Lateral Bracing for Shed Roof

[AZPE]

I have a residential house and they want a covered patio with heavy timber rafters, beams and posts. The patio extends 16' from the exterior of the house and they would like to have the beams sit on the posts with decorative "T" straps (similar to the Arch. Simpson "T" straps). I never really have been able to run numbers for lateral support of the structure that satisfied me numbers/code wise because there really is no lateral resisting system in that type of construction (other than some knee bracing/kickers from the beam to the post, but from the historical performance that I have seen it apparently works). What have others done to satisfy themselves when it comes to laterally bracing patio roofs or decks (which are essentially the same thing)?

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Your roof will (can) act as "cantilevered" diaphragm as long as the connection to the existing house is adequate.

The post will carry the vertical loads and knee braces do help - but trying to make them carry all the lateral load is difficult - mostly due to connection forces.

Good luck

 

[NerdSE]

I agree with mike, go for the diaphragm first, then check knee braces (although they are really only practical for a few hundred pounds)

If that fails, I would go to a square post HSS 3.5x3.5 with a 2x6 nailer bolted to each side.

Then have them attach non-structural 1x rough sawn to make it look like an 8x8 post. Also they get 2 small chases for electrical or plumbing between the column nailers.

I would sure like the confidence of having a nice pair of cantilever steel columns for not much added cost.