Rant: why does nobody talk about joist layout direction on decks?

I spent 10 years running joists along the long way until a 60-year-old framer pointed out I was adding 20% more lumber cost for no reason on a 12x16 deck last summer. Has anyone else caught themselves doing something boneheaded for way too long?

2 comments

2 Comments

umak899h ago

Nah, long way keeps the span shorter and stiffer. Saved me headaches.

the_kevin5h ago

Idk man, I gotta push back a little on that. The long way being stiffer kinda depends on how you're loading it, right? If you're talking about a span that's bending in the short direction, sure, but if the load is coming from above, the longer span is gonna flex more just because it's longer. I've seen guys go long way on a joist layout and end up with bounce issues they didn't expect. I mean, you saved headaches, but maybe it depends on your specific situation.