Can I use 2x6s for a lean-to type of roof with my 4x6x18' poles and how far apart do I need to put my 4x6 poles.

[Farmer495]

I need to know more...but if it was me I'd space poles 8 feet apart with 2x8 headers. 2x6 rafters 2 feet centers with 2x4 purlins on the rafters on 16" centers.

Your lean to can't be too wide for any sort of slope using 16' rafters. You can achieve 2 12 pitch easy with 12 foot width, 4 12 might just be doable.

 

[Gonzalocasey]

Yes, you can use 2x6s for a lean-to roof with your 4x6x18' poles. The spacing of your 4x6 poles depends on the size of your lean-to roof. Typically, you'll want to place them about 8 feet apart for stability, but you might adjust this based on the size and weight of your roof.

 

[paulsharvey]

Couple questions; is this lean too open or going to have a wall skin on it? Typically; I would go with 8ft OC for posts; 4 ft OC for joists, and 2-3 ft OC for purlions. With the height of your proposed posts; I think we aren't looking at compression/Wright as our limiting factor, but twisting, racking, bowing. If it is getting skinned, we have far less worry about that. I would go with double 2x6 or maybe 2x8 header on those posts; and use a siple 2x6 joust hanger for the 2x6 joists.

 

[IH3444]

No one was ever sorry for over building, quote from a former Senior Naval Weapons Researcher group Leader. Georgia Tech grad. the saying was, "You don't graduate Georgia Tech, you survive it".
Take snow loading very seriously, snow, then a heavy rain on top, snow acts as a sponge, nice big gush of wind, good-bye roof.

 

[thepumpguysc]

Space them so you can back your boat thru the uprights safely..
And the size of the roof, to cover the motor and bow..
SERIOUSLY..

 

[newbury]

Take snow loading very seriously, snow, then a heavy rain on top, snow acts as a sponge, nice big gush of wind, good-bye roof.

And plan on it getting worse.
I had a Versatube carport 40'w x 20'd in northeast Mississippi put up by the previous owner. Had survived many a storm and some snowload for decades. On Feb. 16 2021 we had an snow/ice storm, had another one on Feb 17th. About 2200 it collapsed.
Storms are getting bigger.
As I'm writing this I'm seeing Hurricane Beryl destroy the Caribbean.

 

[5030]

On my large shed roof attached to the big barn I set my 6x6 PT poles on 8 foot centers and then ran 2x12 header boards across them on both sides with the inner header board set for the pitch of the roof. been up almost 20 years now and one reroof and it's just fine. My rafters are also 2 x 10 but not PT, spaced on 14" centers.

 

[paulsharvey]

On my large shed roof attached to the big barn I set my 6x6 PT poles on 8 foot centers and then ran 2x12 header boards across them on both sides with the inner header board set for the pitch of the roof. been up almost 20 years now and one reroof and it's just fine. My rafters are also 2 x 10 but not PT, spaced on 14" centers.

You could literally find traffic rated bridges with far less load bearing capacity than that. I guess there is no kill like over kill.

 

[BlueKnife]

The OP hasn't visited this site since the day he posted his question back in October of last year. He's clearly not that interested in getting an answer here.

 

[5030]

You could literally find traffic rated bridges with far less load bearing capacity than that. I guess there is no kill like over kill.

Lumber was cheap back then but not today.