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New Arbor on my Deck


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The notch is actually a hair under 1.5 inches in, and 7.5 inches tall. The reason is that a 2x8 is actually 1.5x7.5. By making the notch a little under 1.5 inches, it overhangs just enough to give it a better look. The notch has no effect on strength, as all of the force is downward, not sideways. The bottom of the notch takes all of the weight and transfer it downward through the post to the ground. If a hanger were used, most of the downward force would be transferred to the post, however, all of the force would be transferred to the post through the nails used to attach the hanger to the post. This is not a big deal, since the arbor is not overly heavy (no one is walking on it), but a straight downward force is preferable to a side loaded force.

So, the beam laying in the notch can actually support a heavier load. The same goes for the joists. Laying them atop the beam is stronger than hanging them on the side with hangers.

Thanks man, I'm going lumber shopping Thursday for my new Arbor.

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