QA

Question: How Many Piers For 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 should pier blocks be for a deck?

The blocks should be spaced to make a 7′ x 19′ rectangle, leaving about 6 inches from each block for deck boards to add another 8′ x 20′ rectangle. Using a string level or laser level, make sure each block is level.

How many piers do I need?

An 8 ft x 12 ft shed will need 6 piers, 3 per long side. What is this? Typically, the span between two piers is based on the dimensions of the beams and the joists. A double 2×8 beam should be supported every 4 to 6 feet.

How many deck support posts do I need?

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 do I need for a 12×12 deck?

Posts are usually constructed from 4-by-4-inch or 6-by-6-inch posts and you will need at least five. You will need 18 boards of 2-by-6-inch lumber or nine 2-by-10 inch boards to build the joists, also known as the beams. You should purchase an additional 25 percent wood to allow for framing pieces and waste.

How many pier blocks do I need for a 10X10 deck?

Without knowing how I came up with the number of blocks for each deck, you could arrange them incorrectly. Or not understand why some decks have more blocks than the total weight needs. For example, a 10 x 10 floating deck needs four-deck blocks.

How many concrete piers 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 many push piers do I need?

Assuming each pier has a bearing area of 1.6 sq ft (two helices of 12” diameter each), there must be a minimum of 405,000 lbs/12,000 psf divided by 1.6 ft2/pier, or 21 piers around the perimeter. For a safety factor of 2, there should be 42 piers.

How do you calculate concrete piers?

To determine the load of a deck pier, you must take half the length of the joist span multiplied by half the length of the beam span (measured from pier to pier). This number is then multiplied by 50, which is the 40 psf live load, 10 psf dead load mentioned earlier.

How far apart should concrete piers be for a cabin?

Pier placement depends on wall structure and how the weight of the building will be distributed throughout the foundation. Common pier placement distances are 8 to 10 feet apart.

How many support beams do I need for a deck?

For a deck that is 15 feet wide with 2×10 joists spaced at 16 inches apart, you have two options. You can use two beams, one at 7.5 feet and one at 15 feet, to provide support.

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. 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.

What is the maximum distance between deck posts?

When building your deck frame, the maximum spacing of Deck Posts for should be no further than 8 feet apart.

How much would it cost to build a 12×12 deck?

A 12 x12 deck can range in cost from $2 200 to $13 000, but the average will be $6 000. Costing $40 a square foot but can be as little as $15 or as high as $85, depending on the deck’s features. A pressure treated deck is the most economical, with composite being the more expansive option.

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.

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. Piers blocks can also be used if the frost level depth is less then the height of the pier block.

Are deck blocks a good idea?

Which type of footings should your deck have? Deck blocks are a good idea for low decks, decks around trees, areas with low frost levels and economical decks. It is a bad idea to use deck blocks when attaching the deck to the house, on stable ground or supporting elevated decks, pergolas or a roof.

How far apart should foundation piers be?

While 8 to 10 feet apart is a sufficient distance for foundation piers to support most structures that would sit atop a post and pier foundation, if the building is particularly tall or made of heavier materials such as brick or metal, it’s not uncommon to place the foundation piers even closer together.

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.