I tried to Google this but didn't get very far. We had a 12x12 very plain deck. My DH and his Dad made it about 17 years ago. Dodn't particularly care about codes or sability although it has lasted us this long. But the big ice storms took down most of the railing with the big branches falling on it. So we need to rebuild it. It is off our kitchen on the top florr or a bilevel so it is the only acsess out of the house on that flooor. We really didn't like the maintenence required with decjing so we thought of composite decking. But wow!!!!! $$$$$$ Plus the instructions are just so greek to us. Is there any site that gives step by site dummy instructions or a book 'decks for dummys'?