Stair Rise -the vertical distance between the upper surfaces of two consecutive treads.

Stair Tread - the horizontal part of a staircase upon which the foot is placed, surface boards.

Stair Run - horizontal part of a staircase stringer.

Structure - something built or constructed.

Support Boards - 2"x6" boards that run parallel to each other and are spaced accordingly. The Dek-Block Piers® are placed under the support boards.

Support Frame - support structure made up of a number of support boards and 2 end boards that the surface boards (decking) is placed on top of.

Surface Boards - often referred to as decking. It is the material secured to the support frame that creates the final surface for walking on.

- T -

Three Quarter Inch Plywood (¾") - 4'x8' sheet of a laminate, ¾" thick, made of thin layers of wood.

Threshold - a piece of wood or stone placed beneath a door, a doorsill.

Tie Down Kit - used to anchor a structure to the ground.

Toe-Nailing or Toe-Screwing - to drive a nail/screw in at an angle from the SIDE of one board into the top or face of another.

Top Rail - see handrail.

Tread - see stair tread

Treated - the board has been soaked in a chemical to resist rot.

Trip Hazard - these can be caused by unexpected changes in surface heights usually in small amounts of 1" -6".

Truss Plate - flat metal plate that joins two supports boards that are positioned end to end.

- U -

- V -

Vertical - being situated at a right angle to the horizon; upright.

- W -

Washer - a flat disk placed beneath a nut or bolt or at a joint to relieve friction, or distribute pressure.

Width - measurement of something usually side to side. Most objects are measured in Length, Width & Height.

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- Y -

- Z -