I am in the process of building a freestanding deck on the back of our house. There is a little sway from left to right. Not much but I think I should put some knee braces in. I may wait until after the decking is on as it might go away since it isnt too tall. If i do need knee braces, should they go from post to beam vertically or post to joist horizontally on this deck to prevent the left to right sway?



[This message has been edited by nhamp07 (edited 8/24/2014 8:31p).]

I doubt that will need anything.
If it was me I would maybe be some cross braces at the corners tall perimeter areas and that's it.
Once everything else is installed and the concrete is cured a little longer it shouldn't move.

Did you lag into the foundation?

It's not attached to the foundation. Post along the house.

we recently built a freestanding porch. The sway was eliminated once the planks were screwed into the joists.

Are you going to run 1x6 planks for skirting?
If so it will act as a shear wall out the outside and will most likely end any sway once the decking is all installed.

Horz wood skirting:
If sway still exists once complete



Vert:

If no sway exists and you think this is nicer



Also a Diagonal plank direction can be more appealing to the eye but also causes more triangulation within the deck causing less sway.

But I honestly think you are just over thinking it and it will be just fine once it is complete.