Defentley use the simpson connectors, the over kill ones.

Notching will mean welcoming rot. J.

On the rot note, do you seal the cuts on treated lumber with anything? And, is there any advantage of solid timber beam over a built up beam?

The treated lumber,mcq,is poor quality even the ground contact material. I wont even go into why we have to use it anyway copper naphthenate does a good job on it.

Built up beams,done corectley,are more stable than solid timber beams. J.

John- how did you figure out how to spell naphthenate?

I recommend using that stuff. It is commonly called copper green. Don't buy the aerosol can, it's nasty stuff. Get a quart or gallon, pour about an inch into a small pail and dip the cut ends of your treated wood.

Double click on that good buddy.

I buy the green by the gal,paint everything near the ground and the top of the joists. Love the smell remindes me of the laquare spray booth. JonMon.