I'm currently in the process of building a 20x24 ft deck in Northeast Iowa, and given the heavy snowfall we experience here, I'm trying to figure out whether I should use 4x4 or 6x6 posts for support. The deck will be around 3 ft high. I'd love to get some advice from anyone who has experience with this or knows what the best practice is!
3 Answers
I've seen 4x4s hold a lot of weight as long as they’re perfectly vertical. But if you're worried about the support in heavy snow, I’d stick with 6x6s. You can find span charts online that help figure out what size is best for your needs!
This is more about code and engineering than just personal preference. If your local building code follows the IRC, you can find the required post sizes listed there. The IRC is pretty useful because it provides clear guidelines, so you won't have to guess!
Honestly, I would recommend going with 6x6 posts. In my experience, especially living in a place like Minnesota with similar weather, you'll end up needing twice as many 4x4s and digging deeper footings, which is a hassle. Just check with your local regulations to be sure!
Thanks for the insight! I guess 6x6 is the way to go then.
Span charts are great! I definitely found those helpful when I was building my deck.