2x6 joist span for simple foot bridge

   / 2x6 joist span for simple foot bridge #1  

RobA

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Chester County, SE PA
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I'm making a simple foot bridge across a creek. It will not be for any machinery, ATVs etc - just people. The span between supports is just under 14 feet, the width will be 4 feet. I'd rather not use 2x8's or larger. If I space 2x6's 16" on center and use blocking to stiffen the joists do you think it will be sufficient? The bridge will not get heavy traffic and is out of sight of the public. I am not worried about strangers using it.
 
   / 2x6 joist span for simple foot bridge #2  
A 14' span is WAY too long for a 2 x 6. Why cant you use something deeper? Surely cost isn't an issue for such a small amount of lumber. And why not go with 12" o.c.?
 
   / 2x6 joist span for simple foot bridge
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Thanks. It's not cost - 2x8's would add less than $20 to the bill. I was trying not to make the deck of the bridge rise too high. So, do you think 2x8's 12" on center would work?
 
   / 2x6 joist span for simple foot bridge #5  
Thanks. It's not cost - 2x8's would add less than $20 to the bill. I was trying not to make the deck of the bridge rise too high. So, do you think 2x8's 12" on center would work?

Check out, for example, decks.com, Which specifies a maximum span of 12'8" for a 2 x 8 joist with 12" o.c. using SPF. If you want to push that, make sure that you NAIL a 2 x 4 across the bottom of the joists every 4 feet or so.

I trust you will be using pressure-treated wood? Cedar is OK for the decking, but Cedar is weaker as a floor joist material than SPF. In any case, DON'T use 2 x 6's. depending upon your location, they might not even hold the snow in the winter.
 
   / 2x6 joist span for simple foot bridge
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Thanks! The span tables were helpful. I'm using pressure treated - not cedar. I'll go with 2x8's 12" on center.
 
   / 2x6 joist span for simple foot bridge #7  
Make your own lvl sandwich plywood between two 2x8s and you'll be good
 
   / 2x6 joist span for simple foot bridge #8  
The problem with building something that will be exposed to the elements is that Mother Nature gets involved. For a 14 foot span, I would use 2x10's. As mentioned, you can get away with 2x8's in residential construction, where the lumber is protected by the elements, but things change faster with wood left out in the elements.

Another thing to take into consideration is that modern pressure treated lumber is saturated with water in order to get enough zinc into it to achieve it's ratings. That massive amount of water remains in each board for a different amount of time, and it also results in swelling, and then over time, shrinking that is impossible to measure. When building a deck for a client, I have seen 12 foot long 2/6's shrink almost an inch in length in one year!!!! That is the worse that I've seen. But the twisting and warping is just as bad.

How are you going to attach a railing to it? Or is it not high enough up in the air to need one?

Have you considered two metal I beams?

What are you using for a footing to attach it too and how will it drain water so the wood is not sitting in a wet spot?
 
   / 2x6 joist span for simple foot bridge #9  
Thanks. It's not cost - 2x8's would add less than $20 to the bill. I was trying not to make the deck of the bridge rise too high. So, do you think 2x8's 12" on center would work?

If it's a height issue sister some plate steel to the side of 2x6.

Flitch beam - Wikipedia

The other options include LVL, paralam etc
 
   / 2x6 joist span for simple foot bridge
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Footings are 6x6's concreted in. Draining water is not possible as it is next to a creek - 2 of the holes for the 6x6's were filling with water as I was digging them. Railings aren't necessary but I may add a simple rope railing later. I built a narrower footbridge in another spot using three 2x8's that span 12'. It has held up great.
 

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