The supporting structural members of a deck - the posts, beams, and joists - must be sturdy enough to easily support the heaviest anticipated load on the deck. They must not only carry the substantial weight of the surface decking and railings, but also the weight of people, deck furnishings, and, in some climates like ours in New England, snow.
The diagrams below will help you to plan a new deck with your contractor so the size and spacing of the structural members are sufficient to support the load, assuming the normal use. Remember to check with your deck contractor and local building departments for regulations that are unique to your area.
Post-and-beam Or notched-post deck:
Is a deck where the end of the structure is lined up with the beam. This is the most common type of deck.
Cantilevered Deck
Is a deck that stick out of the structure. The maximum allowed by the building codes, is two feet.
Multiple- beam deck
As the name says, it is a deck that has multiple beams to support the load.
