Span Charts and Options
Framing
Span Charts
Calculations are based on 40 psf (pounds per square foot) live load with a 10 psf dead load. These charts provide common – but not complete – deck framing information. Please check with the local building department for the requirements that apply to your project.
Click here for a list of Denver Metro Area building departments.
- Information about Southern yellow pine comes from the Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide (DCA6) from the American Wood Council.
- Information about Alaskan Yellow Cedar Glulams comes from Boise Cascade.
- Information about Treated LVL Framing Lumber is from Pacific Wood Tech and for beam spans for double-1.5″ material references this spans chart.
Treated LVL
4×4 | 8′, 12′, or custom length by ft. |
6×6 | 10′, or custom length by ft. |
2×4 | 8′, 12′, or custom length by ft. |
2×6 | 12′, or custom length by ft. |
2×8 | 12′, 14′, 16′, 20′; also 24′ (cut to order), or custom length by ft. |
2×10 | 12′, 16′, 20′; also 24′ (cut to order), or custom length by ft. |
2×12 | 12′, 16′, 20′; also 24′ (cut to order), or custom length by ft. |
LVL framing lumber is super strong, straight, and works like wood. Treated LVL from Pacific Wood Tech uses proprietary Tru-Core ® technology, including treatment chemistry in both the glue and wood treatment, producing boards that are consistent, dry after treatment, not corrosive to fasteners, carrying 25-year transferable warranty.
Traditional treated lumber is more expensive today than it was only months ago. Treated LVL today costs about 60% more than treated lumber. Treated LVL is stronger, however, and may replace larger profile treated lumber. So for a typical deck, upgrading to treated LVL costs about $2-3 more per square foot. But also consider that treated LVL eliminates some traditional frustrations of working with wood, so it’s faster to build with and flatter when it’s done.
Treated Lumber
2×4 | 8′, 10′ |
2×6 | 12′, 16′ |
2×8 | 10′, 12′, 14′, 16′, 20′ |
2×10 | 12′, 14′, 16′, 20′ |
2×12 | 12′, 16′, 20′ |
Our treated framing lumber is #2-and-better Southern yellow pine (SYP), with “Treater Series” computer-aided log-grading technology developed by Weyerhaeuser. Treater Series is noticeably straighter than other treated lumber. Additionally, our treated lumber is also kiln-dried after treatment (KDAT), making it lighter and easier to work with. Open units of lumber are stored indoors.
Treated posts:
4×4 | 8′, 10′ |
6×6 | 8′, 10′, 12′ |
Our treated posts are Hem fir, incised, and rated for ground contact (not appearance grade).
Glulam: Alaskan Yellow Cedar
3×9 Beam | Custom length by ft. |
3×12 Beam | Custom length by ft. |
5×9 Beam | Custom length by ft. |
5×12 Beam | Custom length by ft. |
5×9 Column | Custom length by ft. |
Glulam AYC from Boise Cascade is strong, straight, and appearance grade. Alaskan yellow cedar is rated for exterior use. The structural engineering software BC Calc provides structural information normally accepted by building departments (ask your salesperson).