Designing Pergola On New Deck

Agolk2

Hello all,

I'm new to the forum.

I have a question for all of you.

I am designing a deck that is 7'6 out from an existing brick veneer wall. The deck is freestanding as county codes wont allow us to attach to the existing wall (brick veneer). We are placing beams on 6x6 posts one close to the existing wall and one about 10" from the end of the deck. On top of this we are building a pergola with columns that as of now are about 6" off the support beams. The roof of the pegola is made up of 2x6 rafters with no roofing material, it is open roofed. The question is, since this is not bearing much load, do the pergola columns have to be directly on top of the beams or can we place (3)2x12 blocking in between the joists under the columns to support them or double up joists directly under them. I created structural drawings I can attach if needed, please let me know. I know this is a simple question for most of you but I have been racking my brain trying to make this design work and am just coming up with ideas. Thanks in advance for the help!

Andrew

BuiltByMAC

Not necessarily, depending on:
height of deck from grade,
size of deck joists,
size of beam sitting on pergola columns supporting the 2x6 rafters (incl. span length),
whether a climbing vine will be grown up on the structure,
etc...

You've got a deck that's 7'-6" wide, you've got structural beams at 1' (I'm guessing that measurement) and at 6'-8" - that leaves you a span between structural beams of less than 6', your rafters wouldn't be longer than 8', you want to incorporate the pergola posts into the handrailing located at the 10" cantilever, yes?

No problem, address the engineering equations regarding size of framing members and build away...

What's your thoughts on supporting the house side of the pergola - posts into deck framing or using the existing house roof for support?

Mac

Agolk2

Mac,

The deck is only 30" off grade, the roof is 2 floors up
So no go on support from the roof!

The beams under the deck are (3) 2x12's built up. The pergola columns are 6" posts with PVC wraparounds that are 1' at the base so the actual supporting 6x6 post is about 6" from the front of the deck to the centerline of the post and the other set of posts are 6" from the house. In each line of posts there are 4 posts. The middle posts are actually supporting a small gable roof in the middle of the deck about 5' wide and 7'6 deep.

Which equations would you use for this type of calculation, I don't do many pergolas!!

Thanks,
Andrew