Wrong size deck installed (10'x10' rather than 10'x14')

This item was the first we encountered in the building of the house and it was truly baffling to say the least. This one occurred while the site superintendent was on holiday and the following are the sequence of events as best as we could determine:

  • Contract specified 10'x14' deck as an upgrade from standard.
  • Plat drawing in inspections box specifies 10'x12' for no particular reason...the builder's standard is 10'x10'.
  • Superintendent ordered 14' lumber for the deck.
  • The contractor took the 14' stock and cut it to 10' and built the 10'x10' deck that we found after we returned from holiday on Ocean Isle.
This one was bizarre for several reasons, not the least of which was a carpenter confronted with much more expensive 14' boards taking the decision to cut them down to 10' without asking anyone why 14' stock was ordered. One might have thought the first question that occurred was why did the superintendent order 14' stock?!? And then it should have occurred to that person to ask for clarification before cutting down the lumber...you know, the old measure twice, cut once rule!

Houston, we have a problem! The first image shows the deck itself, the second shows that the deck should have ended much closer to the middle red line.





Our superintendent was not a happy camper when he found out about this particularly considering how much more expensive 14' boards are than the 10' ones! In fact, he was quite put out and I'm sure the contractor didn't have a happy conversation.

Since then, our deck has been transplanted to one of the other houses under construction in the new phase (we think lot 13 got it!) and the deck that is now on the house seems a more appropriate size.