Table of Contents
What is the best base for a deck?
Poured concrete footings, buried post footings, precast cement footings, deck blocks, and screw/helical piles are all viable options for deck footings.
What size footing is needed for a deck?
FOOTINGS: – Poured concrete footings should be a minimum of 8” wider than the posts (4×4 post – 12” min. width, 6×6 post – 14” min. width), a two level deck or deck with roof – 24”x24”. – The bottom of the footings must be a minimum of 36” below finish grade level.
Can you build a deck without concrete footings?
Building your dream deck without footings Instead of using footings, adding a level of gravel will give you the drainage aspect you are looking for. You can then add a frame of wood that anchors in concrete blocks that sit in the gravel, creating your new deck.
Do I need to put rebar in deck footings?
Plain concrete deck foundations without rebar are acceptable under the minimum standards of construction established in the International Residential Code. Footings with large bearing areas or unstable soil can benefit from adding rebar to prevent cracking.
Can I build a deck without digging holes?
Yes. It’s possible to build a deck without digging holes. This type of deck is called a floating deck, and it sits right on top of the ground without any posts or support areas that you’d dig down into the ground [to secure].
Will deck blocks sink?
The deck blocks can sink if the soil under them erodes for some reason or the weight is unevenly distributed. That’s why it’s a good idea to use more than less. Especially in loose soils or wet conditions which requires more weight distribution.
What are footers for a deck?
Footings are a very important component of deck construction because they provide the solid foundation that will support your deck. Your deck’s design will determine how live and dead loads are transferred from different sections of the deck to concentrated points of contact with the ground.
How many footings do I need for a 12×12 deck?
For an attached 12 x 12′ deck, you’ll need at least 3 footings, plus at least 2 more if you’re planning on building stairs with it. If your deck will be a different size, it’s easy to figure out how many you’ll need.
How many footings do I need for a 12×16 deck?
A standard deck will need four footings parallel to the house, but they will need to be temporarily braced by 6 inch-by-6 inch posts. Using doubled boards, you will then need to build beams on the top row of the posts to frame the edges of the deck. These must be topped with adjustable post caps.
How deep does a post hole need to be for a deck?
Hole depth = put approximately 1/3 of the post in the hole. A 2m (6 foot) post should have up to 600mm (2 foot) in the ground.
Can I use deck pier blocks instead of footings?
Pier blocks can be used instead of footings for a ground-level deck not requiring permits. Piers blocks can also be used if the frost level depth is less then the height of the pier block.
What’s a floating deck?
A floating deck, also called a free standing deck, is simply a deck that’s not attached to any structure, including (of course) your house. Instead, you can put your deck’s structural members — posts, girders, and joists — on precast pier blocks set directly in the ground.
How long should a footing cure before laying block?
If you use a concrete that has a quick setting additive you need to wait a minimum of one sunny day, if you are using a standard concrete footing mix I would recommend waiting for a minimum of seven days and a maximum of 28 days, of course, that is if the conditions are right for the concrete to cure and set hard .
How deep should concrete footings be?
Depth of Footings Footings should extend to a minimum depth of 12 inches below previously undisturbed soil. Footings also must extend at least 12 inches below the frost line (the depth to which the ground freezes in winter) or must be frost-protected.
Do sonotube footings need rebar?
To support a beam for a residential deck, does a Sonotube pier need any rebar? A. We usually recommend that a minimum of two pieces of #4 rebar be placed vertically in an 8-inch-diameter concrete pier supporting a structure. A larger-diameter pier should have four or more pieces of vertical rebar.
Can I use quikrete for footings?
QUIKRETE 5000 is recommended for footing applications because of its heavy duty, 5000 PSI strength. Allow the QUIKRETE 5000 to cure for 24 hours before constructing your deck or placing heavy weight on the footing. If standard QUIKRETE Concrete Mix was used, wait about three days to begin construction.
Should deck posts be set in concrete?
A deck post should always be placed on top of footing, not inside concrete because it can break. Concrete tends to absorb moisture and wood expands when it gets wet, so these two factors combined will result in the wood breaking the concrete.
What kind of concrete is used for footings?
A concrete mix of 1 part cement : 2 parts sand : 4 parts coarse aggregate (by volume) should be used for footings. Concrete must be placed within half an hour of mixing.
What is the minimum height for a deck?
According to the IRC, deck guardrails must be installed on any deck higher than 30 inches above grade. The deck guardrail height should be a minimum of 36 inches, as measured from the surface of the deck to the top of the rail.
What is the cheapest way to build a deck?
Choose wood, but carefully: Untreated wood decks are generally the cheapest to install, but don’t forget long-term costs. Wood decks require yearly maintenance and deteriorate quickly if they don’t get it.
