DPW-Built Standard Shade

size                   12'    12'        ply gussets      #12x24
W X L =     area      posts  beams   1-way  2-way  tri's   tarps
12x24 =   288 sq ft     6      7       8      2      2       1
24x24 =   576 sq ft     9     12       8      3      4       2
24x36 =   864 sq ft    12     17       8      8      6       3
24x48 =  1152 sq ft    15     22       8     11     12       4
48x48 =  2304 sq ft    25     40       8     21     24       8
48x60 =  2880 sq ft    30     49       8     30     30      10

Posts are 12' - 4"x4". Main beams are 4"x4" fabricated with 2"x4", 3/8" ply spacers, construction adhesive, and 16D nails. Beams at 24' may be assembled from 20' lumber, with ends staggered. Gussets are about 2'x2'; 1-way (corner) and two-way (main-beam) gussets are 5/8" ply backed with glued-and-nailed 2"x4", inset 3-1/2" to wrap the beams and posts. Cross-beams can be 2"x4" held with ply triangles on top; 4"x4" cross-beams need face-nailed butt-gussets on the posts.

Assembly: double-check location and layout; place layout pegs 12' on-center; drill 3' holes with Bobcat; clean out holes to appx. equal depths with post-hole digger; attach 1-way corner and 2-way main gussets to posts using 8D & 16D duplex nails, setting beam seat of gussets even w/ top of posts; set posts in holes; align and plumb w/ loose dirt backfill; eyeball top of posts level; tamp top foot of soil tight; starting around perimeter, seat main beams using bar clamps or cinch ropes; nail w/ 8D duplex nails; add ply triangles, knee braces, and cross-beams where necessary; attach tarps on top w/ 8D nails at grommets.

Construction Index