Patio Roof Structural Beam Spacing

Since i was planning to attach my patio cover to the existing roof overhang of my home i ensured that it was capable of carrying half of the weight of the new patio cover roof.

Patio roof structural beam spacing.

Before i began designing the structure of my new patio cover i expanded the existing 10 x 10 patio slab by pouring another 10 x 10 slab next to it making it roughly 10 x 20. The difference comes in with the type and installation of the beams. If one side of the roof is supported by the house and the other side is supported by the beam divide the total load by two as the beam is only supporting half of the roof. You can also use the wood beam calculator from the american wood council website to determine maximum rafter and joist lengths.

Both have posts or columns that support a frame. Beams can be solid lumber or be built from lengths of 2 by lumber nailed together with 1 2 inch pressure treated plywood spacers in between this forms a 3 1 2 inch thick beam that is equal to the width of a 4 by post. A 4 by 10 can usually span up to 12 feet between posts. The smallest beams for patio covers are typically 4 by 6.

Use the span tables below to determine allowable lengths of joists and rafters based on size and standard design loads. In general the maximum span for a 4 by 6 beam is 6 feet between 4 by 4 posts. Roof cover 1 2 plywood shuttering 1 5 psf roof framing 3 5 psf. Then there are wooden beams that are evenly spaced over the frame to create the roof.

A louvered patio roof is similar to a pergola. An essential part of planning a patio roof or gazebo project is determining the number size and spacing of rafters beams and posts according to the loads they will carry. Maximum rafter spans for a patio roof in areas with mild climates patio roofs are generally designed for loads of 30 psf pounds per square foot. Louvered patio roof ideas.

If there is also a beam in the middle of the roof divide the total load by three. Timber beam design seismic forces wind forces floor shearwall diagram lateral loads. Divide the total load according to how many supporting beams the roof will have.