The distance between deck support posts depends on the type of wood species used and the size of the joist and beam. There is no minimum span, and maximum spans can reach up to 15'. Below we'll take a look at some of the main considerations when asking how far apart should deck posts be. Step 4: Square Up the Batter Boards and Connect Them with Mason Line. With a helper, apply the 3-4-5 method-or the identical 6-8-10 method-to square the line to the house. Start by measuring along the house and mark 8 ft. On the mason line, mark 6 ft. Then measure the diagonal distance from endpoint to endpoint.
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Plug these values into the formula: DPS = (L - W) / (N + 1). Calculate the result, which will be the ideal distance between your deck posts. Let's illustrate this with an example. Example Suppose you're building a deck with a length ( L) of 16 feet, a width ( W) of 10 feet, and you plan to install 4 deck posts ( N ). Using the formula: U.S. building code requires support posts for the rail structure to be no further apart than 6 feet on a deck with 4×4' deck rail posts and no more than 8 feet apart for decks with 6×6' deck rail posts. Posts should be no further apart than 5.5 feet on stairs. Updated January 28, 2020 This is the second guide in a three-part series on how to build an attached deck. The last guide gave an overview of the planning and design process. Now we'll get into installing the 4×4 posts and framework, including the ledger board, beams and rim joists. Updated February 28, 2023 By Marc McCollough A safe, long-lasting deck frame needs proper footings, support posts and a solid construction. We'll show you how to build a deck frame. See the complete deck project from design to finishing touches at Lowes.com/BuildaDeck. Table of Contents Pouring the Post Footers Shop Your Deck Framing Project
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See the deck joist calculations below and study your local code. Deck Beam Spans— Distance a joist spans between a beam and a ledger or between beams, using No. 2 and better Southern pine or Douglas fir. Joist: 2x6— If joists are spaced 16": Span: 9 1/2'. Joist: 2x6— If joists are spaced 24": Span: 8'. Some decking materials installed at a 45-degree angle to the run of the joists require the joist spacing to be 12 inches on center. Your joist span will depend on the size of the joists (i.e. 2X8 vs 2x10 vs 2X12). See the below span chart as well as the local codes and guidelines for your jurisdiction. The larger the span, the larger the joists. Guide Home Chapter How-To Complete Guide to Sizing Deck Footings Use the charts and tables in this comprehensive guide to choose the right size beams and specify the appropriate concrete footings for your next deck project. By Mike Guertin Issue 245 - Aug/Sept 2014 The standard deck joist span can vary due to the size of your deck and the type of material used to construct it. Depending on the size of the deck itself, whether your joists are spaced either 12 inches or 16 inches from the center, and the framing materials and size of deck boards used, deck joist spans may vary.
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The design tables for deck-post height included in both the 2015 and 2018 editions of the IRC were indeed limiting, as Table R507.8 was a one-size-fits-all prescription, with the maximum heights of 4x4 to 6x6 posts based on the greatest possible area of deck that could be generated with IRC joist-span and deck-beam design tables. A span is the unsupported distance between two posts. A "cantilever" is the unsupported end of a joist that extends past the last support post at the edge of your deck. Maximum joist span of a 2X8 is 10' - 6" at 16" o.c. Maximum cantilever of a 2X8 is 24" at 16" o.c. Maximum cantilever of a double 2X8 beam past a support post is 12"
The standard rule for footings is that for a basic deck, the larger the beam and footing size, the fewer footings you'll need. If you're building a simple deck, footings and posts should be placed 8 feet apart on average. However, if your deck will include a hot tub or roof, you must support that weight with additional footings spaced more closely. The maximum distance between deck posts is about 15 feet, and posts require thicker wood the longer the span. The International Residential Code requires deck railings for any deck that is more than 30 inches above the ground. Most builders rely on 4-inch by 4-inch wood for good, solid railing material.
Deck Joist Spacing And Span Chart DecksDirect
The maximum distance between deck posts is around 15 feet, with the posts requiring that you need to have thicker wood the longer the span is. Most decks with longer spans are built on uneven ground, requiring that posts be spaced unevenly to ensure that the deck stays level. 4X4 (4 feet by 4 inches) 6X6 (6 feet by 6 inches) 8X8 (8 feet by 8 inches) These posts have been calculated and designed to these standard sizes so that they will appropriately handle the expected load of the deck. Moreover, the most common post types are that of 4X4 and 6X6. This is even true when considering large decks of 250sqft.
