OB Construction: Free standing deck cover

I have stacked, 20' long by 10' wide porches with no middle support beams. I put treated 4"x12" or a little bigger beam on the lower porch and a laminated beam on the upper porch.

Lower:







Upper:

A 2 x 10 isn't going to get it done. I don't know what size will, perhaps one of our engineers can give some options...

At a minimum I would double up a couple of 4 x 12 lvls

your best option will be a glu-lam beam engineered for the load. the glu-lam manufacturer will design the beam around the span/load info you give them. They aren't that expensive

quote:

---

Glad my ignorance is entertaining.

---

Don't be insulted, ignorance is correctable, stupidity is not.


Not to be an arse, but there is difference in sinking a post in concrete like people do for a common fence post and properly connecting a supporting post to a concrete footing. Also may need to use hurricane ties on the post header joint and the header roof joist connections to assure they stay firm and meet code. One way to get plenty of long lasting strength is to use steel poles with welded on flanges to set the wood beam in and then bolt through. Then you cover the post with a hollow box of wood made to look like the wooden post you were going to put in. That way if there is damage to the wood post later you are not stuck jacking up the roof to replace it. Simply take off the faux post and replace while the steel support remains in place.


FWIW moving your posts in from the corners slightly like wickowick did above reduces the span that the beam must carry the load. Even 4 ft of reduction can make significant differences in size of beam needed.

quote:

---

FWIW moving your posts in from the corners slightly like wickowick did

---

There is only around 16" between mine, not sure how much that helps...