Hello, I was lurking this website after a exhausted google search about deck building stumbled to this website. Glad I found this website, have alot of questions, and welcome all constructive criticism or better alternatives. I have a double wide Mobile home with a back door approx 2' from ground level. I'm wanting to build a 18' wide X 12' deep, free standing deck with possible 6" x 6" post to support a gable roof. I had a brain storm of setting the deck post, beam joist, and rim joist on 16" x 16" concrete masonry units (CMU) buried below frost line. My first question is how close can I be to the septic tank and line without worrying about disturbing them from the elements of nature? In addition, how wide and deep does the concrete footing for my 16" X16" CMU have to be in order to avoid separation, cracking or blow out? Thanks

This house I purchased as an investment property had a spiral staircase in it and I took it out. It was in a bad location. Now I have to decide how the stairs are to be placed and am looking for opinions. If you are looking at the below pictures and walking up the stairs to the left it would require the removal of a baseboard heater, a window would be hidden and I'm not real crazy about how someone going up the stairs would have to walk through the middle of the room to do it . The top of the stairs would be fine as you would be greeted by a really nice view of the lake. If you are going up the stairs to the right there's really no downside on the bottom but at the top there is no landing. I would have to take out a wall (non load bearing) and build a landing because at the top your first step would be down into a sunken room. The only thing about that scenario is taking out the wall eliminates a room. The room though was created as a bedroom sometime in the 80's by adding the same wall I would have to take out. Taking out that wall would leave the house with only two bedrooms. Guess it would appeal to empty nesters. I'm not real keen on blocking that downstairs window, it would look stupid but then I'm not sure about eliminating a room as far as home value and appeal to potential renters or future sale. Any suggestions much appreciated.