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Most deck designs are based on a number of posts that rest
on concrete footings or are imbedded in concrete and in turn
these posts take the weight of the deck.
Each structural member of the deck is designed to take
weight and transfer it through connection to the ground. The
decking material, takes the weight of the people and items
that are on the deck, this weight is transferred to floor
joists, which in turn transfer the load to the beams which
in turn transfer the load to the posts which take the load
to the ground.
Although the aforementioned construction method provides the
best possible support, there are some variations that can be
utilized. You can notch the post so that only one of the
beam members is actually resting on the post and the other
is bolted to the first beam. Adding a support that is well
fastened to the beam increases the strength.
The same construction scenario applies to the floor joists
that connect to the beams. It is best if the floor joists
sit on top of the beams, however in many cases this is not
possible due to height problems from the ground to the base
of the deck. In those cases there are brackets, called joist
hangers, which are designed to make the connection and
transfer the load. Joist hangers come in
a variety of sizes that will suit any size floor joist in
combinations of one, two, or three joists tied together.
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