How Far Apart Deck Posts

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 posts 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 far apart can deck railing posts be?

The structural integrity of the railing depends heavily on the posts that support the rail structure. These posts should be no farther apart than six feet on the flat deck and no farther apart than 5 1/2 feet on stairs. Your local building department might require closer post spacing for added rail strength.

How many 4×4 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.

Can deck post be 10 feet apart?

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 footings do I need for a 12×12 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 should 4×4 deck railing posts be?

Standard 4×4-foot deck posts must be spaced no more than 6 feet apart to provide adequate strength.

How far apart do bearers have to be for a deck?

Set up the bearer spacings at a minimum of 1800mm centres with stump holes no more than 1500mm apart. The outside run of stumps will need to align with the outside edge of the deck.

Can I use 4×4 posts for my 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.

Should deck posts be 4×4 or 6×6?

Deck posts must be a minimum of 4×4 according to the IRC but many jurisdictions require a 6×6 post as a standard. To avoid code violations, many deck builders choose the 6×6 even if the 4×4 is acceptable.

Should I use 4×4 or 4×6 deck posts?

While there may be a handful of circumstances that only require the minimum 4×4 deck post, you will more than likely want to choose a 6×6 post for the deck. It provides more stability for larger decks, the ability to hold a heavier load, and more room for notching.

How deep should deck posts be set?

Set footers a minimum of 6” below the frost line for your area to prevent movement during freezing temperatures. Pour about 6 inches of all-purpose gravel into postholes and pack the gravel tight by using the end of a wooden post.

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 far apart should decking posts be UK?

Decking joists should be spaced at 400mm centres. Structural posts should be positioned no more than 1800mm apart.

How do you calculate deck posts?

Draw a line through the mid-span of the joists. Then find the mid-span of the beam that the post supports, and extend lines from there back to the line at the joist mid-span. Find the area within the lines. To calculate the design load for the post, multiply the tributary area by the combined live and dead loads.

How far apart are deck piers?

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.

Is 4×2 OK for decking?

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 wide should deck footings be?

FOOTINGS: – Poured concrete footings should be a minimum of 8” wider than the posts (4×4 post – 12” min. width, 6×6 post – 14” min. width), a two level deck or deck with roof – 24”x24”. – The bottom of the footings must be a minimum of 36” below finish grade level.

What is the difference between joists and bearers?

Bearers are the timber or steel that attaches directly to the stumps in the ground, that supports the deck of flooring structure. Joists are the timbers that then attach across the top of the bearers, after which the timber or particle board floor is then attached.

How far apart should joists be?

In most homes, the common standard is 16 inches on-center. This means from the center of one joist to the center of the next joist there is a measurement of 16 inches. This spacing can be as much as 24 inches apart if you are using a higher grade (therefore stronger) lumber or if your span is very short.

How wide should decking joists be?

How Wide Should Deck Joists Be? Base the width of your deck joists on how far apart the beams are or the distance between the beams and ledger. 2-by-6 joists:Joists should span 9 1/2′. 2-by-8 joists:Joists should span 13′.