Replies

1. 
   Rich_B. | Feb 05, 1999 01:52am | #1

   *
   In my area (MI), we use 1" (which is really 3/4") on 16" span. One of the local building department officials did say that I could have made it with 1/4", but I think he was slightly exagerating. For the minimal cost of the joists compared to the Ipe, I'd go with 16".

2. 
   Guest_ | Feb 05, 1999 06:40am | #2

   *
   Better safe than sorry and go with 16oc. i also recently saw a local lumber yard selling cypress for decks. real real nice looking lumber indeed at about 2 - 2.5 times the cost of pt lumber.

   Pete Draganic

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 05, 1999 07:55am | #3

   *Hey its your deck and I'm not ripping you in the least, but I really question using exotic wood for a deck. I know it is really high end and I had a friend/client tell me about a contractor that has gone this route. I'm no bleeding heart, pink panty wearing wussy, but wouldn't this wood be better used for furniture projects for the deck.Spend money on the best pt wood and leave the exotic for more heirloom projects.

1. 
   Guest_ | Feb 05, 1999 08:17pm | #5

   *I should have included a few more details, sorry. My decking pattern will run at 67 1/2 degrees, so I know I can't go larger than 16" centers. The real question is do I need to go to 12" centers? It turns out that this angle results in a clear span of 37.8 inches, and an Ipe' dealer has told me the maximum span at 60 psf is 38"; at 100 psf is 32". Now I have to check our building codes for the required load estimation.As for using pressure treated, you don't know my wife...Also, one has to take into account the life time of the wood. Ipe' will last at least 25 years, even with no sealing. We have two neighbors with decks made of Ipe' and they look fabulous. If you don't seal ever few years, it will turn a silver/gray. Sealing maintains the reddish brown color. Another neighbor used Michigan white cedar, which looks pretty good too, but is a very different color. I haven't seen one in cypress yet. It sounds interesting.So I would still really like to find a table showing allowable spans per thickness per load. Anybody seen one?Thanks!bryan

3. 
   Guest_ | Feb 05, 1999 08:17pm | #4

   *
   I am thinking of using Ipe' (a Brazilian hardwood) for a residential deck. I need to know the maximum clear spans I can use with 5/4" decking. So far the only thing I have found is that "Nominal 1" boards can span 24" easily". Does anyone know of a web site with the info, or does anyone have a table showing the distances that can be spanned?