Porch building questions.

[Cycl1]

This one is for some of you CE/ structural people out there. My dad is having a new porch built. Is it better to use 16 ft length lumber for the supports. or connect two 8ft pieces, or does it really matter?

thanks fanatics!

 

[fatkid1974]

One solid piece imo, you could split them if you ran another set of footings at 8' and rest the joint on footing. A lot more work and money than it's worth. Just spend the money on 16 footers.

 

[Clonehomer]

You could use a smaller joist with 8' spans and footings. A 16' span for a porch would probably warrant a 2x12 where 8' spans you can get away with less. There are plenty of resources on the Internet to help size everything.

 

[Cycl1]

You could use a smaller joist with 8' spans and footings. A 16' span for a porch would probably warrant a 2x12 where 8' spans you can get away with less. There are plenty of resources on the Internet to help size everything.

and it wont make it structurally less sound?

 

[Clonehomer]

and it wont make it structurally less sound?

I would really suggest getting a design book from your local hardware store to figure out the spacing. The one that I have shows the longest spans that you want with beams is 12'. So if you have a 16' span, you'll want to set a post in the middle. With the post in the middle, either two 8' or one 16' really doesn't matter as long as that split is at the post. In order to make that connection, you may want to use a 4x6 post to help give room to make the connection for both of the 8' beams.

If by supports, you mean the joists then you can do a 16' span with a 2x10 if you space the joists at 16". Once again, there are several considerations with this including the species of wood and the decking you are using.

 

[Cycl1]

I believe when talking to my dad he was curious about the posts. Its going to be a screened in porch, and he was thinking 16' posts would be better than two 8' posts stacked.