Thread: Free standing deck

Perfect. How high off the ground will it be?

Thanks Ray.

The bottom of the bearers/joists will be 100mm off the ground if I use 150mm bearers/joists. I only have 269 mm from the pavers to the door sills so take off 19mm for the top decking boards and 150mm for the bearers/joists and I'm left with 100mm.
Looking at my options for fitment, decking boards etc I may be better going with diagram 2 in this new upload. This means the decking timber will run across rather than along the length. I will need a row of footings across the centre (5) plus 5 down each side. Maybe another in the middle at each end? See diagram 2

deck.pdf

Max joist spacing for me on a 19mm board is 450mm and I would be looking at four rows of footings (1166mm spacing on 3500mm width)

I see you have changed orientation, for my liking I run the boards across the viewing angle so you look across the boards not down the gaps this way if your lines are not completely straight you don’t see it.

I am not a builder and bow down to those with more knowledge

cheers
wrongwayfirst

Do you already have the timber Lappa? If not you may be better to go to a more conventional design using 100x50 hardwood bearers and 90x45 MGP10 joists. This would give you a framing height of 190mm max. so still within your height allowance of 250mm. I'm guessing your plan with the 150x50 would be in hardwood and you will be using joist hangers? I don't have access to any tables of timber span requirements for this type of construction, although you may be able to find something on the net, I suppose you've already looked.

I haven’t bought anything yet - just in the planning stage. I was going to use 150x50 LVL timber. The hardwood at the moment is like a corkscrew and no one will guarantee it being straight. The reason I ask re the footings is span tables confuse me with one set for bearers and one for joists, Floor Load Width etc. so I thought I’d ask the experts.
I forget about the 450 centres for 19mm - thanks for that wrongwayfirst so I’ll redraw. The span table I have says 150x50 single span is 3.35m (2 footing) and 4.14m continuous ( if I read it right - 3 footings). So if I go to the first diagram, across the 3.5m, I see 3 footings required but I’m not sure how many down the 6.5 m length.
The reason for running the boards out from the wall rather than along the wall is for two reasons. This is an old house and all the veranda boards run that way and it’s easier to compensate for irregularities along the perimeters.
I don’t mind having too many footings; I’d rather a stiff floor than a springy one and it’s going to have a very heavy hardwood outdoor table on it.
I’ll post a new drawing with 450 centres and where I think the footings will go for perusal and comment.

thanks fellas

If you can find ANY lvl materials at the moment, let me know please, we’ve been waiting for months for a couple of orders, still no sign of them.
a better option is old school 90x70 treated pine bearer and 90x45 treated pine joists, never touch it sgain as long as you use galvanized or stainless fasteners for everything.

Thanks. What’s the span between footings for the 90x70 bearer? My span table only shows 2/90x45 for bearers. Might need to visit the chippies at work��

Originally Posted by Lappa

Thanks. What’s the span between footings for the 90x70 bearer? My span table only shows 2/90x45 for bearers. Might need to visit the chippies at work��

I’ve always known it to be 1800, but that was for hardwood I think, I would think dividing the run into equal spans around 1500 should see you straight though, unless you’re planning on having weight watchers club meetings on the deck with all the members from the western suburbs of Sydney attending.

The tables I've got show 2/90x35 seasoned softwood F7 as not suitable for floor widths over 1200mm. Even at 1200 floor width the spacing of the supports is shown as 1300mm.

If you do want to go the softwood bearer route MGP12 has just over 20% more bearing capacity than F7. That should allow you to have 5 runs of 2/90x35 MGP12 bearers (1625mm centres on the deck length and supported at 4 points) and 9 runs of MGP10 joists at (roughly) 450mm centres.

Another option to consider that I have done is use galv steel RHS joists and Wurth self drilling screws. Much better span capabilities and more cost effective not to mention the availability issues with timber at the moment.

Originally Posted by Beardy

Another option to consider that I have done is use galv steel RHS joists and Wurth self drilling screws. Much better span capabilities and more cost effective not to mention the availability issues with timber at the moment.

Thanks Beardy.
I’d already been looking at Boxspan early in the piece which is where the 150x50 dimension originally came from but their adjustable footings needed a minimum of 220mm beneath the bearer. While continuing the search for adjustable footings of the size I required, another company selling steel sections said it had to be a minimum of 400mm from the ground for warranty etc.
This is why I stated looking at LVL timber and using 150x45 ( closest to 150x50 that I had span tables from for the Boxspan)
Still haven’t ruled out steel but haven’t got prices yet.

Had a great chat with Ray (RWBUILD) yesterday and he kindly ran the 150x45 through his program and came up with a plan with dimensions and footing spacing.
great help - thanks again Ray

David (Aldav) had also been beavering away drawing up a plan using maybe more readily available 90x45 - once again, great help - thanks again Dave

Thanks to all who replied - gotta luv this forum!

Originally Posted by Lappa

Thanks Beardy.
I’d already been looking at Boxspan early in the piece which is where the 150x50 dimension originally came from but their adjustable footings needed a minimum of 220mm beneath the bearer. While continuing the search for adjustable footings of the size I required, another company selling steel sections said it had to be a minimum of 400mm from the ground for warranty etc.
This is why I stated looking at LVL timber and using 150x45 ( closest to 150x50 that I had span tables from for the Boxspan)
Still haven’t ruled out steel but haven’t got prices yet.

I didn’t bother with boxspan, I just used Onesteel Duragal RHS, there are span tables on their website. Likewise I didn’t use their adjustable footing system , I just cut gal posts and concreted then in and fixed then to the framing. I used 150x50 and are set 50mm off the ground so that it is just one step high