scd88 said:
Looking for advice on building a patio cover. Here are some of the details:
10x12
Not attached to the house, but just under the eave
Will be attaching posts to concrete patio
Slightly sloped metal roof
Thinking of framing the roof out with 2x4's, 16" OC
Questions:
4x4 or 6x6 posts?
4 posts or 6?
How y'all should the posts be? 8' seems too short, but that's just me
Decking? I would think so as I'll be using a standing seam metal roof
Thanks.
As Builder mentioned, there are a lot of variables loaded in your questions. Pictures of what you're wanting to do would be helpful, whether it's a pergola type structure (joists on top of perpendicular beams) or joists inside of a perimeter beam and all tops flush with each other, or something else.
Under the soffit- hopefully your soffit is pretty high, at a 10' run (I assume the metal will run the shorter direction) you'll want about 15" of fall over 10', or 1.5"/12". Less is feasible but not preferable. So if your soffit is 9' from the patio, at 10' out from the house, the top of the metal will be less than 8', and even lower to the bottom of the beam carrying the rafters, unless you're making the top of them flush with your beam that runs post to post.
Post need to be 6x6 at a minimum, 4x4's will warp and twist in no time, you'll get better results with cedar over pressure treated, but I still wouldn't put a roof on 4x4's.
Posts attached to concrete, no matter how you do it, aren't going to be stable to lateral wind loads. So you'll need diagonal bracing at the post to beam in both directions.
2x4 joists are too small in my opinion, 2x6 would be best.
Decking is a preference, a lot of standing seam roofs allow you to place the bracket where you want so you could install 1x4 lathe at 24" OC. But plywood decking would look better, but also add weight.
Don't cheap out on materials, fasteners, methods, etc. Make sure fasteners are rated for pressure treated lumber, etc.
Make sure you stain or seal it when you're done, this will help protect it from sun damage, which can cause as many issues or more than water damage over time.
Good luck...
