How deep should a deck post be in the ground?

How deep should a deck post be in the ground?

How deep should a deck post be in the ground? Set footers a minimum of 6” below the frost line for your area to prevent movement during freezing temperatures.
Pour about 6 inches of all-purpose gravel into postholes and pack the gravel tight by using the end of a wooden post.

How deep do post holes need to be for a deck? Dig the holes six inches deeper than the required frost line depth for your area, and slightly wider than the concrete footer tubes you’ll be using. A power auger can make this step easier and faster.

How deep should a 6×6 post be in the ground for a deck? The depth of your hole should be about 1/4 of the height of your post. For a 6×6 post, the diameter of the holes should be about 12 inches square. As a rule the width of your post hole should never be less than 10 inches. You want holes deep and wide enough to easily support a standard 4×4 post.

Can I use 4×4 posts for my deck? In the past, many decks were built with 4×4 support posts (also called structural posts). But these can bow seriously, even if a deck is only 3 feet off the ground. For that reason, we strongly recommend that you use 6x6s instead, even if your building department does not demand them.

How deep should a deck post be in the ground? – Related Questions

How many posts do I need for a 12×16 deck?

In this manner, how many posts do I need for a 12×16 deck

Can I set deck posts without concrete?

Plastic piers require the digging, but unlike footings, there is no concrete involved. The pier is put into the hole and attached the post, giving you your deck without wasting hours installing footings.

Can you pour concrete around existing deck posts?

the concrete around the post at the top (slab or patio) will cause two problems, 1 it makes a weak spot that will crack or 2 as the cocrete expands and contracts with the weather it could shear the post and cause the structure to fail. Yes, I agree.

How far can a 6×6 beam span without support?

What is the maximum span for a 6×6 beam

Is 6×6 better than 4×4?

6×6 or 4×6 will also give you less traction in specific conditions, than a 4×4. In snow/ice and other low traction situations, you have way less traction. And the exact reason I run a SINGLE rear wheel (not dually) rear on my pickup. Winter traction is FAR better with all the weight on 4 wheels instead of 6.

How far apart should 4×4 posts be on a deck?

6 feet
For Building a Deck Railing, Deck Frame, or Fence

What size footings do I need for a 6×6 post?

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 big of a hole do you need for a 6×6 post?

10″
A 6×6 post requires a 10″-diameter hole.
Shovel a 6″ layer of gravel into the hole to provide drainage.

What size sonotube for a 4×4 post?

12”
What size Sonotube do I need for a 4×4” fence post

How many posts does a deck need?

The shorter sides—in this case, the 8-foot side—will have 4-feet of distance between deck posts.
The larger 12-foot side will have a post spacing of 6 feet at a minimum code requirement.
That makes a total of eight posts that need to be installed on this average size deck.

How often do you need posts for a deck?

For most situations, you will want to place footings and posts less than 8′ apart. If you are planning on installing a hot tub or porch on top of your deck, you will usually need more footings and posts to support the additional loads.

How often should you support a deck?

In general, posts should be spaced no more than 8 feet apart. Some builders position them every 4 feet for a completely rigid frame. The maximum distance between footings is determined by the size of your joist material.

Can pressure treated wood sit on the ground?

Pressure-treated wood is softwood lumber, typically southern yellow pine, that’s been chemically treated to resist rot, decay and termites.
Lumber treated to “Ground Contact” has a high chemical retention level and can be placed directly on or in the ground with better protection against rot or decay.

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].

?

A: Actually, your point is well taken.
Simply setting the posts in concrete does create a condition that will accelerate rot in the bottom of the posts.
With pressure-treated posts, the rot will be slow.
Concrete should be poured around the post – no concrete under the post.

How much concrete do I need for a 6×6 post?

General rule of thumb is 1/3 of post in the ground. I also would use concrete .

Will treated wood rot in concrete?

Registered. Pressure treated wood will eventually rot in concrete.not nearly as quickly as untreated, but it WILL eventually.

Frank Slide - Outdoor Blog
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