Any y’all a structural engineer that’d be interested in crunching some numbers for me. I’ve got a project to do and while I have thought about it and redesigned it a couple times over the last couple years after reading on the google about deflection, loads and such Im pretty sure I’m good to go but not positive. I mean I’m pretty close to stuck with my design since I had a load of steel delivered today but I don’t have the warm and fuzzy confidence yet. If one of y’all considers yourself an eggspert lemme know and we can discuss it here or in pm or on phone if you don’t want to give advice on the www. Here’s kinda what I’m wanting to do: The project will be a pool cover that will also be a deck. It will be approximately an 18 foot by 26 foot deck when the pool is covered. When the pool is open this deck will become 2 decks one at each end of the pool. So each deck will be approximately 13’ by 18’. I’m planning to frame the decks out of 2”x6” 11ga rectangle tubing. The deck will be covered in composite decking. Plan is to frame with 16” centers on joists. My figures are saying total frame weight for each deck will be about 1600 pounds and decking weight per deck will be about 1000 pounds. The original idea was to have several wheels attached under the deck that held the deck up approximately an inch above the concrete. Doing so there would be an 18’ span. Then I came up with an idea to build some “lifting dollies”. I’ve got those figured and I know they’ll work. The major pro to doing it that way is the decks will have much more support when they have ground contact all the way around three sides. Also this will cut the unsupported span down to 14’6”. However when lifted there will only be 4 or 6 points of contact sharing the load. That will only be for a short period of time while rolling the deck one way or the other. Also these will only be moved twice a year and then set back down in their resting place either over the pool or at the end of the pool. How much it weighs to push or pull is of zero concern cuz we have equipment or winches. What you OSA engineers think? Am I crazy? I’ll include a couple pictures of the pool below. You’ll see at each end of the pool there are footings poured for the decks to sit on when the pool is open. There are 2x4’s in the slab running all the way down the footing beside the pool and down the footing at the other end of pool. It’s 18’ between these 2x4’s running parallel. The pool is 25’ lengthwise. The pool belongs to my boss and they have several other structures and such to entertain guests in this area so they are wanting to make use of the pool space when it ain’t swimming weather. Anyhow, anybody got an eggspert opinion. I’m gonna go at it like a biting sow but this could be a train wreck. Hey y’all hold my beer and watch this!
