Deck shape
- Connected rectangular deck bays
- Magnetic edge snapping and bay locking
- Exact feet-and-inches width and depth entry
- Resize, move, connect, and disconnect sections
- Clipped front corners
- Grill bump-out preset
Capability reference
Updated July 2026Every setting, system, check, and output.
This is the detailed list: exact framing materials, built-in span profiles, automatic drawing tools, foundation calculations, finish controls, and documents supported in DeckDraft today.
01
Layout & geometry
Build the deck from familiar parts. Leave drafting commands behind.
Drop in deck sections, connect them, and enter the dimensions you already know from the job. DeckDraft creates and maintains the linework around the model.
1
Move the bay
Select a section, then drag anywhere inside it to reposition the whole bay.
2
Resize an edge
Pull the long blue edge grabber; connected framing and dimensions update with it.
3
Open edge settings
The three-dot control opens the choices that belong to that specific edge.
4
Adjust house returns
The L and R handles move the house-wall return or extension on either side.
5
Keep exact dimensions
Live dimensions follow every change; type exact values in the inspector whenever needed.
Automatic drawing work
- Automatic overall and bay dimensions
- Live dimensions while geometry changes
- Framing-direction rotation by bay
- Ledger and exterior-edge orientation
- Text notes, rectangles, lines, circles, and polygons
House & access conditions
- House walls, bump-outs, and returns
- Windows, doors, and sliders
- Stairs and stair landings
- Connected deck landings
- Ramps and access geometry
02
Wood & steel framing
Choose the system. DeckDraft exposes the parts that belong to it.
Wood, New Castle Steel, and Fortress Evolution use system-specific member choices, load tables, beams, posts, and construction controls.
Traditional wood
- Southern Pine joist tables
- Douglas Fir-Larch, Hem-Fir, and Spruce-Pine-Fir tables
- 2x6, 2x8, 2x10, and 2x12 joists
- 12, 16, and 24 inches on center
- Double and triple built-up beams
- Advanced, engineered, glulam, and custom beam choices where supported
- 4x4, 4x6, 6x6, and 8x8 support posts
New Castle Steel
- 1 5/8-inch, 18-gauge joists
- 2-inch, 14-gauge joists
- Single, every-other doubled, and all-doubled assemblies
- NCS box beams in single and double configurations
- NCS 6x6 steel support posts
- 12- and 16-inch joist spacing
- Manufacturer tables for 50, 75, and 100 psf loads
Fortress Evolution
- Evolution 2x6 joists in 16- and 18-gauge
- Evolution 2x11 single and double beams
- Evolution 3.5 x 3.5 steel support posts
- Manufacturer tables for 50, 70, 75, and 100 psf loads
- System-aware steel framing and stair controls
Support conditions
- Drop and upset beams
- Front, rear, and intermediate beams
- Automatic beam-span placement
- Joist and beam cantilevers and overhangs
- Notched, bolted, and Simpson post-cap connections
- Tension ties, lateral bracing, and under-deck bracing
- Existing-framing conditions
03
Span tables & plan advisors
See the table context and the condition that needs attention.
DeckDraft keeps the selected load profile, species, size, and spacing visible. Guidance stays attached to the affected part of the deck instead of becoming a generic warning list.
Built-in span profiles
- IRC 2021: 40 psf live load
- IRC 2021: 50 psf ground snow
- IRC 2021: 60 psf ground snow
- IRC 2021: 70 psf ground snow
- IRC 2024: 40 psf live load
- IRC 2024: 50 psf ground snow
- IRC 2024: 60 psf ground snow
- IRC 2024: 70 psf ground snow
- AWC DCA 6: 2018 IRC format, 40 psf live load
- AWC DCA 6: 2015 IRC, 40 psf live load
- AWC DCA 6: 2012 IRC, 40 psf live load
Compliance Advisor
- Joist-span checks
- Joist-cantilever checks
- Beam-span checks
- Beam-overhang checks
- Footing-capacity checks
- Actual and allowable values shown together
- Resolving actions tied to the affected component
Design Advisor
- Optional member-sizing ideas
- Support-layout suggestions
- Spacing alternatives
- Material-use opportunities
- Clearly separated from conditions requiring attention
04
Foundations & calculations
Configure the support type and document the assumptions behind it.
