Browse Forums Outdoor Living 1 Mar 03, 2009 6:04 pm Hey all,
Im currently playing with some ideas for a deck design. Now i need some advice for bearer (beam) and Joist spans. Its DIY project as i have budget that doesnt allow someone else to do it. I will be getting help from people with good experince in construction but it pretty much up to me to order and get the design right. Currently im planing on building deck in 2 different sized areas. One section is 2m x 10m basically being used as walk way. It will be pretty much be on the ground. Im planning on attaching ledger to house and having Stir ups cemented about 1.5m out from house to attach bearers on, with .5m over hang on the joists, making it 2m wide. The back of the house has only 1.5m (max) between house and the rock wall. Basically all i want is a walk way. So that why its only 1.5 out as there is no more room to play with. (please not I can make over hang on joists smaller if its too much that why im asking you guys ) Then the next section will be 4m x 6m. Now this last section will span over a boulder wall which has 4m drop. So i am planning on having 5 posts around 4m or little bit less in height with distance of 1.5m between each. I will have 5 stir ups before the wall for this section with bearer going across proabably attaching to other section. So there probably be around 2.5 metre gap between front posts and the next stirups. There is also another post that will spread a bearer between 4m section and 2 m section as i want gradual change in deck size. Now im wondering what size bearers, joists and even post would you recommend? And is spacing good enough? espically for part that spans over the rock wall? Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Deck help please :) 2Mar 03, 2009 7:58 pm For the joist span just use 140x45 treated pine, that way the overhang will be ok. Use the same size for the 4 metre span with a bearer running halfway pependicular to them(they will span 2.5metres continuous if set out as per your diagram)
You don't need you posts that close together unless they are being used to support handrail as well. If they are to be that close together use either a 140x45mm or 90x70mm for the bearer span. Your joists MUST be at 450mm centres, not 500mm. Re: Deck help please :) 3Mar 03, 2009 8:09 pm Dukekamaya For the joist span just use 140x45 treated pine, that way the overhang will be ok. Use the same size for the 4 metre span with a bearer running halfway pependicular to them(they will span 2.5metres continuous if set out as per your diagram) You don't need you posts that close together unless they are being used to support handrail as well. If they are to be that close together use either a 140x45mm or 90x70mm for the bearer span. Your joists MUST be at 450mm centres, not 500mm. OK thanks heaps mate! sorry the joists are spaced at 400mm i accidently put wrong information in doing up diagram. I also just pm you as well please ignore lol. Also is pine ok for joists? iv been told use hardwood for posts and joists? thanks again mate Re: Deck help please :) 4Mar 03, 2009 8:35 pm 450mm is building code for joist spacings, any closer you just making more work for yourself. Treated pine is much better for joists / bearers etc as its much easier to nail/screw into as well as being kiln-dried it won't shrink like sawn-hardwood will, thus effecting the levels on your deck. And, if you could afford to use kiln-dried hardwood for a sub-floor you wouldn't be doing it yourself.
hardwood posts, unless laminated will also be unseasoned. If you won't see them use treated pineF7 90x90mm Re: Deck help please :) 5Mar 03, 2009 8:38 pm Buy this book: http://www.skillspublish.com.au/BK13-03.htm. Will tell you everything you need including span tables. I got it from Bunnings for approx $30. Re: Deck help please :) 7Mar 03, 2009 10:00 pm 90x90 in hardwood would be structually fine (provided it has been visually graded for a structual use i.e. F11,F14, F17 unseasoned etc) , it can be a battle to get a hardwood post that long that is dead-straight. Remember the post ( if solid) will be unseasoned and will shrink as it dries out. If its just for a paint finish you will have less problems with KD treated pine. Surrey Hills, Vic 3127 Garage is being built with metal, 3m distance away from my cover deck. It is parallel to my cover deck, living room, family room and kitchen,… 0 7035 I've just built 3 stairs off a landing out the back and been told by the private certifier I need hand rails sorry tried to attach a pic but couldn't mine don't have sides… 5 4107 So I'm just reading up on this ecosystem of lights. I'm planning on putting deck lights along the outside edge of a large deck. Will need about 3 packs (18 lights) plus… 0 21553 |