socoj2 Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 I have a Deck that attaches to a unsupported bow window. On either side of this sistered 2x8 are 2x8 joist that run the entire length of the deck and have a column and attached to the side of the house. To me the 3 internal supports are largely worthless because its hunt to the joist. What say Woodworking talk to removing the 3 internal supports? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Find newest deck code online. It's very specific Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socoj2 Posted April 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 16 minutes ago, Tom King said: Find newest deck code online. It's very specific i looked i cant find anything relevant to what this should be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Pic please. Too much of what you typed could mean many things. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socoj2 Posted April 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 1 minute ago, C Shaffer said: Pic please. Too much of what you typed could mean many things. there should be a pic in the original post. Can those 3 columns be removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 1 minute ago, socoj2 said: there should be a pic in the original post. Can those 3 columns be removed. Pic isn't showing up for me.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socoj2 Posted April 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 I don't know anything about current code but it looks like they bridged around the window. Is either side of it firmly attached to the house? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socoj2 Posted April 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 The 2x8s on either side are attached to the header. Then the sistered 2x8s are connected to the 2 joist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Removing the pillars requires a change in the whole structure from what I see. You'd need to double or triple what runs out from the secured areas and then double or triple what spans the window gap. Tom is right. Find the span you are trying to bridge and it is all in the manuals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 It looks like the posts carry the weight (and they are braced) so the house attachment is just for stability. I'm thinking some major rebuilding would need to be done to remove those posts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socoj2 Posted April 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Just now, wdwerker said: It looks like the posts carry the weight (and they are braced) so the house attachment is just for stability. Around the window is correct. because they cant secure it to the an ARC. On either side of the ARC are Double 2x8 sister-ed together, and then outside of the arc is another sister-ed 2x8 spanning the portion of the ARC which is basically a floating ledger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 A few things... unsupported bay windows are stupid. There is no way your deck is higher than the house floor system, so cantilever the sub floor. That single transverse 2x8 is not rated for that span. Double 2x8s are likely not rated to support the weight added from that span. Verify the deck is properly lagged to the home before even considering changes. Honestly, a framer will complete this in a day and will carry liability. Framing material is cheap. You will spend less than $600 in my area and it will be done faster than you can do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 The post are vital parts of the support system. The beam on top of the joists cannot span the distance if you remove the interio posts. Whileit may look like the floor joists would be supported by the house, they won't be because they are interupted by the dbl 2x8 beam. This will act like a hinge if the posts are removed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 Shaneymack builds decks as part of his livelihood - hopefully he will chime in as well. Helped me when I was designing my deck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 If it were my deck I definitely wouldn't be removing those posts. That middle one is probably taking quite a bit of weight, and you would have major sagging issues without it. Over that kind of span the 2x8 is nowhere near enough to support the deck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim DaddyO Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 Seeing as most things today are built to MINIMUM code requirements, and less if they can get away with it, I would never remove anything structural without a plan to beef it up in another manner. Was the deck built with a permit and inspected? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 No one suggesting removal is talking about anything less than a redesign of three major carrying members. If you picture this like a stairway cutout, you see this all the time. I may be off about swapping with doubled 2x12, it might require 14" LVL. It might be cost prohibitive. Talk to someone in your area who gets these inspected. Your windows are low enough that a deeper framing set will not impede. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janello Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 That middle.post has a major crack. Either way something should be done, because that looks like its one or 2 wind storms away from failure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tom King Posted April 3, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 I looked at the picture. Don't even think about removing anything. Your building inspector can give you the names of several structural engineers. Hire one. It won't cost that much, and might save someone's life. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 Most 6x6 PT posts have surface checks but the post is sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 Yes, I've never seen one without the center of the tree in it. The post is not a worry. The structure is all covered in code. Any design has to fit span tables and fasteneer requirements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socoj2 Posted April 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 Yeah lets calm down im not going to go cutting down Columns. Im mainly asking if its possible or if i needed to reinforce the spans etc. Looking at the building code for GA. the middle one has to stay but i need to do some measuring if i can get ride of the other 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 IRC"s latest deck code is about ten years newer than that collapse. Many people have died on deck collapses since then. Current IRC code is much more specific than anything proor . There may be more stringent codes on areas where earthquakes are.a high probability, but I"d say the one in question is not in one of those areas. This is not something to be decided by guesswork by a homeowner, or on an Internet forums. I would not worry about it only if all the construction details meet the current IRC deck code requirements. It goes Way beyond any deck code prior to it. The reason it does is because many people have died. I've done this stuff for a living for 43 years now. Typing from phone, so please excuse errors. Between auto correct and my tough fingers, it won't get much better. Storm took modem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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