Replies

1. 
   Crunk | Mar 25, 2004 03:11pm | #1

   This is even more of a no-brainer for the folks over on the homebuilding forum.  You'll get lots of good answers over there.

2. 
   Fingrs | Mar 25, 2004 03:15pm | #2

   Hi, Max.  You may want to post this over in Breaktime as those folks do more decks than the Knots crowd.  However, I do have a suggestion.  Take a look at pre-formed concrete "pillars" at Home Depot or Lowe's.  They are about 12" on each side, kind of pyramid shaped, with a slot molded in the top for a 4X4 (set vertically) and a 2X (set horizontally).  They are about 12" high, I think.  Sounds like you want to set your deck using the horizontal joist approach. 

   These blocks are not too heavy.  Spacing will depend on the joists you're going to use.  I suggest you dig holes for each pillar (about 15 inches square, or a couple of inches larger than the diameter of the blocks you buy), and then add lots of crushed rock...9-12 inches worth.  This make sit easier to level the blocks and helps drainage.  Then set the blocks on the rock and wiggle them into place.  Once level and exactly where you want them, backfill around the blocks with more gravel or dirt.   BTW, I've used these blocks for my own deck:  I live outside Philadelphia and, despite some cold winters, the deck is still level and solid after 8 years.

   This should work well for you.  BTW, I don't think we care about gender preferences, etc.  At least it does not come up as part of the discussion.

3. 
   EdHarrison | Mar 25, 2004 04:22pm | #3

   Max,

   Laughing at your post. You da girl! The folks at Breaktime will be able to help you. The way you do your footing is going to depend on what part of the country you live in and how much load-bearing is involved. If you can get by with the pre-formed concrete pillars, as mentioned above, that's the way to go.

   I've done lots of deck building and I can tell you if you wind up digging post holes, there is no way to make this part of it fun or user-friendly - it doesn't matter if you are a 5'2" woman or a 225 pound man. I have dug post holes with two-man gasoline-powered post hole diggers, one-man post-hole diggers, and the manual ("slamming two big chopsticks into the ground") type (many times), and I can tell you that if I lived the rest of my life and never saw another post hole digger or sack of ready-mix concrete, I could die a happy man. So don't get discouraged!

   Good luck!

   Ed

   BTW, I've got two golden retrievers that played havoc with my back yard, too. Got a huge, multilevel deck out there. Keep the grass growing with tremendous amount of overseeding. They are more sedentary now so it's not so bad.

4. 
   BG | Mar 25, 2004 05:13pm | #4

   Maximus,

   Echo everyone else's comments....also, remember the reason for the footing is to get below the frost line so your platform will not heave.  So you need to dig below the frost line....at that point you have several options..some quite cheap....such as filling hole back up with portland cement and sand and let ground water harden in place.  In the old days yankee's used to bild driveways and retaining walls this was using the surrounding earth as a form...
5. 
   JohnWW | Mar 25, 2004 05:14pm | #5

   First of all you don't need to dig post holes. 

   Post's are needed for two reasons and probably neither applies in your case.  In areas with a potential for frost heaving you dig down to get a foundation that won't be lifted by the frost.  Since this isn't a structure that would be damaged even if it did lift and drop a few inches over the year you don't need to dig down to deal with frost.  Even in frost zones, several conditions need to be met before significant frost heaving occurs. 

   The second reason posts are used is to make the rigid posts  part of the structure, such as supporting a deck several feet off the ground or to become part of the wall structure on a building.  Again, from your description, this doesn't seem to apply to your situation.

   Actually there is a third reason, you may have to do some sort of post if your local building codes insist on it.

   All you need to do is dig down about 4 to 6 inches to get past the top soil and place a cast concrete block, or a built up stack of pressure treated lumber, at the four corners of the deck.  This is simplified, there are a lot of details that would make for a cleaner design, but basically this is all you need to do.  If you need some additional advice contact me at my e-mail address and give me your phone number, I talk way quicker than I write.

   John W.

6. 
   PlaneWood | Mar 25, 2004 05:19pm | #6

   What does "low Lying" mean?  How high do you want the deck to be off the ground?

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
   PlaneWood

7. 
   notDusty | Mar 25, 2004 05:20pm | #7

                          maximus,

         I have used the pier block method on my own decks and for most applications they should work fine. I set pressure treated 4x6 beams on top of the piers and then ran 2x6 pressure treated  joists on top of them. A riser block may be needed depending on the finished height. Sunset has a deck construction booklet , that you will find very helpful, as I am sure many others are available.

                                good luck                          dusty

8. 
   MarkRoderick | Mar 25, 2004 10:15pm | #8

   It all depends how sturdy, fancy, and long-lasting you want the deck to be.

   Simple structures have been built for a long time with no footings. You could, for example, flatten the area pretty well, lay some 4x4 pressure treated timbers on the ground as a frame (probably around the perimiter and down the middle), nail some pressure treated 2x4s on top of them, and there's your deck. It will last for years and years and years, and when it finally rots just throw it away and do it again.

   You could also build something really fancy and nice-looking.

   The plan above would even work for lesbians, just in case.

9. 
   JackTunney | Mar 26, 2004 04:49am | #9

   The very first place to start is at your town's building department.  They will tell you  what you are required to do.  They will also probably tell you that you need a permit and that they will have to perform inspections of the work at various points (i.e. after the footings are formed or installed, after the framing is in place and when the work is completed).  The inspections are to make sure that the work is done in a professional manner to code.  You don't want to cut corners when building a deck.  Even a "simple deck" is a sizable investment in time and money.  Do it right and you will get many years of enjoyment from it.

   Good Luck!

1. 
   notDusty | Mar 26, 2004 07:09am | #10

                         Jack ,

        I agree about doing it right the first time , however not all areas require permits for decks , especially if they are lower than 30" and have no roof coverings. Often there are no codes for such low lying decks . Your suggestion to check with the local planning department is very wise indeed .

                                    dusty