How to make existing deck support more weight?
Three days’ work and $600 in materials save this deck from a catastrophic ending.
- SOLUTION: Add temporary support. ...
- SOLUTION: Double the posts. ...
- SOLUTION: The new joist hangers have two times the galvanized coating of the old hangers. ...
- SOLUTION: The lateral connection joins a deck joist to a joist inside the house. ...
- SOLUTION: Prepare for framing. ...
- SOLUTION: A better way to space balusters. ...
How do you calculate the weight of a deck?
Your results will show you:
- The number of boards (by length) required
- Required number of boards (including waste factor)
- The number of screws and hidden fasteners needed
How much weight can a deck hold per square foot?
Typically, a deck can hold a minimum of 50 pounds per square foot. However, that number assumes your deck is to code without the deck’s weight taken into account. Overall, there are several factors to consider when thinking about how much weight a deck holds.
How many support posts do I need for a deck?
Position joists to minimize the number of beams your deck will require. At a minimum, with no ledger board, you’ll need two beams and four deck support posts. Keep in mind that the more radical your deck design becomes, the more posts you’ll need.
Can a deck hold 5000 lbs?
To determine the maximum load capacity of your deck, start by calculating its total area and multiply by 50 psf. So, a 100 sqft deck would be designed to support 5000 lbs.
Can a deck hold 1500 pounds?
That being said, most weight-bearing calculators for decks assume a default of 1500 pounds per square foot for soils.
Can a deck hold the weight of a hot tub?
A deck designed to hold at least 100 pounds per square foot will support nearly any type of hot tub. However, many decks are designed for only 50 pounds of weight per square foot – this will not support some hot tubs and you'll have to modify the supports beneath your deck.
How much weight can a 12x12 deck hold?
A 12'x12′ (144sq') deck properly supported can hold 5 760lbs on it. you build. All floating decks, in fact, all decks built to code, can support no less than 40 lbs per square foot of deck.
Can a deck hold 2000 pounds?
In short there's no one right answer to “how much can my deck hold?” However, one rule of thumb to keep in mind while answering the question is that the answer commonly is that if a deck is properly designed, it's built to hold 50 lbs. per square foot.
Can a normal deck support a hot tub?
Yes, you can put a hot tub on a deck. Decks built ground level up to 2 feet off the ground can support up to 100 lbs per square foot; sufficient for most hot tubs. But decks 2 feet or higher will need added support. The added support posts should be no more than 30″ apart & ideally placed in poured concrete.
Can my deck hold a pool?
Some decks can be designed to hold the weight of an inflatable pool filled with water, but that's not very common. Most decks are designed to hold 40 to 50 pounds per square foot, and one cubic foot of water weighs about 62 pounds. An average inflatable pool will exceed a typical decks weight limit.
How do you reinforce a deck?
0:352:06How to Reinforce a Deck for a Hot Tub Spa The Spa Guy - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOkay so reinforcing the deck is very very simple basically all you going to do is just get you aMoreOkay so reinforcing the deck is very very simple basically all you going to do is just get you a good flat spot under it put your pylons. Down. You're going to what. We do is hang the joist.
Can my deck hold a kiddie pool?
Safety codes stipulate that a deck should only hold 40 lbs. per square foot. Most children's pools hold much more than one cubic foot, but even one foot is in violation of this number, which does not include the weight of children in the pool or adults monitoring the activity.
Can my deck support a gazebo?
Yes, you can put up a gazebo on your deck, and this applies to both fixed and pop-up structures. A deck makes an attractive floor for your gazebo, and with a bit of planning, you can secure it without messing up your boards. Using your existing deck saves you the cost and effort of installing a floor for your gazebo.
Can a deck hold an inflatable hot tub?
Yes, any kind of hot tub, including inflatable hot tubs, can go on a wooden deck. However, if the deck is more than 2 feet off the ground, it will likely need additional support to hold the weight. Even inflatable hot tubs can still weigh up to 3,700 lbs full of water and people.
How do you build a deck to support a hot tub?
