Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Deck beam question
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carlg
05-08-08, 11:54 AM
I'm building a deck and used an online program to create my plan.
According to my plan, 1 of the beams needs to be 19 feet 9 inches long with 4 posts that are spaced 6 feet 3 inches apart.
Purchasing 20 foot lengths of lumber in my opinion is not an option for 2 reasons:
1. Transporting it to my house.
2. The longer the board, the harder it is to find nice straight boards.
So, I want to have two 10 foot beams replace the 1 20 foot beam in the design.
Where is the best place to put the posts now that I divided it into 2 beams? (My beams are 2 2x12's)
According to my plan, 1 of the beams needs to be 19 feet 9 inches long with 4 posts that are spaced 6 feet 3 inches apart.
Purchasing 20 foot lengths of lumber in my opinion is not an option for 2 reasons:
1. Transporting it to my house.
2. The longer the board, the harder it is to find nice straight boards.
So, I want to have two 10 foot beams replace the 1 20 foot beam in the design.
Where is the best place to put the posts now that I divided it into 2 beams? (My beams are 2 2x12's)
TomWS
05-08-08, 07:27 PM
Using two 10 footers is fine. Use just three 6 x 6 posts. On the center post, butt your 2x12's and use 8" carraige bolts to secure to 6x6. Two bolts per 2x12.
lefty
05-09-08, 07:08 PM
carlg,
You're going to have to make some choices and see what works best.
The joints in the beam need to occur over a post. That gives you several options.
You can change you post spacing (bring them closer together, not farther apart) and use boards that are a length you can haul.
Have the 20' board delivered by whatever store you are buying them from, since you can't haul them. Be prepared to pay a delivery charge. (Diesel is over $4/gal. -- a $50 delivery charge is NOT unreasonable!!)
Leave your post spacing as it was called for and buy boards in the needed lenths to have the joists occur on top of the posts and eat the waste.
You're going to have to make some choices and see what works best.
The joints in the beam need to occur over a post. That gives you several options.
You can change you post spacing (bring them closer together, not farther apart) and use boards that are a length you can haul.
Have the 20' board delivered by whatever store you are buying them from, since you can't haul them. Be prepared to pay a delivery charge. (Diesel is over $4/gal. -- a $50 delivery charge is NOT unreasonable!!)
Leave your post spacing as it was called for and buy boards in the needed lenths to have the joists occur on top of the posts and eat the waste.
mikeTN
05-09-08, 08:22 PM
I'm building a deck and used an online program to create my plan.
According to my plan, 1 of the beams needs to be 19 feet 9 inches long with 4 posts that are spaced 6 feet 3 inches apart.
Purchasing 20 foot lengths of lumber in my opinion is not an option for 2 reasons:
1. Transporting it to my house.
2. The longer the board, the harder it is to find nice straight boards.
So, I want to have two 10 foot beams replace the 1 20 foot beam in the design.
Where is the best place to put the posts now that I divided it into 2 beams? (My beams are 2 2x12's)
correct me if i'm wrong, but you are building a deck 20 foot long? and how high? is the post configuration a asthetic problem because of the height? if not, i would probably make a beam of a 12 ft. and and 8 ft./doubled and reversen on the opposite side and screw/lag them together and use a post at each end and on at each joint. (crown up).
According to my plan, 1 of the beams needs to be 19 feet 9 inches long with 4 posts that are spaced 6 feet 3 inches apart.
Purchasing 20 foot lengths of lumber in my opinion is not an option for 2 reasons:
1. Transporting it to my house.
2. The longer the board, the harder it is to find nice straight boards.
So, I want to have two 10 foot beams replace the 1 20 foot beam in the design.
Where is the best place to put the posts now that I divided it into 2 beams? (My beams are 2 2x12's)
correct me if i'm wrong, but you are building a deck 20 foot long? and how high? is the post configuration a asthetic problem because of the height? if not, i would probably make a beam of a 12 ft. and and 8 ft./doubled and reversen on the opposite side and screw/lag them together and use a post at each end and on at each joint. (crown up).
gussy
05-19-08, 09:32 PM
MikeTN, I think you answered my question. Could he not use staggered seams if the beam is 2 2X12's and lag bolted together?
mikeTN
05-20-08, 06:33 PM
MikeTN, I think you answered my question. Could he not use staggered seams if the beam is 2 2X12's and lag bolted together?
yes. stagger the joints and bond together by nails, screws, lag bolts or bolts and nuts. still needs a post at each butt joint and the ends.
yes. stagger the joints and bond together by nails, screws, lag bolts or bolts and nuts. still needs a post at each butt joint and the ends.