Enough support for deck and roof section?

**Brent Crouse** · 05-15-2009, 09:37 AM

This just doesn't look to me like it has adequate lower support piers. The ones there are 6x6, but I would expect to see a few more being that it is not only supporting the deck above, but a portion of the roof above.

Thoughts?

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A.D. Miller · 05-15-2009, 10:05 AM

In a word, no.

**wayne soper** · 05-15-2009, 07:48 PM

Are those outside beams doubled or tripled?

**Brent Crouse** · 05-16-2009, 05:40 AM

This inspection is set up for Monday evening, so I'll get more info and pics then. This pic is from the listing, and just jumped out at me as not looking right.

Thanks guys.

**Markus Keller** · 05-16-2009, 08:00 AM

The post spacing doesn't bother me and is probably ok. I would be more concerned about ...
the rim joist being at least double and bolted together
verifiable footings under the 6x6 and not in contact with the ground

**Brent Crouse** · 05-19-2009, 04:59 AM

Here's a picture from underneath. Rim beams are double, but not bolted together. This section is a 16' span.

Deck was very well bolted to the house through the ledger boards. Piers were sitting on the concrete patio, but were not attached to it, so I'll recommend some "L" brackets.

**Eric Barker** · 05-19-2009, 06:21 PM

Brent,

Look at the load path for the roof. The weight is transferred down onto the 2x8 (?) beams - mid-span. No connectors at the beam/post connection.

Unsafe construction seems to quickly come to mind.

**wayne soper** · 05-19-2009, 06:32 PM

Yes, That's the reason it looked funny from the start.
And i think from the looks that doubling is not enough with the break up of the load path
None of the posts line up vertically, which puts the load in the center or just off center of the span. Stupid to say the least and more than likely means some house wife got her nose in where it doesn't belong.

**Brent Crouse** · 05-19-2009, 06:35 PM

Eric,

Thanks for your input. The rim beams are 2x10's (doubled), and the floor joists are 2x8's. I recommended securing the piers to the concrete, but you're right, they probably should be better secured to the rim beams. One more 6x6 pier in that 16' span wouldn't hurt either.

**Brent Crouse** · 05-19-2009, 06:42 PM

Thanks Wayne,

Do you think that adding another 6x6 pier, and lining them up under the 4x4 posts on the deck, would provide adequate support?

**Eric Barker** · 05-19-2009, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by Brent Crouse

Thanks Wayne,

Do you think that adding another 6x6 pier, and lining them up under the 4x4 posts on the deck, would provide adequate support?

Now you're getting into specifying corrective measures. Even when I have half a clue as to what I'm talking about I think that it can sometimes be thin ice to tell people how to fix something. People have a funny (sickening) way of twisting comments and remembering what they want to remember.

**Brent Crouse** · 05-19-2009, 07:27 PM

Eric,

Yeah, that's always a tricky position we're left in. People almost always want to know "how to fix it". They figure that if we know it's wrong, then we should know how to fix it. You're right that even though we may be pretty sure what the fix is, it's best to defer.

Thanks again for the help.