Deck Tips News Letter         Hillside Decks, The Basics:

If you have view property, one of the best ways to capitalize on the view is with a strategically placed hillside deck. Design-wise, always go for the view! Most Southern California cities have special ordinances on hillside building, and decks are considered a structure, like a house or garage, and have to conform to all the same zoning rules and set-backs. Usually, you will need a geology soils report, quite often a professional survey, and almost always it will need to be engineered. There are general rules on the engineering, like the depth of the grade beam and caissons, but this may vary with soil conditions, sometimes having to dig down to bedrock, which may be 20 feet or more and gets expensive. If it is in a high fire zone, a fire resistant skirt around the structure of the deck may be required. If you are rebuilding a previously permitted deck, it may need to be upgraded to current standards. The hillside deck is one project where you will most likely need a professional to work with, and an excellent way to start would be to contact us! For pictures, see our Decks page!