Bison adjustable Pedestals

Understanding the cost of a Bison pedestal deck system starts with understanding how pedestals work. Unlike traditional decking that relies on continuous joists, pedestal systems use individual adjustable supports placed at strategic points across your deck surface.

How Pedestals Support Your Deck

Pedestals are positioned at the intersections of an imaginary grid beneath your deck tiles or pavers. For standard 24″ × 24″ modules, this creates a network of support points every 2 feet in both directions. The key insight is that pedestals are shared—each interior pedestal typically supports the corners of four adjacent tiles, while edge and corner pedestals support fewer tiles.

The Calculation Method

To determine how many pedestals you need, we use a straightforward grid-based approach:

For a rectangular deck:
• m = number of tiles along the length
• n = number of tiles along the width
• Base pedestals needed: (m + 1) × (n + 1)

This accounts for all the grid intersection points where pedestals must be placed.

Additional considerations:
• Some materials require center supports within each tile for stability
• Edge conditions and obstacles may require additional pedestals
• Load requirements can influence pedestal spacing

Real-World Example

Consider a 6′ × 6′ deck using 24″ × 24″ tiles:
• That’s a 3 × 3 grid (9 tiles total)
• Pedestals needed: (3 + 1) × (3 + 1) = 16 pedestals
• Result: 1.78 pedestals per tile

For 2cm porcelain pavers that require center supports:
• Add 9 center pedestals (one per tile)
• Total: 25 pedestals (2.78 per tile)

Beyond the Basic Calculation

The pedestal count is just the starting point for determining your total project cost. Other factors include:

• Height requirements – Different pedestal models for different elevation needs
• Surface material – Porcelain, concrete pavers, or wood tiles each have specific requirements
• Accessories – Slope correctors, bracing systems, or acoustic pads
• Shipping logistics – Distance and delivery requirements

Getting an Accurate Quote

While the math above works for simple rectangular layouts, real projects often involve slopes, drains, penetrations, and varying elevations that complicate the calculation. Our team can quickly analyze your specific situation and provide a comprehensive quote that includes all materials and shipping.

Ready to move forward? Contact our pedestal deck specialists who can review your plans, calculate exact quantities, and ensure your system meets all structural and code requirements. We’ll handle the complex calculations so you can focus on creating the perfect outdoor space.