To determine the maximum load capacity of your deck, start by calculating its total area and multiply by 50 psf. The average homeowner does not have the tools available to determine how much more weight your deck can hold than the … Before you calculate how much weight your deck can hold, you first need to understand how much weight per square foot it can hold. The gross vehicle weight (GVW) is how much the trailer and its payload weighs together. SYP lumber can span 10’ – 2’ more than the other species. To calculate the load, you should use 40lbs per square foot for live loads (these are variable loads that are dynamic such as the weight of people and furniture) and 15 lbs per square foot for dead loads (this is the weight of the materials used for the construction of the deck) for a … If the deck frame barely complies with code, then an overbuilt footing will not compensate for the frame. Add to this the weight of the tub itself and any filters, pumps etc and you will have a total weight for the whole thing. Help me make my curtains as noiseproof as possible. I've never in my life seen a sunken hot tub, though I know they exist. (8.35 lbs / gallon). Such calculations would hold if, for instance, the load is square. Calculating tributary loads is not difficult, as long as you have a diagram of your deck’s framing structure. If there is no strong wind, a 2x4 measuring at least 8 feet can support at least 1,000 pounds vertically. However, you can determine if your deck is overbuilt, which can give you an idea of how much more weight your deck can hold. The answer is, a lot of weight—if it is done right. Again, knowing your deck lumber species can allow you to see if your deck is overbuilt. It means different types of soil vary in terms of how much weight they can support before whatever they are supporting sinks into the earth. Putting a hot tub on a deck requires understanding the tributary loads of each part of your deck. Many building departments limit joist cantilevers to 24" maximum. The thickness of concrete is an important factor in load-bearing strength, but to conserve resources and avoid over-building, other factors are also taken into consideration. If you don't already have plans for the deck, draw up a sketch showing the size and spacing of bearers and joists (including the material if you can), the dimensions and materials of the decking itself and the details of how it is held up. All of them did, I'm sure, have a solid foundation. per square foot. My spa started off at 600 lbs. It is also not as strong, which will result in potentially more footings since cedar cannot span the same distances as pressure-treated wood such as SPF or SYP. One square foot has 144 square inches – so for us it’s 288 square inches. We get just over 19” for our footing diameter. Therefore, if you have a deck beneath a roof eave where snow will slide onto, you either need to regularly clear your deck or install a roof snow guard of some type. It is only slightly stronger than SPF lumber or Redwood and Wesetern Cedar. Soil matters. Draw a rectangle from that point up to the first line halfway between the house and beam. for 7 occupants = 5655 lbs. The first thing you need to work out is how much water the jacuzzi will hold (in gallons) and multiply that by 8.345404, which is how many pounds one gallon weighs. That doesn’t mean that your deck will suddenly have the same bearing capacity – it only means that your deck will not sink – ever. Let’s take a 12×10 foot deck as an example. On the other hand, if you build in a ground-snow load that exceeds 40 psf, then you can enter your snow load in the “Live Load” field to size a joist span to handle heavy snow. Also, deck maitnance is key (waterproofing and that kind of stuff) to prevent the wood from rotting. It is always wise to contact a professional to get an accurate estimate of what your deck can safely handle. If you look at the joist span tables above, it doesn’t take long to see that SYP is stronger than the other lumber species. First, you divide the tributary load of 1500 – the weight-bearing capacity of the default soil type used to determine building codes. You’ll measure the distance from the ledger board to the center of the support beam and draw a line. As the weight of the tub full of water will have to be calculated in addition to however many people the deck is deemed fit for, it is highly unlikely that the deck can take the extra weight legally, unless it was over-engineered in the first place. The spa filled has 320 gallons or 2672 lbs. But what does that mean? Here is a formula you can use: H (porch weight)= 40 lbs/sqft floor live load + 25 lbs/sqft dead load + 30 lbs/sqft roof live load = 95 lbs/sqft (assuming roof over porch). How does this affect load-bearing capacity? Let's add the dead load of 10 psf to our number and we get 111 psf in the area under the tub. Divide that distance in half. Knowing your soil type is just as important. The joists are 2"x12" over 20ft, 16" on center ; The framing under the deck is typical 2"x4" framing (living space), on a concrete foundation; The deck was built in 1980 up to code. Eugene has been a DIY