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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 footings do I need 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 far apart do deck footings need to be?
For most situations, you will want to place footings and posts less than 8′ apart. If you are planning on installing a hot tub or porch on top of your deck, you will usually need more footings and posts to support the additional loads. Decks with a lot of angles may also require additional footings.
How many footers 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. Using doubled boards, you will then need to build beams on the top row of the posts to frame the edges of the deck. These must be topped with adjustable post caps.
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 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.
Should I use 2×6 or 2×8 for deck?
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″.
How big do my footings need to be?
Footing width can vary according to the structure, site, and conditions. Under code, generally, one-story buildings with footings on undisturbed soil with LBVs between 1,500 and 4,000 should have a minimum width of 12 inches. Two-story buildings require a minimum of 15-inch wide footings for 1,500 LBV soil.
Do I need concrete footings for a deck?
Large decks that are attached to the house should always have footings because they act to spread the heavy load of the deck from the surface of a support post over a large surface of the soil so the ground can adequately support it. The footings ensure that the deck will not fall, tip or rot away after a few years.
How far should posts be apart on a deck?
For Building a Deck Railing, Deck Frame, or Fence The maximum spacing of 4×4 deck posts should be 6 feet on center, while the maximum spacing of 6×6 deck posts should be 8 feet on center.
How far apart should deck blocks be?
Space the deck blocks at 4′ to 6′ intervals to offer the frame good support.
Do freestanding decks need footings?
According to the main code provision for footings, the only requirement for building a deck that is freestanding is that it must have a minimum footing depth of 12 inches below the undisturbed ground surface. There is no need to extend a footing below the frost line, as is required for standard decks.
Can I use deck pier blocks instead of footings?
Pier blocks can be used instead of footings for a ground-level deck not requiring permits. Any decks higher than 24” require concrete piles 10” in diameter and 48” below grade. These footing size requirements are to ensure enough soil bearing to prevent the joist from sinking in the ground.
How many posts do I need 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 do you calculate support for a deck?
To determine the maximum load capacity of your deck, start by calculating its total area and multiply by 50 psf. So, a 100 sqft deck would be designed to support 5000 lbs. Do not get confused with what weight you might think or want to load the deck with.
How big do deck beams need to be?
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.
How far apart should my joists be for decking?
Step 4: Make Sure Your Joists Are Spaced Correctly 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.
