Making A Long Deck Beam

Nail the deck beams.

Making a long deck beam.

How to splice a deck beam over a support post it is always best to use a continuous beam without seams for higher strength. Beams are an essential part of a deck s support system so if you re building your own deck you want to make sure these elements are as sturdy and long lasting as possible many older decks were built using massive timbers such as 4x6s or 4x8s for beams which support the underside of the deck horizontally. Building and leveling a beam. The article concludes with a description of different methods used to make a secure structural connection between posts and.

However a beam that sits on top of a 2 by 6 support wall will have an actual thickness of 5 1 2 inches. Dimensional lumber is readily available in lengths up to 20 which should accommodate a seamless beam for most applications. For example a beam that sits on top of a 4 by 4 piece of lumber will only need to be 3 1 2 inches wide if it is to remain flush with the post. In this episode we show you how to set the metal hardware build and position the beam adjust for level and protect this structural component from the elements.

But let s first explain what the numbers in the chart actually mean because it can be a bit confusing. We describe building the beam out of 2x lumber in four easy to follow steps. Build the two 14 foot long beams that will be perpendicular to the house. Set the double 2 12 deck beam on the posts and fasten it to the long 2 6 with 16d galvanized box nails.

It should be built strong set level and protected against rot. The two rim joists will also serve as deck beams to help carry the weight of future remodeling. It may be only inches from the ground but the carrying beam in a grade level deck does the same job as a structural beam 10 ft. Deck beams and posts beam spans how to brace a deck from swaying how to install deck joists diy plans deck beam flashing building build it once canadian woodworking.

How to build a long deck beam. The span of a beam is dependent on a few variables. See the deck post size table to make that determination because it will affect the size of beam you choose. This article describes how to build a beam used to support a deck or porch floor or similar structure.

How to build a deck that ll last as long your house family handyman. Be sure the deck beam projects several inches past the edge of the deck for later trimming. This beam serves as the header joist because joists will be attached to its inner face. For simplicity s sake we will plan on building a beam that is 5 1 2 inches wide and eight feet long.

Fewer posts on upper level decks are typically more desirable to the occupants and this drives the use of larger framing materials for longer spans. Nail the 2x12s to each other with three nails every 12 in one close to each edge and one in the middle. The species of lumber size of lumber and the load it carries. The deck beam span table on this page makes it easy to determine how far apart your posts and therefore the span of the beam should be.