BEFORE THE ARCHITECT – CUSTOM DREAM HOME DESIGNING BACKGROUND – HOUSE DESIGN ARTICLES
DECK KNEE BRACES FRAMING
By Before The Architect
Copyright 2008, 2009
YOU MAY FREELY QUOTE THE AG WITH PROPER ATTRIBUTION
A home inspector
comes to the house of a past client for whom Before The Architect designed,
among other structures, a large deck all along the back of the house. The
inspection is for clearing a sales contract. The inspector was supposed to
enter the house for interior inspection once he'd done with the exterior.
Thirty minutes passed and our client couldn't find the guy anywhere, that is,
until he looked under the deck. There was the inspector taking picture after
picture of footings, connectors, knee braces, posts, bolts, flashing, washers,
post fortifiers, beams . . . the works. The inspector notices our client,
apologizes for not coming in sooner. Says that he couldn't help himself. Says
he only reads about a deck structure like this - the way it should be done and
never is. The pics are going back to the office to show his co-workers how it's
done right and then straight into his classroom teachings on home inspection and
home structure. Dream home run. Before The Architect
INTRODUCTION
 |
How to stiffen a wood deck design to
counter the long-term stresses of wibble-wobble and the short-term stresses
of wondering whether or not to go back inside where the floors are
steadier? Consider a deck knee brace frame as standard ops in deck
framing. |
| Lumber for deck frame knee braces
|
| Knee braces that
are structural
|
Example: the post is 4"x6" and the beam is 3-2"x12"; therefore, the faces to which the knee brace is to be fastened are 4" at the post and 4 ˝" at the beam. Thus, the knee brace shall be 4"x4" to match the post. 4" x something greater than 4" is ok with this deck designer.
Example: the post is 4"x6" and the beam is 3-2"x12"; therefore, the faces to which the knee brace is to be fastened are 6" at the post and 4 ˝" at the beam. Thus, the knee brace shall be 4 ˝" x4 ˝" to match the beam. 4 ˝" x something greater than 4 ˝" is ok with this deck designer.
Deck Design Knee Brace, Elevation
Key to abbreviations: NLT=Not Less Than; NTS=Not To Scale
Comment: Here’s an illustration of these knee brace deck design standards. Note that a structural knee brace need not be linear.
If there’s any doubt whatsoever as to the firmest fastening, add a deadman. (Same goes for having to notch some joists or beams to maintain a level deck platform – a deadman, every time.)
DECK DESIGN KNEE BRACE DISTRIBUTION
| Before The Architect applies knee braces
in deck design at every opportunity.
|
Deck Design Knee Brace, Plan View
Comment: As a distant, though crucial aside, remember to fasten the outside beams to the ledger with concealed flange hangers for full-strength support.
. . . . . . .
POSTSCRIPT
| On further review, this deck designer
thinks he owes you more explanation about his parenthetical comment earlier
about notching joists and applying deadmen. |
| Following is an illustration of his
intended meaning, in order to save us both the thousand words and more he's
probably more eager to key in than others are to read. |
Key: JST = Joist (and could as easily have been a beam); TOF = Top Of Face.
. . . . . . .
About Us ◊ jrp2h2000@yahoo.com ◊ 770-889-6964 ◊ Site Map • Privacy Policy
· · · · · · ·
(If this is your first visit to Before The Architect, please consider spending a few moments looking over the Site Map, in design of a custom home, plans, the home designers, about builders and building. Before The Architect E-mail: jrp2h2000@yahoo.com.)
