deck support beams sharing one post

[DIY man]

I'm stumped and need help. I've been trying to think of a way to pull this off and can not think of any options that seem safe or good.

I'm trying to design a multilevel deck. Essentially two decks which meet and appear to be one. I hope to have one 6x6 post support 2 beams, one from each deck. The post will be notched to support the 2x10 cantilevered beams.

The problem I have is the change in elevation of the two decks sharing the post is idealy 7 inches, shorter that the 9 1/4 size of the 2x10 beams. If the elevation was the size of the 2x10 or larger I would just create two notched in the 6x6 and be done with it but I need to figure out a way to make the 7 inch elevation change work.

I've thought about notching out half the beam at a lower level and notching out the other half at the 7 inch higher level but that only leaves about a quarter of the post for support. That doesn't seem that great especially considering the higher deck is also going to support a roof. More like a porch than a deck.


Ive considered notching out the upper deck beam to sit on the first deck beam but that only leaves 2 inches of wood. i'm not going that route.

Do they make 6x8 pressure treated posts? I suppose I can always stand 2 6x6 posts next to each other. That seems exxecive but still better than the other options.

In case you are wondering or need to know the post in question needs to support 3630 PSF for the lower deck and 3640 for the higher deck.

Any comments or other ideas are much appreciated.

[Wgoodrich]

I am trying to picture this. You have the top of the one beam 7" higher than the top of the second beam. If I am picturing this you are trying to set the floor joists on top of the beams, on each beam with the floor joists going opposite directions. If this is what you are picturing, what about sitting the lower beam floor joists on top of the beam. Then using joist hangers on the higher beam to support the floor joists on the side of the beam. This would gain distance between the two beams cut into the post. Not really sure you have a concern either way. When you inlet the two beams and if you make a tight cut the beam fills that inlet again supporting the verticle force of the post same as if the inlet was not there.

Just my thoughts

Wg

[suemarkp]

You don't have to notch the post to hold a beam. Although that is a better way, you could lag or through bolt it to the face of the 6x6. As an exctra measure, you could nail a 2x6 onto the face of the post directly under the bolted beam to provide a second mechanism of support.

And yes, they do make PT posts larger than 6x6. Go to a good lumberyard that stocks stuff for pole barns. Some pole barns will use tall 8x8 posts.

Here's one from a local lumber yard: http://store.dunnlum.com/builderwire20/common/store/itemdetails.aspx?categoryid=51&itemid=5065

[pushkins]

Simpson make a series of galvanized brackets that would support what your trying to do without notching the post, the bracket gets bolted to the post and the beam to tie it all in.

[DIY man]

That's what I'm looking for, a different viewpoint to get me thinking.

Wgoodrich, excellent idea about the Joist hangers. I was focused on setting the joist on the beams. It just seem stronger that way rather than hanging half the weight of the deck/porch on a little joist hanger tap that sitcks out about an inch and held to the beam with relatively little nails. Plus the other deck overhangs 2 feet and it just seemed right to build it the same way.

After thinking a little Joist hangers are plenty strong, they are holding the other half of the deck, why not both sides.

suemarkp, I like the idea of notching the posts rather than face bolting. For most of the calculations I'm being cautious and building it to be as strong as can be without going overboard. Notching costs nothing more and I'm not pressed for time. (According to my 6 year old he will be doing most of the building. If you have kids you know this will add considerably to the time factor.He will learn some building skill, I will learn patience.) I'll definitly brace the nothched post with a 2x6 if I don't move up to a bigger post. I will be buying almost all the supplies at a decent lumber yard in my area.

pushkins - I'm aware simpson has a boat load of brackets. They just have so many it's hard to find what the best option is. I will be using a lot of their brackets. I'll look through their options for my applications. I know what you are referring to. I used some of them for a shed and playhouse. I still like the notching better at this point.