Installing deck footings

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Mid-Elevation Deck Plans. High-Elevation Deck Plans. Maintenance Waterproofing Case Studies Software. There is one middle support post along the shorter side, and then two posts placed in the center of the deck. Dig holes to the depth that is required for support for your deck height. Alternate using the pry bar with scooping out the loosened dirt with a small shovel until you reach your desired depth for optimum deck support.

One of the best ways to determine a straight line in exterior building is via string. Measure two sides of where your string will run e. Measure, then cut the forms to hit at your desired height. Note: Concrete forms are excellent for holding concrete in place for footings that need to extend above ground. In this example, however, the concrete support needs to reach only to ground level, not above. Use a hand saw to cut the concrete forms at your desired height.

We feature articles on how to install continuous concrete pier foundations, belled piers, footing forms and the buried post on top of the footing method. We will conclude the section by explaining how to work with concrete, covering some common issues related to deck foundation work, as well as answering some frequently asked questions.

Our inspector explains the pros and cons of using pier blocks for deck foundations. Learn how to determine the number of footings and support posts you need for your deck when designing your deck frame. Learn about the advantages of using Bigfoot systems concrete footing forms. Research their testing and code compliance reports. Learn how to install a concrete deck footing with a buried treated support post as an alternative to a solid pier foundation.

Compare the pros and cons of installing a solid concrete deck footing using a cardboard tube or engineered forms. Hiring a truck to deliver ready-mixed concrete for your project may make better sense than mixing it yourself. Learn how to order concrete for your deck at Decks.

Learn how to use cardboard sonotubes and hole covers to protect your deck footing holes from caving in and flooding before pouring concrete. Avoid problems related to digging deck footings near retaining walls.

Learn some tips from the pros for how to handle these difficult situations. This means that footings, along with the other support elements, must be constructed to support a total weight of 50 pounds per square foot.

All of the elements work together—the ledger carries a portion of the weight, which it transfers to the foundation of the house; beams carry the intermediate loads; and footings support the loads that are transferred to the perimeter.

Soil consistencies vary and thus their ability to support a load. Loose soils have minimum load-bearing capacity and may require more or larger footings than heavy clay or compacted soils. Local codes take local soil conditions into account, so it's important to contact the building department before you start planning your deck. You may find that local codes specify different spacings or construction methods than the ones shown in standard span tables.

In cold climates, the freezing and thawing of the soil causes it to expand and contract—sometimes dramatically. If the posts are improperly set, any movement of the soil will be transferred to the posts and the deck structure above them, shifting or cracking portions of the deck and causing severe structural damage.

Regions have a different maximum level called the frost line at which the ground freezes during the winter. Local codes specify the depth of this line and how far below it you must dig to set your footings. In warm climates you maybe able to get by with a minimum footing—a concrete pad about 6 to 12 inches deep and 1 to 2 feet square.