Thanks much for the advice.
Trainman...The L-girders will definitely have the 1x2 across the top. I'll price out the difference between ripping a wider board to get the 1x2 and the cost of buying the narrower board and then buying 1x2's. My cross braces will be deep, going from the girder to within a few inches of the floor and will be blocked and screwed where they intersect each other.
gregj410...I'll look for the Westcott book. I'm sure I can get it online. I have quite a bit of lumber left from building my post and beam cedar home. All my legs will be clear cedar as wil lmany of the joists resting of the girders. I even have some 12" TJI floor joists left (but not long enough to use and that would certainly be "over-kill")!!! I also have some 3/4 inch ply left over, but not enough to do much. All the joints, including the top of the L-gerder will be screwed and glued. Along with the cross bracing, the platfrom should be quite stable.
Thanks again,
Jim
Salida, Colorado
"The Heart of the Rockies"
