Thanks for all the good input. I truly appreciate all your responses.
I'm at about 2300 feet elevation in Western North Carolina. I should have thought to mention that when I asked about digging supports. jbarker, are your railroad ties partially buried? How deep?
I really like the idea of having the bridge quite a bit higher than the top of the banks as yours is but I was trying to avoid having to build up the drive area into and across the stream. Is it realistic for me to try to avoid additional grading in this way? I've looked over the entire stream length and this is the one area where both sides are most level with each other as well as with the house site across the stream and with the state paved road (that has the state culvert going underneath it) fronting the property. I was planning on having the driveway come off this street just because it was the most flat and direct route across the stream. But, maybe a little extra grading now might save a bridge later? Or is the bridge going to withstand a flood without budging?! I think if the stream overflows the banks, then I'm going to lose the drive anyway. Man, I'm giving myself a headache. I wish I could quit thinking about all the potential disasters.
I loved the covered bridges at the provided web site. What a luxury that would be. I can only dream. I did get a chance to look at one near the Wrecker Service's bridge that I mentioned. Very cool ... and probably very expensive! Meanwhile, I also loved the staggered deck pattern at your web site; unfortunately, it's not really within my skill level. It would be nice to find someone who could cut/install the decking at an affordable price. I was so entranced with the pattern and possibility of extra strength that I didn't notice lumber size. What are your thoughts about various wood types and dimensions?
I appreciate the input about the maybe too-heavy load of a concrete deck. I guess I can ask the concrete company to calculate the weight and then run it by one of the city/county engineers. Probably need to verify the flatbed's weight/load info first and have those numbers handy also. I'm glad it was pointed out that 8' is just not that wide. And I think I'm about convinced to go ahead and install both permanently side by side if all these issues work out.
I'm putting the Fire Dept and City/County Building Dept on my to-do list. And, I guess I'd better take a real good look at the flatbeds' structural integrity before they're hauled out to the site. One is pretty much out in the open but the other is almost totally hidden by vegetation. The guy who's selling them is an old long-hauler as his dad was before him. I think he just keeps the motor line yard open for the couple of rigs he still runs and sells the old stuff that he's accumulated over the years on the side. I feel that he is honest and would point out any weak spots if I asked him about safety. So, here's another issue to get done on my to-do list.
Thanks again and I'd appreciate continued feedback on what I'm doing.
I'm at about 2300 feet elevation in Western North Carolina. I should have thought to mention that when I asked about digging supports. jbarker, are your railroad ties partially buried? How deep?
I really like the idea of having the bridge quite a bit higher than the top of the banks as yours is but I was trying to avoid having to build up the drive area into and across the stream. Is it realistic for me to try to avoid additional grading in this way? I've looked over the entire stream length and this is the one area where both sides are most level with each other as well as with the house site across the stream and with the state paved road (that has the state culvert going underneath it) fronting the property. I was planning on having the driveway come off this street just because it was the most flat and direct route across the stream. But, maybe a little extra grading now might save a bridge later? Or is the bridge going to withstand a flood without budging?! I think if the stream overflows the banks, then I'm going to lose the drive anyway. Man, I'm giving myself a headache. I wish I could quit thinking about all the potential disasters.
I loved the covered bridges at the provided web site. What a luxury that would be. I can only dream. I did get a chance to look at one near the Wrecker Service's bridge that I mentioned. Very cool ... and probably very expensive! Meanwhile, I also loved the staggered deck pattern at your web site; unfortunately, it's not really within my skill level. It would be nice to find someone who could cut/install the decking at an affordable price. I was so entranced with the pattern and possibility of extra strength that I didn't notice lumber size. What are your thoughts about various wood types and dimensions?
I appreciate the input about the maybe too-heavy load of a concrete deck. I guess I can ask the concrete company to calculate the weight and then run it by one of the city/county engineers. Probably need to verify the flatbed's weight/load info first and have those numbers handy also. I'm glad it was pointed out that 8' is just not that wide. And I think I'm about convinced to go ahead and install both permanently side by side if all these issues work out.
I'm putting the Fire Dept and City/County Building Dept on my to-do list. And, I guess I'd better take a real good look at the flatbeds' structural integrity before they're hauled out to the site. One is pretty much out in the open but the other is almost totally hidden by vegetation. The guy who's selling them is an old long-hauler as his dad was before him. I think he just keeps the motor line yard open for the couple of rigs he still runs and sells the old stuff that he's accumulated over the years on the side. I feel that he is honest and would point out any weak spots if I asked him about safety. So, here's another issue to get done on my to-do list.
Thanks again and I'd appreciate continued feedback on what I'm doing.
