Helpful tips

What is a flush beam deck?

What is a flush beam deck?

A flush or header beam is a structural member positioned at the same level as the joists and uses joist hangers for attachment just as you would at the ledger board. Flush beams are commonly used for framing angled deck forms such as octagons or on stair landings where a cantilevered beam would be less practical.

Can you cantilever a flush beam deck?

Although the beam will require three support posts, the single-ply beam can cantilever, allowing the deck to be widened to 17 feet, as shown in the plan view above. To interpolate the spans shown in Table R507.

How far should posts be on a deck?

Layout and Footing Locations 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.

How do you hide a deck beam?

A cantilevered front edge on the deck helps hide the beam unless you’re building a raised deck. Then you can hide it with skirting. A low deck might not leave you much vertical space for a beam so you would have to use smaller stock and install an additional post.

How far can a 2×10 span without support?

A 2×10 beam – made up of two 2x10s nailed together – can span up to 11′ without support beneath a deck that is 4′ wide. For a more normal-sized deck, the same beam can span 8′, supporting a deck that is 8′ wide.

How far can you cantilever a deck beam?

The American Wood Council’s Wood Frame Construction Manual states that beams can generally cantilever up to 1/4 their span over a post. This design criterion is generally limited to beams supporting equivalent joist lengths in its span as in it’s cantilevered sections.

Can you build a deck without attaching it to the house?

A freestanding deck, simply put, is a deck that isn’t attached to another structure. It can be built right next to a house, almost like it’s attached to it, but it will still be self-supporting.

How far can a deck overhang the beam?

The distance your joists can safely cantilever or overhang a drop beam is determined by the size of the joists, the wood type and grade of the lumber and the spacing between joists. Many building departments limit joist cantilevers to 24″ maximum.

How do you attach a 4×4 to an existing deck?

The quickest and most secure way to mount a wooden 4×4 or 6×6 deck post to an existing deck surface is via an OZCO Post Base Kit or a Titan Post Anchor. Both of these items provide a solid, powder-coated steel connection point for your wooden post to attach to surface below.

How do you support an elevated deck?

Basic steps for building a raised deck (the TL;DR version)

  1. Foundation.
  2. Pour concrete.
  3. Ledger.
  4. Place steel connectors – the strongest way to attach posts to concrete.
  5. Cut posts using your ledger as a height reference.
  6. Set the beam on top of your posts and check beam alignment.

How far can a deck beam span?

The beam span for most deck beams is less then 16 feet (4.87 meters) but can be as small as 8 feet (4.87 meters) depending on the thickness of the beam. These special beams support the weight of the main floor on the deck are an essential for overall structural integrity.

What is deck support beam?

How to Size a Deck Beam. A beam is a solid structural member that is supported by posts and footings that accepts and transfers the load from joists. Once you know the distance between support posts and the length of the joists that will be supported you can determine the required size by checking our beam-sizing chart.

What is a girder deck?

Yenwen Lu/Getty Images. In deck construction, a girder (or “beam”) is a board or a composite of more than one board that serves as a supporting structure for the deck joists, which meet it perpendicularly.