How to Build a Deck for a Hot TubStep 1: Prepare the Site. ... Step 2: Set the Footings. ... Step 3: Establish the Hot Tub Pad. ... Step 4: Attach the Ledger Board. ... Step 5: Install the Support Posts. ... Step 6: Install the Beams. ... Step 7: Attach the Deck Joists. ... Step 8: Install Blocking.More items...
How much weight can a deck hold?
Most decks will hold more – sometimes significantly more – than 50 pounds per square foot. That number is simply a minimum requirement.
How much weight does a Trex deck support?
Trex claims it supports 100 pounds per square foot, although that number is not based on any specified criteria for a deck structure. And it does not really matter because the frame of a Trex deck is what supports the deck, not the deck boards; therefore, a Trex deck is no stronger than a lumber deck.
What type of lumber should I use for a deck?
The three major types of wood species used in deck construction are Southern Yellow Pine (SYP), some combination of Spruce, Pine, and Fir (SPF), and Redwood, Western Cedar, or Red Pine.
What is the bearing capacity of a deck?
For instance, a deck built on bedrock will have a bearing capacity of nearly 12,000 pounds per square foot.
Do you need a structural engineer to weigh a deck?
Remember, you don’t need to be a structural engineer to determine how much weight your deck can handle. Using the resources above, you can find out both your deck’s total weight capacity and the deck load capacity for each footing on your deck.
Does snow load account for decks?
Simply because it is assumed that you will clear your deck prior to inviting 20 of your friends over for a beer on that deck. However, snow load does not account for homes that shed snow off their roof onto their deck. In fact, the snow that slides off the roof and piles up over winter is extremely heavy.
Can a hot tub deck support 4500 pounds?
Therefore if you have a hot tub that weighs 4500 pounds, that doesn’t mean your deck can support it since that weight is only in a concentrated area.
Deck Load Capacity Factors
The frame structure, soil type, and footings all factor into a deck’s load capacity because together they all act as a system, and if one of them fails, the deck will, too. Some contractors who aren’t sure where to begin will overbuild, leading to higher construction costs when it’s not necessary.
Determining the Load Capacity
Determining your deck’s load capacity only requires some basic math. Knowing how to properly determine the amount of weight your deck can hold will allow you or a contractor to build a structure that will be not only stable but will last for many years to come.
Frame Structure
The first part to think about is the actual framework of the deck, comprised of joists. The outer portion is called the perimeter (sometimes you might also hear them referred to as rim, or band joists). Moving inward, you’ll find the joists in the middle, called infield or inner joists.
What Are the Different Deck Loads?
There are different loads that engineers or contractors need to account for when building any structures, including decks.
Framing for the Design Load
A standard 2×8 softwood lumber needs spacing at 16” o.c. spacing to meet the 50 psf design load. To compensate for increases, you’ll need to use 2×10 joists at 12” o.c. spacing—more weight means the joists need to be closer together.
Tributary Areas and Footings
To find out the maximum weight your deck can hold, you’ll need to multiply the total area by 50 psf. For example, a 100 square foot deck can support 5000 pounds. Again, this is an estimate that engineers have decided is a safe value for a deck accounting for the typical items a deck would hold.
Footing Sizes
After you’ve discovered the tributary areas, you’ll need to determine the footing sizes. You can reduce the force imposed over any given area by using a larger footing size and distributing that weight over an area.
How many psf is a 2x8 deck?
joist spacing your deck will easily meet the 50 psf threshold.
How far out do joists run from a house?
There is a ledger board attached to the house. The joists run perpendicularly out from the house for 10 feet at 16 inches on center. The carrier beam runs perpendicular to the joists with its center at 8 feet from the house and the cantilever beyond its center point is 2 feet.
What are rim joists called?
The first area to think of is the actual framed deck. This structure is comprised of perimeter joists - sometimes called rim joists or band joists. Then there are the joists in the middle. These are sometimes called infield joists or inner joists. You will hear a number of terms.
