which timber for my pergola?

[msw109]

I am building a pergola. I have 6"x 6" 9ft posts set in concrete with decking built around. I wish to suspend a swing seat and hang 2 hammock seats form the finished structure. My timber between the posts will be 6" x 2" attached at the top by 12" coach bolts. These timbers will be double to support the joists (which will be notched into each other by around 1.5"

My question is.... what grade timber should I use for the finished joists on top of the support timbers? Bearing in mind they will be supporting possibly 4 people..I was thinking 6" x 2" but not sure whether C16 would be enough

The span is 11 feet across and this picture represents my design layout

Untitled

• msw109
• 1 Mar 2012
• 2

Ta in advance

 

[big-all]

6x6" wow 3x3 or 4x4 would be more than enough
timber under compression is very very strong as in you could place 2 tons on a 4x4 post and providing it cannot move it will easily hold the weight

 

[Slightlytired]

Ahoy hoy
6 x 2 should be more than enough, I'm sure you've looked at the following link and others like it, but this is what i'd work to.

http://www.jamesjones.co.uk/jjuploads/files/KD C16 Softwood Span Tables.pdf