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Porches & Decks

Deck Re-Face question

16 years ago

I am in the process of re-facing my older PT deck and have run into a interesting situation. The joists on half of my deck are 24" OC. I want to install 16" OC and am curious if instead of 2x8 joists to make up the differences I can use 2x4 lumber in the spaces required. Since the average span will be less than 12", will this be acceptable for the structural integrity of the deck? The deck boards are 1x6 Garapa.

Many thanks.

Pat

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Comments (7)

john_hyatt
16 years ago
That would be possible,it would be a good thing to header off at 4' then run the extra joists inbetween the headers. All the conections need to be very secure. John
hardcorpse
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the response John. By header off do you mean install a 2x8 perpendicular to the current joists every 4' and secure the 2x4s between them? Thanks
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brooklyndecks
16 years ago
John's idea will make for firmer 2x4s (you didn't mention the joist span). Why not get 2x8 joists? Price difference isn't that much.

steve
hardcorpse
Original Author
16 years ago
Span is 12x14'. I just found another little gem as I was ripping the last face boards off. The original builder didn't use any beams!!! I always attributed the springiness to the very old boards and the 24" OC. Holy crap.
mike13
16 years ago
If by "acceptable for the structural integrity of the deck?" you mean to bring it up to code the answer regarding use of 2X4s is "No". The IRC has floor joist span tables and they range from 2X6s up to 2X12s but no 2X4s are listed. Of course if you could find a structural engineer to sign off on the use of 2X4s as floor joists then you'd be OK. But if the use of 2X4s is being driven by cost then hiring the engineer would blow the cost difference between 2X4s and 2X8s away.

I'd suggest you install 2X8s in-between so now you'll be on 12" centers and that will reduce the "springiness/floor bounce" dramatically.

But it sounds like you have bigger problems now w/ no beams. So what are the joists attached to?
brooklyndecks
16 years ago
Pat,

You want our help, but you are leaving out important info. It must be a ground level deck, or your deck builder is into levitation. You're gonna have to do more than re-face the deck. I think you need a demo/rebuild

steve
hardcorpse
Original Author
16 years ago
Fellas, many thanks for the input. It has been a busy day, to say the least. When I saw there were no beams, I knew my original plan for the 2x4s was kaput. Since this portion of deck IS ground level, I put in two rows of deck blocks with 2x8s to act as a better beam than was there before then removed and replaced the original 2x8s with some new ones properly spaced. All is well thus far. Have to move a few joists on the 2nd level of the deck which is ~9" higher and properly braced with double 2x8s times three as beams. Other than that, it was not too crazy a day. It basically is turning into a demo/rebuild Steve. Not what I originally planned, but I am not really into lawsuits and such. Thanks again for all your valuable input(s)

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