![]() Remember when your science teacher said: every action has an opposite and equal reaction? Well every building load has an equal “reaction load”. The structural goal of a house is to safely transfer building loads (weights) through the foundation to the supporting soil. A complete analysis of wood’s mechanical properties is complex, but understanding a few basics of lumber strength will allow you to size joists and rafters with the use of span tables. Wood is naturally engineered to serve as a structural material: The stem of a tree is fastened to the earth at its base (foundation), supports the weight of its branches (column) and bends as it is loaded by the wind (cantilever beam). Learn More About Beam SpanUsing span tables to size joists and rafters is a straight-forward process when you understand the structural principles that govern their use. For this reason, it’s important to calculate how many beams (and concrete footings to secure each beam) your deck will need. Your beams will need to bear the load of not only your decking materials, but additional components of the frame itself. While joists provide a horizontal support system for deck boards, beams provide support for the joists. This makes for a more attractive, unobstructed view from your front windows.Īnother benefit to steel framing is that the material is non-flammable and many insurance companies offer a discounted rate for steel deck framing.ĭeck beams and joists go hand-in-hand as the framing materials for your deck. This means there are fewer holes to dig and fewer posts to look at from the ground floor of your home. Due to their strength, fewer beams or posts are needed. Steel framing materials, are machine-made, making each beam an exact replica of the beams on either side of it. They make for a stronger, straighter, safer, and smarter alternative to wood substructures and may be more economical in the long-run. Unlike wood, steel beams are not susceptible to the elements and won’t warp over time. If you’re building a deck, wood isn’t your only option for beams. ![]() However, shipping costs for large amounts of lumber can cost almost up to five times the actual price of the lumber itself. If you have your heart set on a specific type of wood that isn’t locally available, that wood can be shipped to you via a supplier. On the flipside, Pinewoods are only available in Southern and Eastern regions of the country. Redwoods, Hem-Fir, and some of the other combination woods are not available outside of the Western part of the United States. And combination woods, such as Douglas Fir & Western Larch (Douglas Fir-Larch), Hemlock & Fir (Hem-Fir), and Spruce-Pine-FirĪll are high-quality woods to use for framing purposes, however, your geographic region plays a role in which woods will be available to you.Some of the most common types of wood used for beams include: It’s important to choose a strong, dense wood for your beams. According to our beam span chart resource, the span of a beam is dependent on a few variables: the species of lumber, size of lumber, and the load it carries. However, from an aesthetic perspective, you’ll want to have as few beams as possible since they will be visible from your ground floor and can obstruct views. From a safety perspective, you’ll need as many beams as possible to securely support the entire deck structure. ![]()
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