Table of Contents
When building a deck What are the requirements?
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- 36 “minimum height when surface is 30” + above grade.
- 200 lb concentrated load.
- 50 lb concentrated load over 1 sqft or balusters.
- 50 lbf vertical and horizontal load along top rail.
- 4 “maximum gap between deck and underside of bottom rail.
- 4 “maximum gap between balusters.
What is the standard distance between posts for a deck?
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 far apart are footings for a deck?
How Many Footings Will I Need? 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.
Are footings required for decks?
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.
How far can deck joists span?
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. With this in mind, the joist span can range between 6 ft, 10 inches, to 18 ft.
Should I use 2×6 or 2×8 for deck joists?
You can use 2×6 as deck joists if the deck is low enough to the ground as not to require guard railing. When using S-P-F 2×6 deck joists, the span must not be greater than 9’0″ (2.73m) with joists at 16″ o.c. (400mm), and 9’10” (3.01m)with spacing at 12″ (300mm).
Should I use 4×4 or 6×6 for deck posts?
Deck posts must be a minimum of 4×4 according to the IRC but many jurisdictions require a 6×6 post as a standard. To avoid code violations, many deck builders choose the 6×6 even if the 4×4 is acceptable.
Are risers required on deck stairs?
Most high-end deck projects use closed risers to finish the stairs. Open risers sometimes appear cheap and unfinished. They also are often in violation of IRC code for decks over 30″, which maintains that they meet the same requirements as guardrail infill.
How deep do post holes need to be for a deck?
Dig the holes six inches deeper than the required frost line depth for your area, and slightly wider than the concrete footer tubes you’ll be using.
Should you use 4×4 or 6×6 deck posts?
While there may be a handful of circumstances that only require the minimum 4×4 deck post, you will more than likely want to choose a 6×6 post for the deck. It provides more stability for larger decks, the ability to hold a heavier load, and more room for notching.