I have a side porch and a back deck that aren't connected, which makes getting from one to the other a bit of a hassle since I have to walk through the house. I'm considering constructing a small 4-foot wide walkway that connects both decks by using 45-degree joists and adding some decking material. The longest span of the joists will be around 6 feet. Is this a practical approach? Also, I'd like to build a rectangle rather than a straight line, but I'm facing a challenge with the corner post needing to go right above my septic tank, which complicates things. I'm fairly skilled at framing, but I'm curious about any potential engineering issues, weight distribution, vibrations, or bracing concerns that could arise. Here are some pictures of the decks for reference: https://imgur.com/a/AeZW6jU
1 Answer
Building a walkway between two separate decks can be tricky since they can move independently. It's definitely wise to over-engineer your design. Make sure to reinforce the attachment points with double joists by sistering them and using engineered brackets, like those from Simpson. This will help manage any movement and keep the structure stable.
That makes sense! Do you think I need to sister every joist or just the outer ones?