enthusiast for most of his life and loves being creative while inspiring creativity in others. The total load for each tributary area is then divided by the area of each footing in order to determine the load psf imposed on the soil. Then check out this footing load table, which can tell you exactly how big your footings need to be based on the size of the post, the span of the beam, and the length of your joists. Now keep in mind that the deck is meant to sustain that load over its entirety – not in a concentrated area. Ask MetaFilter is where thousands of life's little questions are answered. They'll probably tell you that you have to pull a permit, so I wouldn't give them your name or address unless you want to jump threw those hoops. is probably wise, you’ll notice that North Carolina, for instance, only has an average snow load of 15 pounds per square foot. But as mentioned above – an overbuilt footing still depends on a properly constructed deck frame. Have a look underneath your deck. A residential deck should be designed to hold 50 psf (40 psf live load and 10 psf dead load). Knowing the tributary load of each footing can help us determine the diameter of each footing. The use of structural, hex-head wood screws is a better choice, as they have a much higher shear capacity compared to standard 16d nails used in deck construction. Figuring Out How Much Your Deck Handle As a general rule of thumb, if you have a deck that’s raised only a couple feet or less, it can support about 100 pounds per square foot. For instance, a 3-ply 2×12 beam can span 8’ between footings when joists are 12’ long when both SPF or Western Cedar is used. That number is simply a minimum requirement. Just as 50 pounds per square foot is the minimum weight capacity for a deck built to code, so too is soil bearing capacity. If only nails were used, without hardware of any type, then you might want to think twice before placing an 8000-pound hot tub on your deck. If your footing is 24” sonotube, then it is more than strong enough to support your deck. Therefore, a deck of 120 square feet multiplied by 50 shows that your deck can hold 6000 pounds, including the structure. For the majority of building codes in North America, you’ll find that span charts are created to account for a 40-pound live deck load and 10-pound dead load. Simply because it is assumed that you will clear your deck prior to inviting 20 of your friends over for a beer on that deck. You cut a big hole in your deck, then pour a concrete foundation on the ground to support the weight of the hot tub, and drop it in. Advice for building a back yard cabin,... Atlanta MeFites: Contractor recommendations required! It may cost you, but you’ll know for sure the limitations of your deck and the steps for rectifying any issues. Wondering how much weight can a tension rod hold? To calculate the weight of the deck, I’ll use a 10×10 deck for this example. Most decks will hold more – sometimes significantly more – than 50 pounds per square foot. Make the investment now to ensure you have a sturdy deck lest you get screwed later on. The … If you want to actually put people in that hot tub, you’ll need to reinforce your deck. The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is the maximum amount of weight the trailer is able to safely hold and transport, as rated by the manufacturer. Generally, we’re talking about 50 pounds per square foot. The GVW includes the weight of the trailer itself, plus its payload and anything that adds to the total weight. The other half is supported by the footings supporting the beam. Aimee Ann on June 7, 2018 at 4:04 pm I have a 2nd story rec room, measuring 24×18 in … However, you’ll have to get underneath — or at least have a good view of the underside of your deck – to see the dimension of lumber it was built with as well as to measure the distance between footings, footing type, and the type of hardware used. Reverse that and divide your area by pi. Add to this the weight of the tub itself and any filters, pumps etc and you will have a total weight for the whole thing. It will simply ensure that the deck does not sink into the ground. How to Determine if a Deck Can Support a Hot Tub, Deck Weight Limits for Composite and Other Types of Decking. So, what’s the load capacity of a standard deck? The three major types of wood species used in deck construction are Southern Yellow Pine (SYP), some combination of Spruce, Pine, and Fir (SPF), and Redwood, Western Cedar, or Red Pine. If your deck is built on bedrock, gravel, or even sand, then you’ll have a higher – and potentially even a much higher – soil bearing capacity. If your deck is built to code, then it is designed to hold a minimum of 50 pounds per square foot, of which ⅘ of that total is the “live” load. It also risks collapsing a deck. If you want to host a large party on your deck but still aren’t sure if it can handle the weight, it’s best to contact a building engineer. That number is simply a minimum requirement. Curious if your deck’s footings are up to code? This includes furniture, people, etc. That is a big range. 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