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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTo draw a useful deck plan, start with the intended use and site constraints, make a scaled layout of the footprint and access, then add a framing plan showing how the deck will be supported and connected. Before buying materials or building, confirm the design path, permit documents and local requirements with your building department. A drawing or software report helps communicate a design; it does not establish code compliance or approval.
1. Define the deck’s purpose and site constraints
Begin with a short brief. Decide whether the deck is primarily for dining, relaxing, entertaining, circulation, or access to the yard. The intended use helps you assess usable area, access and the space needed for furniture or movement.
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Record the conditions that will shape the layout:
- House doors and windows, including the route from the house to the deck.
- Available yard space, grade changes and the deck’s proposed height above grade.
- Utilities, trees, existing structures and other obstructions.
- Desired shade and privacy, along with a target footprint and budget.
These are design prompts, not a prescribed deck size. Compare layouts against the actual site rather than assuming one shape or footprint is best.
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Choose a scale that lets you fit the plan on a page while keeping dimensions legible. Show the house wall and relevant openings, then draw the deck outline and label its overall length and width. Include the proposed height above grade, stairs, any landings, and important obstructions. Mark dimensions clearly enough that someone else can understand the footprint without estimating from the drawing.
Simpson Strong-Tie’s Deck Planner supports 2D or 3D design and can produce a render and plan view, as well as material and permit-submittal information. Its desktop web version requires a supported browser on a desktop or laptop. Treat these outputs as drafting aids: the planner’s report is not permit approval, and its contents do not prove that the proposed deck meets local requirements.
3. Add the framing plan
A finished-surface sketch does not explain how the deck stands up. Add a separate framing plan, aligned to the same footprint and dimensions, that communicates the support layout and key structural information. The American Wood Council’s DCA 6 Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide includes a framing-plan example in Figure 5 that is useful as a checklist.
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- Joist direction, spacing and spans.
- Beam locations, posts and footings.
- Rim framing, stairs and openings.
- Whether the deck uses a house ledger or independent support.
- Lumber species and sizes where established.
- Ledger fastener type and spacing when attached to the house.
DCA 6 is a prescriptive wood-deck guide based on the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC), not a universal design approval. Apply its tables and details only within their stated assumptions and where accepted by local rules. Unusual geometry, height, loads, attachment conditions or site conditions may call for a different design path or professional review.
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Trace the load path on the plan: from joists to beams, beams to posts, posts to footings, and—if the deck is attached—from the ledger into the house. Identify the connection details that need to be selected, including joist-to-beam, beam-to-post, guard-post and stair-stringer connections.
Connector and fastener choice depends on the framing, loads, exposure and applicable code. Simpson Strong-Tie’s Deck Connection and Fastening Guide discusses these connection categories and selection considerations. Do not copy a generic hanger or fastener count onto a plan without confirming that it suits the actual design and its governing requirements.
5. Confirm the permit and local design requirements
Before purchasing materials or beginning construction, contact the local building department—the authority having jurisdiction. Requirements depend on the location and project. Ask:
- Which code edition is adopted, and whether the proposed deck needs a permit.
- Which drawings, calculations or other submittal documents are required.
- What zoning and setback rules apply.
- What footing, soil, frost and loading requirements apply at the site.
- What rules govern guards, stairs and inspections.
Simpson’s planner and software FAQ describe plan and report outputs that may help with a submittal, but only the local authority can confirm what it requires and whether a design is approved. The FAQ also describes ledger-attachment information in the report; that information is not a substitute for checking the actual house and local design basis.
6. Make a material takeoff and compare layouts
Once the layout and framing plan agree, use their dimensions to prepare a takeoff for lumber, decking, railing, connectors and fasteners. Simpson says its planner produces a bill of materials covering lumber, decking, railing and hardware, and offers dealer-location options. Verify quantities against the final plan and local supplier information rather than treating a software estimate as a purchase order.
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When comparing alternatives, review usable area, circulation and yard access alongside the support arrangement, material needs, appearance, local cost estimates and approval complexity. If you change spans, stairs, openings or the attachment approach, revise both drawings and recalculate the takeoff.
One detail not to infer from a table
The American Wood Council’s September 30, 2021 DCA 6 overhang FAQ explains why Table 2 can show larger overhang limits at wider joist spacing: the limit may be controlled either by point-load deflection or by a cap of one-quarter of the main span, and changes in main-span length affect overhang stiffness. This explains that table’s behavior; it is not a method for choosing an overhang independently of the full design.
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