On Wed, 29 Apr 2015 23:16:42 -0400,
cl...@snyder.on.ca wrote:
>>> I'd start with 6X6 instead of 4X4
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>overkill
>>
>>
>>a /single/ 4x4 can support several tons
> Yes it can, but a good gust of wind off the side can snap a 4x4 quite
>easily. The 6X6 is significantly stronger The end to end rigidity
>isn't hard - you can triangulate, but the wind loading is higher in
>the crosswize direction due to roof area, and you can't triangulate as
>well and still have opening for entry/egress.
>
> The only carports I've ever seen with 4X4 posts were fastened to the
>side of a building or had more structure than just posts. (like a
>"cube" shed at one end.. They also have a well cross-braced roof
>framework -
I agree with the 6x6s. I built a shed for horses. It was 30 ft long and
12 ft. wide. It was split into 3 parts, (11 ft one each end, and 8 ft
in the middle.) The 11 x12 ends were open on one side so the horses
could go in an out as they pleased. The middle 8 x 12 section was closed
on all sides with a door and was intended for saddles ropes buckets, and
other horse tack and supplies.
I used 4x4 posts (eight of them). I had just finished it, and just put
on the door in the middle. All that had to be done was put some shelves
in that middle section, and the horses were already using the ends.
That night there was a very severe storm. Five of the 4x4's snapped off
the other three pulled out of the freshly packed soil (no concrete was
used). The entire building lannded upside-down, about 40 feet away,
which also ripped down at least 100 feet of fencing that was attached to
the shed. Because I built it strong, the entire structure stayed
together, leaving a complete building laying on it's roof. but with 5
posts broken off, much of the pole barn metal torn and/or badly dented,
mangled fencing everywhere, and several horses injured, but luckily none
were injured real badly. All horses were loose, the stallion was running
with the mares, but he was so scared that he did not breed any of them.
(He was the one hurt the worst too). They just huddled together for
security, in the yard, and under some trees.
The weather bureau claimed it was probably an isolated small (skipping)
tornado, but they were not able to prove it it was a tornado or not. Our
house (100 ft away and several neighboring buildings, had shingled
ripped off parts of the roof, some broken windows and other damages.
Two farms away there was no damage. But about a mile away , and several
more miles there were similar damages. (Thus the skipping).
My point is this: If I had used 6x6's, and put concrete around the
posts, I think it would have stayed intact. Of course I'll never really
know...... But with those open sides, and the wind came from that
direction, it just became like a plastic bag, where the wind blows into
the end and carrys it away. If it was not for a sturdy metal kids swing
set which appeared to stop it, the whole shed may have crashed into the
house.
BTW: It took a crane to upright it and get it back to where it belonged.
Plus new posts and much of the metal on the roof had to be replaced.