Replies

1. 
   user-201496 | May 22, 2007 05:32am | #1

   A deck with railings will feel much larger than a deck without railings. My house has a 2 1/2 high level deck that is 7' deep and feels much larger than my in-laws 8' deep 3' high deck without railings. That said what you describe would need to be at least 10' X 12' and larger if acess to a deck level exit is in the equation.

1. 
   jockotoo | May 26, 2007 01:31am | #13

   this is to every one who responded to my question about deck size w/ table . THANK YOU ALL . we went with the 10 ' deck . he was not happy but he will live .

1. 
   Matt | May 29, 2007 04:06am | #14

   Why was he not happy? 

2. 
   CapnMac | May 22, 2007 05:32am | #2

   Dang it, now I have to go digging in my all-too-short stack of Fine CabinetMaking, for the issue with the table sizing guidelines.  Or, I have to go crack open the code I wrote for AutoCAD that draws a room around a specific-sized table <sigh>.

   But, yer boss is daft.  8' - 4' = 4'  4' / 2 = 2'  That's scant room for a 26"x26" plastic chair, or a 30"x30" metal chair to pull back into.  Your deck needs to be at least 10' square, and 10' x 12' if possible; but that's just my opinion.

   Now, you might could get by with 9'x9', but you'd need to "bench" it rather than use "straight up" railings (making the deck around (18" * 2) + 9', or about 10 x 12' (go figure <g> . . . )

   In case I've been too obtuse, the space required is at least the depth of the chairs, twice, and the table, and a tad more--unless you want a deck that feels like a too-trendy NYC eatery.

   Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
3. 
   MtnBoy | May 22, 2007 12:32pm | #3

   You're supposed to allow a minimum of 2 1/2 feet per chair(includes space to push back, get in and out), so that's 9 feet each way with your 4 foot table. But those are indoor rules; never saw any specifically for outdoors. So, if you don't mind bumping your legs on the rails, at least your shoulders are clear if you're outdoors and the boss insists on a deck that's clearly too small.

   Plus, you're supposed to increase that 2 1/2 feet for a walk-by corridor, so it depends on where doors, steps are. Do you really need a set of written rules to decide this? Well, ok, maybe to convince the boss. Mock it up on the ground with props and he can probably better relate to it. Or is he just being cheap?

4. 
   Piffin | May 22, 2007 01:02pm | #4

   I'd hate to get you fired, 'cause the boss is always the boss, no matter how wrong he is.

   But it would be impractical to build this that size for that use. With rails for safety, it might get by OK at 10x10, but you sound like no rails so there should be an added asafety setback too, IMO.

   How high is this off the ground?

   I have a deck 24 by 10. We have that same set of table and chairs at the one end of it. Eight feet hiogh and railings around.

   We can get into and use it at the 10x10 size only because the one end of that space is open. Getting to the back chair is difficult. I think in a kitchen design setting, with walls, the design standards I recal would be requiring a minimum of around nine feet for that useage, but IMO, that is for munchkins, not people, and you can't fall off with walls around you.

   now, how to handle the boss and change his mind for him...

    

    

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   Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
    where ...
   Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   Piffin | May 22, 2007 01:16pm | #5

   OK, so I just checked my architects portable handbook and interior designers portable handbook for their guidlines on seating arrangements. The ID one shows 34" to 42" from edge of table to wall, and the archy one shows 36" to 44" My m3emory of the K&BDA standards was for 30" seating plus 18" walk by and shove back space for a total of 48"so looking at those three, with a 48" table, you see a minimum of nine feet eight inch, up to a recommended of twel;ve feet 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

5. 
   DanH | May 22, 2007 01:19pm | #6

   Straight chairs or reclining/rocking chairs? You need about another 2 feet all around for the latter.

   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
6. 
   mike_maines | May 22, 2007 01:45pm | #7

   Instead of having the chairs in the 8' direction, they can be tucked into the corners which means the deck functions more like 11' in either direction.

1. 
   Piffin | May 22, 2007 02:09pm | #8

   You still have to get into them in the first place though. Maybe use PL on the legs to keep them in place on the deck for safety, then have a little minicrane to lower people's bodies into them 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   mike_maines | May 22, 2007 02:12pm | #9

   I DO love PL ;-)

   I forgot the table is 48".  My deck is 10' x 16' and the table is only 30" or so, and there's plenty of room.  That big table takes up a lot of space.

7. 
   Matt | May 22, 2007 05:34pm | #10

   A 48" table requires a 12' wide deck to feel comfortable.  It can fit on a 10' deck but it will be a bit cramped.  An 8' deck with a 4' would be very cramped - not enough room to walk behind the chairs to get to the back side of the table, etc.  When I was building decks, if someone wanted a < 12' deck I would recommend that they got a 42" or 36" table.

8. 
   fingersandtoes | May 22, 2007 05:36pm | #11

   Think of the deck the same way you would any other room. An 8' x 8' dining room just doesn't work. The rule of thumb I have always used is 6' for chairs facing the same way. 8' allows them to face each other for conversation. 10' if you throw a table in there.

1. 
   Snort | May 22, 2007 08:24pm | #12

   While I wouldn't push this on a client, here's a 4' table on an 8' porch...and, when unexpected guests hop over, there's even a little extra seating on top of the table<G> Outside of the gates the trucks were unloadin',

   The weather was hot, a-nearly 90 degrees.

   The man standin' next to me, his head was exploding,

   Well, I was prayin' the pieces wouldn't fall on me.