A lot of people who are building a deck will break through the ground and dig holes for posts. They’ll then use these posts to support the weight from their new decks. In some cases, they might need to dig deeper than 12 inches because it’s too hard or expensive to do otherwise. It takes time and money, but you can save up your money by re-using materials you already have on hand like wood scraps or unused pallets to make deep enough post holes until you’re ready for more permanent digs.,
The “deck post size calculator” is a tool that can be used to calculate the depth of holes needed for various types of posts. It is important to know how deep you need your posts, as this will affect the cost and time it takes to dig them.
To avoid movement during freeze-thaw cycles, footings must normally extend beyond the frost line. Footing holes should be dug 6 inches deeper than necessary. Fill the hole with 6 inches of gravel and compress it with a 2×4 or wood post at the bottom.
Similarly, you could wonder how far away deck posts should be.
8 feet
Second, are deck posts able to be buried? The Footing of the Buried Post Pour a concrete pad at least 12″ thick at the bottom of the hole for this foundation option. The pressure treatment businesses claim that these posts will endure longer in the ground than the deck structure placed above them, and the IRC code supports this claim.
One can also wonder how deep one must dig to reach the frost line.
The established depth frost line ranges from 36 to 48 inches, but the typical depth of frost for our area is between 15 and 20 inches. As a result, the frost line is a “safe” distance under the ground’s surface beyond which freezing temperatures will have no effect on the soil or anything buried beneath it.
Is it necessary to place deck posts in concrete?
Because a deck post may shatter if it is put inside concrete, it should always be positioned on top of the footing. When concrete is poured around a deck post in this manner, moisture from the earth causes the post to decay.
Answers to Related Questions
Is it possible to build a deck with 4×4 posts?
Many decks used to be designed using 4×4 support posts (also called structural posts). Even if the deck is just 3 feet from the ground, they may bend significantly. As a result, even if your building department does not need them, we highly advise you to utilize 6x6s instead.
How can you construct a deck without having to dig holes?
The use of precast piers eliminates the need to dig holes for your deck.
- Precast deck piers should be spaced three to four feet apart in a grid.
- Using a measuring tape, measure your grid diagonally from corner to corner.
- As a helper keeps the other end of the line level, extend it to see whether the piers are level.
How far can a 2×6 be stretched?
In general, 16-inch-on-center joists may reach 1.5 times their depth in inches in feet. A 2×8 may be up to 12 feet long, a 2×10 can be up to 15 feet long, and a 2×12 can be up to 18 feet long. The joists become bigger as the deck gets bigger.
Is it possible to utilize deck pier blocks in place of footings?
In many aspects, a deck pier block is a reduced form of a “precast foundation,” a foundation type that is recognized by building rules. Despite not being cast-in-place, they must meet all of the same standards as traditional footings. Because pier blocks have a tiny bearing surface, they can only hold a limited amount of weight.
For a 12×24 deck, how many footings do I need?
You’ll need at least three footings for a connected 12 x 12′ deck, plus at least two more if you want to add stairs with it.
For a 12×16 deck, how many posts do I need?
Four footings parallel to the house are required for a conventional deck, although they must be temporarily supported by 6 inch-by-6 inch posts. To frame the borders of the deck, you’ll need to put beams on the top row of the posts using doubled boards. Adjustable post caps must be used to finish them off.
For a 10×10 deck, how many posts do I need?
4 posts
What size deck post bolts should I use?
Use through-bolts or lag screws at connections supporting structural stresses, such as deck ledgers or railing posts. Wherever feasible, use through-bolts since they are stronger. Use 1/2-inch bolts or lags for the heaviest connections on a deck, such as where ledgers link to the house or to posts.
I’m not sure what size deck planks to use.
Both 5/4 and 2-inch deck boards (which are really 1-1/2 inches thick) will fit between 16-inch joists. Building rules normally need 2-inch material if your joists are spaced 24 inches on center or if you want to place the deck boards on a diagonal.
What is the frost line in inches?
Map of the Frost Line
As observed at the point of Minnesota, North Dakota, and Alaska, the highest frost line depth is 100 inches, ranging from zero inches in Florida, southern Arizona, and southern California.
What is under the frost line?
The frost line is simply the point in the earth when ground water freezes. The frost depth is another name for it. That’s why structural footings must be located below the frost line, according to construction rules. Water and sewage lines must also be buried below the frost line.
Why must you dig under the frost line?
You must dig below the frost line while excavating your footings. This is the depth at which the soil’s moisture will freeze. When your footings are buried below the frost line, the dirt acts as a barrier, preventing the soil under the footing from freezing in the winter.
The “deck support posts spacing” is a question that you might ask yourself when you are building a deck. The answer to the question will depend on how deep you want your post holes to be, as well as what type of wood you are using and what size of deck you are building.
