Deck Building Question - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

brewsterb · 06-20-2007, 12:00 PM

I am looking at building a 2 tier deck and was wondering how I can fasten my joists for my lower deck. Would I be able to use my beam from my upper deck as a ledger for my lower deck? My upper deck is not very big (about 7' deep and 12' long) and is about 2' - 2 1/2' off the ground so I was planning on sitting my joists on a 2x10 beam that has been doubled up.

Any insight would be appreciated.

gregj · 06-20-2007, 04:15 PM

Sure you can. Make sure the beam is sized right for the load from each deck.

RobertCDF · 06-21-2007, 12:29 AM

Yea that beam has to hold both decks so it is going to be larger. The pier sizes will be larger and the spacing between them closer together. You said you wanted to use double 2x10s.... That would be ok unless your second level spans 16'. But if it spans another 7-8' then you could use the 2x10's but I would recomend posts spacing of 5-6' and center piers should be a min 18" dia and as deep as required by code.