My house is on a slope. I’m interested in building a deck that needs to have a 30 foot beam span. Anyone know of any nifty solutions like trusses or steel beams that can accommodate a large span? What’s more, I’d love to put a hot tub on the deck, but that may be asking for too much…
For an exterior situation, and given the span, you’d probably have to use a steel I-beam. Steal beams can easily span that distance and bear your load if properly engineered. There are wood beams that can span that distance as well, but I’d have concerns about the lifespan of the beams depending on your environment and how you would properly protect the beam.
August 30th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
30′ span is out of the question. You might get half of that. I take it this will run parallel to the house. The length of the span has much to do with it also, especially if you want a hot tub on it. Go to a local building center and they would be glad to help you.
References :
25 yrs. building
August 30th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
For an exterior situation, and given the span, you’d probably have to use a steel I-beam. Steal beams can easily span that distance and bear your load if properly engineered. There are wood beams that can span that distance as well, but I’d have concerns about the lifespan of the beams depending on your environment and how you would properly protect the beam.
References :
Building Contractor w/30+ yrs. exp.