Can you use 2x10 joists for a spa tub?
What About Snow Load Or a Spa Tub. Yes, this is a concern but the net effect or changes you might have to do to increase the strength of the deck could be as simple as using 2x10 joists at 12" o.c. spacing. The framed structure will typically handle the added weight quite easily.
Can a deck sink into the ground?
So, your deck will not sink into the ground. Go ahead and build the frame as strong as you wish. But keep in mind the two concepts of the strength of the structure and the bearing capacity of the soil. This is a simple deck to make these calculations with and is very helpful at illustrating the concept.
Can a deck sink?
Yes, even if you build a strong deck it can gradually sink into the soil if you do not consider the size of footings with respect of the load for the deck . Once your deck starts sinking it can rip the ledger board away from the house or you will have to jack up the sunken area, excavate and pour a new larger footing.
How long does a Trex deck last?
While a traditional wood deck might last up to 15 years, Trex and most brands of composite wood will likely last 25 years or more and most come with a 25-year warranty. Came home to a hot tub on the back deck. O pic.twitter.com/DPsH1Xz0cu.
How to calculate the weight of a hot tub?
If we apply the formula I mentioned above for a large inflatable hot tub, we have: 1 Weight of the spa (empty) = virtually nothing 2 # of gallons of water (290) x 8.34 lbs (how much a gallon weighs) = 2,418.60 3 Add those 2 numbers = 2,418.60 4 # people (6) x 175 = 1,050 5 Add that number to the previous total = 3,468.60 6 Divide that by the number of square feet (38.37) = 90.40
Can you put support beams on a hot tub?
The good news is that if your deck is high enough off the ground to get under, it’s fairly easy to add support beams and posts to take the weight of your hot tub. The other good news is that if your deck is just above ground level, you aren’t likely to need additional support.
Is composite decking stronger than Trex?
Composite decking is roughly 20% more expensive than traditional pressure-treated lumber, so it doesn’t fit into every budget. Now Trex isn’t stronger than traditional wood , so to calculate whether or not you need additional support under your deck to hold the weight of a hot tub, follow my calculations above.
Determining Your Deck’s Weight Limit: Basic Idea
- There is no one answer to the question of how much weight a deck can hold. It is highly dependent on several factors, including: 1. Dead load and live load 1. Joist and footing spread 1. Wood type 1. Weather
Why Should I Know How Much Weight A Wooden Deck Can Hold?
- Knowing how much weight your deck can hold is essential for safety. Many people want to put a hot tub on their deckwithout knowing if the deck is rated for that kind of weight. Water is tremendously heavy and it could be unsafe Knowing your deck’s weight limit is also crucial if you plan on having a lot of people out on it.
Dead Load vs. Live Load
- When you are thinking about your deck’s weight limit, it’s important to consider dead load and live load. The weight limit on your deck will factor in both of these kinds of loads. A combination of the two will be your total weight limit. Usually, the live load will account for ⅘ of the total load limit of the deck. If, for example, your deck is rated for a total load of 5,000 pounds, 4,000 of this can …
Spread of The Joists and Footings
- The spread of the joists and footings on your deck is essential for its load limit. Most decks will have a joist span of 12 inches. This means that the joists are 12 inches apart from one another. However, if your deck’s joists are 16 inches apart, the load limit will go down quite a bit. This is because the weight will not be as evenly spread among the joists. The span of your footingswill …
Type of Wood
- The type of woodthat is used for your deck will also have a lot to do with how much it can hold. Softwoods like cedar will have a much lower weight limit than Ponderosa pine.
Type of Weather
- It is very important that you also factor in the weather when you think about a deck’s weight limit. If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, this could also add to the dead load. When wood is wet, it will weigh quite a bit more than it would when it is dry. Because of these factors, it’s important that you keep your live load well below the limit.
Conclusion
- By knowing what your deck’s weight limit is, you can use it safely and securely. You can also be sure that any additions will be supported. While there’s no definite answer to a deck’s weight limit, knowing how it’s determined will help you keep it safe.