deck height at doors

[m beezo]

I usually see decks built so they are at the same level as the doors of the house. However I also notice that many houses have a step down as soon as you walk out the door of a house. On my house that is the way it is done. You open the door and immediately take a step down to the front porch or a step down and start going down the back steps.
How do you guys build them? Step down or at the level of the door threshold? And is it a matter of opinion or is one way better than another?

[plhalle]

Personally I prefer to see a step down. In our area it is typically 3.5 to 4 inches. I think that it is easier to weatherproof and ands some sort of insurance against snow melt.

That being said codes and ledger board attachment requirements can cause issues. I think that there is a video or two on thisiscarpentry on this. Someone here will remember them.

Peter

[NW Architect]

Step down is best. If you try to make it flush, you run into challenges with code separation between framing and paving, and with manufacturer standards for separation between siding and paving. If the floor is framed, rather than slab-on grade, you also have the thickness of the mudsill and the subfloor to deal with.
Add up a 2" clearance, a minimum 1-1/2" mudsill, and 1-1/4" subfloor, you are already at 4-3/4".

[AndyGump]

I positively prefer to have the two as close to the same height as possible and/or practical. If they are in a covered area great, easy enough to accomplish.
If non-covered then a little fancy flashing and thinking is required.

Andy.

[S.Joisey]

Clients like it flush, I as a contractor like a min 4" step down, for the reasons others have stated.

I believe that a step down less that 4" is considered a trip hazard. Is this true?

[m beezo]

I would think the less than 4 inches would be what I would think of as a trip hazard. Not sure if it is a code thing or not. My thinking is that if every other set of steps is 7 inches then the step height should be something very close to that just because of what folks are used to. One thing I think of for many of my decks is that folks are often carrying a tray of drinks or platters of food in and out and make it something they are used to-either the same height as the floor or a step down. But in between seems wrong to me.

However going down very much means you would often not have any or much of the band board to go into if you are attaching to the house. If it is a free standing then it is not an issue.

[miterme]

I've been told the first step down had to be a landing in depth, ie 4-7 3/4" down from the door opening and as wide as the door and 36" in depth. I actually failed one time on an inswing door with just a step down and then a landing. I had to bring the step out 36", inspector said the exterior door was egress, even though it was in the rear.

[ThingOfBeauty]

I've been told the first step down had to be a landing in depth, ie 4-7 3/4" down from the door opening and as wide as the door and 36" in depth. I actually failed one time on an inswing door with just a step down and then a landing. I had to bring the step out 36", inspector said the exterior door was egress, even though it was in the rear.

That was clarified in the 2012 code, only one door on a home is the 'egress' door which requires a 36" landing on each side.
Other doors can have three risers right outside, as long as the main door doesn't swing over it; storm or screen doors don't count.

[JasonSandell]

I would suggest you to built it in level of your door. It would be safe for your children too.

[joseph]

clients ask for it to be at same level .but it is much better for the door to have a drop . Doors tend to last better ,or at least the bottom 6" . The flush thing is in many situations just asking for trouble .I tend to do or not do on a case by case basis .As for the step height ,because theres a door opening ,as in jambs to get a persons attention I believe that the tripping thing is lessoned enough to not be my big concern .I wonder if there is any research on this . Code sets threshold height less then 1 1/2".I guess that means to make it more it would have to be a step .
Love to here the statistics on this .

[scottish joiner]

We do alot of acces ramps for disabled and older clients, we run then 10mm bellow the the threshold to stop water building up should there be a freeze, its really down to the customer so give them an educated option.