Cantilevering

How to Cantilever Deck Beams and Joists

by Richard Vande Sompel on Jun 15, 2009

Deck building is a polular do-it-yourself project with homeowners who can take advantage of how-to-do-it clinics and tools rentals at home improvement retail outlets to construct the decks of their dreams.

Cantilevering is a deck construction technique that can be used by do-it-yourselfers on almost all decks. It allows the builder to add several feet to the width of the deck without increasing the maximum span rating for the beams or the joists. This is especially true when homeowners are building bigger and bigger decks with more levels and more complex shapes.

In some instances cantilevering makes it possible for a smaller beam size to be used to support the deck. As far as the joist size is concerned a smaller size could also be used by the using this innovative construction method.

Another advantage of incorporationg cantilevering into the construction of a deck is that the location of foundation columns, support posts and beams...Read More >>