Positioning Vinyl Posts How Far From Edge On Wood Deck

The maximum distance between footings is determined by the size of your joist material.

Positioning vinyl posts how far from edge on wood deck.

Deck railings must be a minimum of 36 inches high from the deck floor to the cap rail. Typically this is 16 inches on center measured from the center of one joist to the center of the next. Be sure to alternate joints on different posts and not have any joints on the gate posts. Attach them to the posts following the ground contour.

Mark the posts for a notch that is 1 1 2 inches deep and as long as the depth of the joist about 7 1 2 inches for a 2x8 joist about 9 1 2 inches for a 2x10. Longer stringers can span two or more posts. Posts on the outside set back from corner. With posts outside the joists the simplest approach is to use two posts at each corner held back far enough to line up with the second joist about 12 to 16 inches from the corner.

Most backyard decks using wooden posts rely on the 5 to 8 feet average for the post spacing but modern advancements in deck building now allow for metal posts as well as composite posts to be used in place of traditional wood. We recommend attaching the posts to concrete footers above the ground. The type of post you use can also affect the spacing between posts. This helps to prevent wooden posts from rotting.

There are several ways to set deck posts. In this situation the soil under each deck footing may be called upon to support 3 000 plus pounds. If you re installing parting boards in the middle of the deck start marking the joist spacing from the center of the beams working toward the end joists. As with any deck remember that any deck that is 2 feet or more above the ground must have a railing system.

In general posts should be spaced no more than 8 feet apart. If your deck has wood support posts and a ledger board that is bolted to the house the deck posts holds up approximately 50 percent of the total weight. Some builders position them every 4 feet for a completely rigid frame. They draw the baluster up closer to the deck edge and make a slightly firmer joint than surface mounted posts.

Use a joist scrap to be exact. Beams sometimes called girders should be two wood boards or steel posts of the proper thickness consult your local building code and plans. The top rails extend beyond the posts to meet at the corner see detail below left. Typically you ll need one for each 2 feet of post height.

If the balusters will run horizontally along your deck the 4 by 4 railing posts cannot be more that 6 feet apart. First off mark where deck posts will stand in the yard. Starting with your perimeter mark the location of each deck post to locate the fitting position.