What is the best footer 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. Which one you choose will depend on the size and height of your deck and the building codes in your location.
What size footings are required 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.
How deep should deck footers be?
For most deck applications, in most jurisdictions, the width of a footing should be 20 inches round and a minimum of 24 inches deep. It is important that the base of the footings be solid, and in many cases you will need to keep digging until you reach undisturbed soil.
Can I use concrete deck blocks instead of footings?
The acceptability of deck pier blocks instead of footings depends on two things deck height and frost level. 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.
Can I pour a footer without forms?
The section on footings in Formwork for Concrete (ACI SP-4) says that when fabricated forms are omitted entirely and concrete is cast directly against the excavation, larger tolerances may apply.
When should you not use deck blocks?
Deck blocks can only be used for floating decks. If you are not comfortable with the idea of your deck rising and falling with the ground. Then deck blocks are not for you. Frost level footings are more stable and can support more weight, and last much longer than deck blocks.
Does a footer have to be level?
To build a proper foundation, you must have a solid footer. A footer is made of concrete and forms the base of the structure, so that a foundation wall can be built on it. Having an uneven or unlevel footer will compromise the structural integrity of the building and will cause you to fail inspection.
How do I determine the size of a footer?
How to Calculate Footing Size
- Determine the width and length of the cement slab in inches.
- Divide the width by 12 to convert it to feet.
- Divide the length by 12 to convert it to feet.
- Determine the depth or thickness that is required for the footing in inches.
- Multiply the width by the length and then by the depth.
Do deck blocks need to be buried?
Simply placing them on the ground or on a poured concrete pad a few inches deep usually isn’t enough to comply with codes — they must be set at least 12 inches deep in undisturbed soil. However, concrete deck blocks can be used without restriction for a freestanding deck that’s not attached to your house.
Do you need footers for a deck?
Large decks that are attached to the house should always have footings because they act to spread the heavy load of the deck from the surface of a support post over a large surface of the soil so the ground can adequately support it.