Concrete footings, helical piles, ground screws, and Diamond Pier foundations each expose the fields needed for planning, schedules, and details.
Concrete footings
- Uniform-minimum, per-beam, and per-footing sizing modes
- 1,500, 2,000, and 3,000+ psf soil-bearing inputs
- Main and ancillary footing defaults
- Tributary-area calculations and labels
- Per-footing size and depth overrides
- House-adjacent deep-footing review
Helical piles
- Pile model and minimum installation depth
- Helix and shaft diameter
- Rated pile capacity
- Simple-detail or load-schedule reporting
- Dead-load, torque Kt, and safety-factor inputs
- Required and installation torque by pier
- Capacity and utilization reporting
Other foundation systems
- American Ground Screw models and flange inserts
- Ground-screw diameter, soil class, and capacity
- Frost-depth and maximum-installation-torque checks
- Diamond Pier support selection
- Foundation-plan symbols, schedules, and details
Planning note: Foundation calculations and reports are planning aids. Verify the selected system, site conditions, manufacturer requirements, and engineering needs for the project.
05
Decking, rails & views
Carry the visible deck decisions on the same technical model.
Decking layout, edge finishes, rail systems, elevations, and 3D review stay connected to the geometry and framing beneath them.
Decking layout
- Field-board direction by region
- Straight and diagonal layout controls
- Picture-frame border boards
- Seam and feature boards
- 12-, 16-, and 20-foot stock-length snapping
- Board-span and over-20-foot review
- Role-specific field, border, seam, fascia, and riser materials
Rails & finish
- Rail placement by deck edge
- Picket, vertical cable, horizontal cable, and glass infill
- Fascia and riser finish controls
- Skirting and enclosure choices
- Manufacturer colors and material previews where available
Review views
- Front, left, and right elevations
- Interactive 3D review
- House-wall and roof context
- Framing, railing, and material controls in 3D
- Customer-facing preview images
- Optional AI concept mockups (beta)
06
Takeoff, details & output
Turn the model into the quantities and sheets people actually use.
The takeoff, construction details, plan views, and PDF package are generated from the same job rather than recreated in separate software.
Material takeoff (beta)
- Framing-lumber quantities and stock lengths
- Decking-board quantities
- Railing quantities
- Concrete and footing quantities
- Model-based category summaries
- Review and part-number workflow before purchasing
Construction details
- Footing and foundation details
- Post-to-beam connections
- Joist-to-beam connections
- Ledger-to-house details
- Lateral-load details
- Rail-post details
- System-aware wood or steel detail selection
Plan package
- Framing and foundation views
- Decking plan and elevations
- Details and project notes
- Plot-plan context
- Drawing annotations
- Company, customer, and project information
- Branded multi-sheet PDF export
07
Company & project setup
Start new jobs with your normal standards already in place.
Company defaults, job information, shared access, and branded output reduce the repeated setup work around every plan.
Project setup
- Customer, address, jurisdiction, and project information
- Design-load and span-profile selection
- Company framing and footing defaults
- Installer construction and product defaults
- Saved job reopening and revision workflow
Company workflow
- Company branding on plan output
- Shared company jobs
- Additional team-user access
- In-workspace AI Help for supported tools and workflows
- Organization platform for lumberyards and drafting teams in development
Best fit
DeckDraft is strongest on common residential deck work: connected sections, stairs, landings, clipped corners, house bump-outs, standard wood or supported steel framing, and complete plan packages. Unusual multi-angle work or complex tie-ins may need additional review.
Professional responsibility
DeckDraft provides drafting tools, code-aware checks, and standard details; it does not replace engineering or local review. Verify site conditions, quantities, jurisdiction requirements, manufacturer instructions, and engineering needs before construction.
Everything included · $169/month