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How Many Supports Does a Deck Need?
How Many Supports Does a Deck Need?
David Miller••6 min read
For an attached 12 x 12' deck, you'll need at least 3 footings, plus at least 2 more if you're planning on building stairs with it. If your deck will be a different size, it's easy to figure out how many you'll need.
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Furthermore, how many support posts do I need for a deck?
The larger 12-foot side will have a post spacing of 6 feet at a minimum code requirement. That makes a total of eight posts that need to be installed on this average size deck. For aesthetic or symmetry reasons, more posts may be added.
Also, how many posts do I need for a 10x10 deck? 4 posts
In respect to this, how many posts do I need for a 12x16 deck?
A standard deck will need four footings parallel to the house, but they will need to be temporarily braced by 6 inch-by-6 inch posts.
How far apart should bearers be for a deck?
Set up the bearer spacings at a minimum of 1800mm centres with stump holes no more than 1500mm apart. The outside run of stumps will need to align with the outside edge of the deck.
In the past, many decks were built with 4x4 support posts (also called structural posts). But these can bow seriously, even if a deck is only 3 feet off the ground. For that reason, we strongly recommend that you use 6x6s instead, even if your building department does not demand them.
In general terms, joists spaced 16 inches on center can span 1.5 times in feet their depth in inches. A 2x8 up to 12 feet; 2x10 to 15 feet and 2x12 to 18 feet. The larger the deck, the larger the joists. 2x6 joists should only be used on ground-level decks that do not require, and will not provide for, any guards.
David Miller brings 15 years of experience in global economics, personal finance strategy, and market dynamics. He specializes in turning complex economic trends into actionable insights for everyday readers.
