How Much Wood Do I Need for a 12 Ft. X 12 Ft. Porch on a Mobile Home?

Frame

• Count the amount of boards in your detailed plans. If you plan to attach the porch to the mobile home, you will need to remove the siding and install one 2-by-10 inch ledger board. You will also need five posts constructed from 4-by-4 or 6-by-6 inch posts. Add an additional 25 percent wood to allow for framing pieces and waste.

Decking

• Approximately144 lineal feet of decking is needed to build a 12-by-12 foot deck. Add 15 percent of decking for waste. The size and type of decking you choose and the amount of space you plan to leave between decking boards can affect this number as well. If you plan a deck with a horizontal pattern, add another 15 percent.

Stairs

• The height of your deck should be close to the height of the doors on your mobile home. To build stairs, you will need two 2-by-12 pieces of wood to build stringers. Divide the height of your deck by 7 to determine how many stair treads you will need. These are constructed using either 2-by-4-inch or 2-by-6-inch pieces of lumber.

Finishing

• Add three 1-by-12 inch boards as a skirt-board. To construct a railing, you will need at least nine 4-by-4 inch boards and 108 spindles, which are usually made from 2-by-2-inch wooden pieces. Construct a railing from nine 4-by-4 boards to construct the three sides of railing.

Warning

• For a long-lasting deck, always use pressure-treated wood or wood that is naturally resistant to rot and damage such as redwood. Double check all local building codes including the mobile home association, before building your deck. The most accurate determination of materials will always come from a close evaluation of the materials list in your specific deck plans.