QA

Question: How Many Supports For A Deck

Before starting to build, the first question is: How many footings do I need for a deck? For an attached 12 x 12′ deck, you’ll need at least 3 footings, plus at least 2 more if you’re planning on building stairs with it. If your deck will be a different size, it’s easy to figure out how many you’ll need.

How many support posts do I need for a deck?

The larger 12-foot side will have a post spacing of 6 feet at a minimum code requirement. That makes a total of eight posts that need to be installed on this average size deck. For aesthetic or symmetry reasons, more posts may be added.

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 support beams do I need for a deck?

With this in mind, the depth of the joist determines the spacing of the beams. What is this? A deck with 2×8 joists spaced 16 inches apart will need to be supported at least every 12 feet to provide adequate support for the joists and comply with building codes.

How many footings do I need for my deck?

How Many Footing Do You Need For Your Deck? The answer depends on the size and shape of your deck, the size of your footings, and the size of your beams. The larger the beam and footing size, the fewer footings that are required. For most situations, you will want to place footings and posts less than 8′ apart.

How many posts are needed for a 10×10 deck?

A freestanding 10′ x10′ deck needs 4 posts, supporting two pairs of 2-ply non-incised 2×8 beam, upgrading the beam to 3-ply using incised wood.

How many supports do I need for a 12×16 deck?

A standard deck will need four footings parallel to the house, but they will need to be temporarily braced by 6 inch-by-6 inch posts.

How wide should joists be on a deck?

Commonly used joist sizes are 2-by-6, 2-by-8 and 2-by-10. For example, when you space joists 16″ apart — which is standard for residential decks — a deck spanning 9 1/2′ would require 2-by-6 joists, a 13′ deck would need 2-by-8 joists and a 16′ deck calls for 2-by-10 joists.

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.

Can I use 2×8 for deck joists?

2×8 for joists will be fine, with 16″ OC. Should use 2×10 for beams but 2×8 will be fine as well. If you are worried you can triple the 2×8 for the beams but double will be sufficient. You should put the beams at 7 and 14 feet out from the house, with the piers you should do 3 per beam with spacing of 1, 7, 13.

Can I use 4×2 for decking frame?

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.

Can I use 3×2 for decking?

3×2 can be used but you’ll have to support it more frequently throughout its length, say every five feet or so.

How far can a 2×8 joist span without support?

But first, generally, how far can a 2×8 span without support? Depending on various factors, the maximum span for a 2×8 floor joist is 16′ 6”. The maximum span for roof rafters is 23′ 9”. For headers, the maximum span is 11′ 2”.

How many footings do I need for a freestanding deck?

Quick Attached Deck Footing Chart Size of Deck Beam Size Number of Footings 12′ x 12′ (2) 2×6 3 16′ x 16′ (3) 2×8 3 20′ x 12′ (2) 2×8 3 20′ x 14′ (2) 2×8 3.

How many footings do I need for a floating deck?

For an 8×10′ freestanding deck, you’ll need six footings. Unless you have access to a power auger, that’s a lot of digging. After digging each hole, you will need to install tube forms into each. Each tube form then needs to be filled with one 60 lb.

How much weight can a 10×10 deck hold?

In short there’s no one right answer to “how much can my deck hold?” However, one rule of thumb to keep in mind while answering the question is that the answer commonly is that if a deck is properly designed, it’s built to hold 50 lbs. per square foot.

Can I use 4×4 posts for a deck?

In the past, many decks were built with 4×4 support posts (also called structural posts). But these can bow seriously, even if a deck is only 3 feet off the ground. For that reason, we strongly recommend that you use 6x6s instead, even if your building department does not demand them.

How much does it cost to build a 10 by 10 deck?

Using composite to build a 10′ x 10′ deck can cost between $1,983 and $4,293.