How far apart should 6×6 deck posts be?

8 feet
For Building a Deck Railing, Deck Frame, or Fence The maximum spacing of 4×4 deck posts should be 6 feet on center, while the maximum spacing of 6×6 deck posts should be 8 feet on center.

How long can you get a 6×6 post?

22-ft
Product Specifications

Size & Dimension	6-inch x 6-inch
Length	22-ft
Size & Dimension	.15
Wood Treatment	Treated
Wood Specie	Yellow Pine

How much weight can a 4×4 post support vertically?

Properly supported at 16” centers, and it can support up to 4,000lbs. Used vertically as a post, an 8′ 4×4 can support about 6,000 PSI before buckling, and even more if correctly braced.

Is it normal for 6×6 posts to crack?

The crack in your photo in the center of a 6×6 pressure treated post is common, it’s called “checking”, and it has no structural significance at all.

How much weight will 6×6 hold?

A 6×6 with 12′ span can support 2000 lbs. if you assume a conservative 1400psi bending stress. If you do a good job bonding the two members together, your double 6×6 can support more than 4,000 lbs.

How much weight will a 6×6 wood beam support?

What is this? At a 4-feet span, a #1-S-P-F 6×6 can support 1,040 pounds per linear foot (PLF) or 4,160lbs per span, and a DF-L D-SS can carry 2080 PLF or 8320lbs per span based on allowable bending stresses (Fb).

How much weight will a 6×6 hold vertically?

The load capacity of a 3-foot #2 grade 4×4 is 17,426 pounds, and a similar 6×6 is 20,834 pounds or 16% better. However, an 8-foot 4×4 supports 6468-pounds and 2339-pounds at 14-feet, while a 6×6 is 18032 and 10550-pounds respectively – or 64% and 78% more load capacity.

How much weight will a 6×6 hold horizontally?

Why are my 6×6 posts splitting?

While extreme loading can cause a wood beam to split and would indicate a sign of impending disastrous collapse, usually the splits or cracks found in wooden posts and beams are due to shrinkage as wood dries, occur along the grain, and do not raise a structural concern.

How much weight can a 6×6 pressure treated post support?

If you assume a conservative 1400psi allowable bending stress, a single 6×6 with 12′ span can support about 2000 lbs. So your double 6×6 can support at least 4000 lbs (possibly more if you do a good job bonding the two members together so that there’s no slip between the faces).

Can a 6×6 be used horizontally?

Almost absolutely. A 5′ span is small enough that there’s almost no shed you could build that wouldn’t be fine on those timbers.

How much weight can a 6×6 post hold?

How much weight will a 6×6 post hold? The vertical load capacity of a “plain” wooden post will depend on its height. You can load a 6″ x 6″ post that is up to about 10 feet tall that is sitting under a spreader beam and on a sill to something like 15,000 pounds.

How many Kips can a 6×6 post support?

A 6×6 8′ in height with no load duration factor and of Doug Fir #1 or better is good for about 28 kips. But usually bearing stresses of the beam on the post or the post on support will control. As for your bow, I think that is due to shrinkage.

What is the difference between a 4×4 and 6×6 post?

While a 4×4 under 5-feet will do the same job essentially as a 6×6, the more solid timber resists bending and twisting much better. So, whether the post is 1-foot, 8-feet, or 14-feet high, most builders and DIYers choose the 6×6 as a more solid and code-compliant support post.

What are 6×6 deck posts used for?

6×6 deck posts offer a solid, stable base for most decks. They are commonly secured at or above ground level with a metal bracket to a footing, pier, or deck block, and to the beam at the other end to prevent twisting.