QA

Quick Answer: How Far Apart Decking Joists

Deck joist spacing should never exceed 16″ on center (with the exception of MAX deck boards, which allow for maximum 24″ on center). For a more rigid feel, 12″ or less may be preferred. If adding additional framing, be sure to keep all boards level and in plane across the tops.

How far apart should decking joists be UK?

Decking joists should be spaced at 400mm centres. Structural posts should be positioned no more than 1800mm apart. Use a joist and spirit level to mark the ledger height at the wall. Joists are attached to the ledger or double beam with galvanised joist hangers.

Can deck joists be 24 inches on center?

Softwoods should be at least 1 1/4 inches thick for a 16″ on center span. 2 inches thick will allow for a 24″ on center span.

Can I use 4×2 for decking joists?

4 x 2 Timber Rail / Joist These decking joists are the most common sized framing timber for decking. They provide a solid structure for fixing your decking boards too. When making your decking frame you should use a 400mm spacing between your timber joists.

How far should joists be apart?

Floor Joist Spacing: How Far Apart Are Floor Joists in a House? Floor joists are typically 12”, 16”, or 24” apart in a home. Most common spacing for floor joists is 16” o.c.

How far apart should Supports be for a deck?

Starting with your perimeter, mark the location of each deck post to locate the fitting position. In general, posts should be spaced no more than 8 feet apart. Some builders position them every 4 feet for a completely rigid frame. The maximum distance between footings is determined by the size of your joist material.

How many joists do I need for a 12×12 deck?

For example, a 12-foot x 12-foot deck of 5/4 x 6 pressure treated wood decking on 16 inches on center spacing of joists will require: A 12-foot long deck with joists 16 inches on center will require 10 joists.

How many joists do I need for a 20 foot deck?

A 20-foot wide deck, for example, would require two beams: one at 10 feet and one and 20 feet in order to support a deck with 2×8 joists spaced 16 inches apart.

Is 4×2 strong enough for decking?

2×4 Deck Joist Can Only Span 5’8″ (1.72m) Between Supports. Either you are limited to a small deck, less than 6′ (1.8m), or you will need a mid-span beam. Three 6×6 posts, one on each end plus at mid-span, allow you to use 2×4 joists but is still strong enough to not flex with every step.

Can I use 2×4 for decking?

For the deck surface, you can use 2x4s, 2x6s, or 5/4x6s. The 5/4 decking (pronounced “five-quarter”), available in cedar and pressure-treated fir, is 1 inch thick and 5-1/2 inches wide with rounded edges that make for a splinter-free surface.

How far can you span a 2×4 deck joist?

A 2×4 can span a maximum of 6′ 7” when spaced 16” apart and used as a floor or deck joist. When used as a ceiling joist or a roof rafter, a 2×4 can span up to 7′ 3” spaced at 16”, and 6′ 4” when spaced 24” apart.

Are 2×6 strong enough for deck joists?

For upper-level decks, 2×10 is recommended as the minimum size to use for strong guard post connections. 2×6 joists should only be used on ground-level decks that do not require, and will not provide for, any guards. Most decking is not strong enough to support longer spans than 16″.

What size bearers and joists for a deck?

The bearers have to carry the weight of the entire deck and whatever is put on top of it, so they need to be strong. A 140×45 treated pine bearer will usually do the trick. Every 1.2 metres, a 90×90 H4 treated pine post will be needed.

What is the minimum gap between decking boards?

SPACING BETWEEN DECK BOARDS Ensure there is a minimum gap of 5-6mm between each deck board.

Should deck boards have a gap?

When using wood decking, you want a gap of at least 1/8 of an inch after your decking has dried out. If you’re using decking that’s already been dried out, you can leave a 1/8-inch gap when you install. Many decks will use “green” wood, or wood that hasn’t been dried down or kiln dried.

How many Trex boards do I need for a 12×12 deck?

(Choose from 8, 12, 16, or 20 ft board lengths. Choose which board best fits the dimensions of the deck.Decking Materials. Board length Boards required 8 FT 206 12 FT 137 16 FT 103 20 FT 83.

How much wood is needed for a 12×12 deck?

A 12 -by-12-foot deck will need 144 lineal feet of decking. The amount of individual boards will depend upon the size and type of decking your choose and the amount of space you plan to leave between decking boards.

Can you use 4×4 for deck joists?

For most decks, 4×4 lumber is strong enough for structural posts. If a deck is raised more than 6 feet above the ground, codes may require 6×6 posts.

How many bearers are needed for a deck?

For example, a deck that is 1 metre long and 1 metre wide is likely to have only two bearers, one either side (running the length of the deck) and will be considered single span as each bearer will be supported only at each end.

What size joist do I need?

For example, assume the clear span is 15 feet 6 inches. Round up to 16 and divide this span by 2, giving you 8. Next, add 2 to get the required joist depth. In this example, 8 + 2 = 10, so a 2×12 floor joist will be required (it’s important to use the actual lumber dimensions, not the nominal dimensions).

What size joist do I need for a 12 foot span?

Thus you will need a 2×6 (2-by-6) size of floor joists for 12 foot span at standard 12 inches spaced.