How far apart should 6×6 deck posts be? |

Deck posts are a standard part of the board game experience. The 6×6 deck post is often used to provide visual information, and as such it should be placed at different distances depending on how important the piece of information is. This article discusses some options for determining where to place deck posts in order to achieve optimal gameplay and aesthetics

Deck footings are 6 inches apart. Read more in detail here: how far apart should deck footings be.

Posts should be no more than 8 feet apart in general. For a perfectly sturdy structure, some builders place them every 4 feet. The size of your joist material determines the maximum distance between footings.

In the same vein, how far apart may 6×6 posts be?

A 4-by-6 beam may span up to 6 feet between 4-by-4 posts in most cases. When you upgrade to a 4-by-8, you can normally stretch up to 10 feet between posts. Between posts, a 4-by-10 may normally stretch up to 12 feet.

Should I use 4×4 or 6×6 deck posts, as well? Even though a short 4×4 may bear a lot of weight, many deck builders utilize 6×6 posts as a standard, regardless of the deck’s height or load. Though the height of a deck is often questioned mainly in relation to the need for guards, it is a consideration when deciding the height or “spread” of the posts.

How far apart should the posts of a deck be in this manner?

Dimensions of Deck Posts On the level area of the deck, the wood rails must be placed no more than 6 feet apart. A post should be set at each corner of any deck that is 8 by 12 or greater. Between each pair of corner posts, a line post must be installed.

For a 12×16 deck, how many posts do I need?

Four footings parallel to the house are required for a conventional deck, although they must be temporarily supported by 6 inch-by-6 inch posts. To frame the borders of the deck, you’ll need to put beams on the top row of the posts using doubled boards. Adjustable post caps must be used to finish them off.

Answers to Related Questions

What kind of wood can span a 20-foot span?

60 lbs/ft2 (2873 N/m2) maximum live load

To span 20 feet, how large of a beam do I need?

Size of 20-foot clearspan beam

To span the 20′, you’ll need something like a 12-16″ GLULAM or LVL, and you can use ordinary 2×8-10 dimensional timber 16″OC as floor joists.

What is the maximum span of a triple 2×6 beam?

For standard deck loads, a triple 2×6 beam over a 10′ width should be more than enough. A single 2×6 #2btr yellow pine has a maximum span of roughly 9′ feet.

What is the strength of a 6×6 post?

As this screencap from it shows, a 6×6 post can hold 20,000 pounds even when it’s 12 feet tall provided it’s correctly cross-braced and secured.

How far may a beam stretch before it has to be supported?

A double ply beam may span in feet a value equal to its depth in inches when supporting joists that span 12 feet with no overhang beyond the beam. A double 2×12 beam may span 12 feet, while a (2) 2×10 beam can span 10 feet, and so on.

Is it possible for me to span a double 2×8?

No, even doubled, standard timber cannot reach 23 feet. If you can locate such lengths, it’ll be as bouncy as a trampoline and won’t meet code. To cover that distance, you’ll need at least a 12″ (nominal) I-joist or an engineered floor truss, or an LVL or steel beam in the middle.

What is the maximum weight that a 4×4 post can support?

If the weight is spread equally, each 4×4 post should be able to sustain a maximum of 420 pounds.

What is the maximum weight that a 4×4 beam can support?

In general, a 24 wooden beam can sustain up to a ton of weight horizontally, hence a 44 wooden beam can easily support double the weight listed above horizontally.

Is it possible to build a deck with 4×4 posts?

Many decks used to be designed using 4×4 support posts (also called structural posts). Even if the deck is just 3 feet from the ground, they may bend significantly. As a result, even if your building department does not need them, we highly advise you to utilize 6x6s instead.

Is it necessary to anchor deck posts?

Posts must rest on and be secured to concrete footings in order to appropriately withstand varied degrees of weight. Patios and pre-cast concrete piers, for example, do not qualify as appropriate footings for deck building. A post base connection is used to secure posts to concrete footings.

For a 12×12 deck, how many footings do I need?

You’ll need at least three footings for a connected 12 x 12′ deck, plus at least two more if you want to add stairs with it. It’s simple to calculate how many you’ll need if your deck is a different size.

How deep should a deck’s post holes be dug?

Footing holes should be dug 6 inches deeper than necessary. Fill the hole with 6 inches of gravel and compress it with a 2×4 or wood post at the bottom.

Is it possible to use a 6×6 as a deck beam?

Decks with triple beams (3-2x’s) should be supported by 6×6 posts and a post beam connection bracket. A triple beam will not be supported adequately by 4×4 posts. Because the width of the triple beam will restrict the notched portion of the post to 1″, do not notch the top of the post and through bolt the beam.

On a deck, how far apart should 4×4 posts be?

Starting with your perimeter, mark the location of each deck post to locate the fitting position. Posts should be no more than 8 feet apart in general. For a perfectly sturdy structure, some builders place them every 4 feet. The size of your joist material determines the maximum distance between footings.

For a 10×12 deck, how many posts do I need?

The bigger 12-foot side will have a minimum code requirement of 6 feet between posts. On an average-sized deck, there will be a total of eight posts to install.

How much does it cost to put a stairwell on a deck?

The cost of installing basic footings under concrete pillars is from $1 to $2 per square foot. A deck’s cost will rise as well if it has railings or steps. Installing stairs and railing 6 costs $30-$35 per square foot on average. Installing a lengthy flight of stairs costs more, averaging $48-$55 per square foot.

For a 12×16 deck, how many deck planks do I need?

The Floor of the Deck

Multiply the length of the deck surface by the breadth to get the quantity of wood you’ll need. After that, account for overhangs and set aside some money for waste. As a rule of thumb, if you want to utilize 20-foot boards, you will need 22 of them.