Deck Roof

haskl33

I am going to be adding a roof over my existing deck. The support posts are 4x4's. With keeping the existing supports, whats the best way to connect another 4x4 on top of the existing supports to be the supports for the roof. In other words... How should i connect two 4x4s?

mickeyco

Simpson makes brackets for this or you can use a pin. Before doing anything check with the building department and your code book, depending on how big the existing posts are you might have to step up to 6x6 posts which may or may not require larger footings depending on what you have existing.

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reveivl

Around here you can no longer use 4x4 posts if there are any beam splices over a post. Each member of the beam must have 2" of support, which you can't get with a 4x4. Look for having to use 6x6 as Mickey says.

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nywoodwizard

Sounds shakey already

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BuiltByMAC

Rethink your project please. Make that roof bomb-proof -

Pull up a few deck boards
Dig and pour new footings for your roof posts - Tall, heavy-duty Simpson post bases in wet concrete (http://www.strongtie.com/products/connectors/CBSQ.html)
Install roof posts on new footings
block around all four sides of roof posts in deck structural framing (build a collar to lock post in place)
Reinstall decking, notching around new posts
Continue to build roof on new posts - if free standing roof (not tied at top to any other structure), big knee bracing in both lateral directions to prevent sway

If if works for placement, install roof posts in line with handrail and build handrail around posts (adds another 36" of lateral support)

Rest easy under said roof knowing you have no pivot points for roof to fall on you (or your guests)

Mac

BuiltByMAC

He's talking about a vertical 4x4 splice to carry a roof load which is a scary proposition on it's own.

On an aside, would Simpson ECCQ column caps (http://www.strongtie.com/products/co.../CCQ-ECCQ.html) work where you live? They would give each beam end more than 2" of support.

And no, I'm not a Simpson rep in hiding! I just use their beefy connectors in most of my projects so I'm familiar with them.

Mac

RobertCDF

I would be willing to bet the piers are undersized to take on the weight from the roof as well.

I sugest putting new piers in like Mac said, unless it was designed to carry a roof when it was built. And dont assume the craptastic track builder even build it to the minimum requirements when they built it to begin with.

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Colorado Springs Custom Decks
Colorado Custom Decks
Custom Composite Decks

nywoodwizard

Splicing a load bearing post and installing a roof on top with the posibility of heavy rain ,snow or wind sounds like an accident ready to happen,lateral or diagnal supports won't do anything,the fail point is still at the post connection/splice.Senario in heavy wind,snow or rain, the post will lean ,tear off the rim joist and collapse.Its easy and safer to just remove the corner railing post and replace with proper sized post from the ground up.once footings are in,should be done in a snap,and much cheaper than replacing the whole roof that may fall off.

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Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.

reveivl

I've not tried to run them by an inspector, but my guess (for what THATS worth) is Yes.

In timber framing there are some joints designed for that purpose (to extend a post) but you wouldn't want to try it with small (less than 8x8) timbers, and finding an engineer to sign off on it these days would likely be a joke.

__________________
From where does knowledge come? If you need to know what is in a box, you could ask someone (not reliable), you could pray, (not useful), you can consult with the scripture (not helpful) or you could open the box (science)

theroofinggod

definitely upgrade the support posts(6x6s),and support header(at least triple 2x10)before adding weight to it,and dependent on how large or how much weight ,you may need more-talk to your bldg inspector-he has guidelines for you