A 12” diameter footing will require two 60lb bags of concrete per foot of depth. The price of pouring concrete footings depends greatly on the length and diameter of the footing your deck needs. Since there aren’t many materials necessary, when you hire someone you’re mostly paying for labor. They are available in many different standard diameters to build footers of any size necessary for your deck.īy digging and pouring the footing yourself, you can save a substantial portion of the cost of hiring a professional. The forms come in long cylinders that can be cut to the desired length. Rebar is used to connect this wider base footing to a thinner cement pillar that will extend up above the ground.įor most normal decks, the wider footing at the bottom is not necessary, and a standard concrete pillar poured into the ground will provide plenty of strength and support.Ĭoncrete forms can be poured directly into the hole dug into the ground, or they can be poured into cardboard forms that are designed to shape and hold the concrete. If your deck is going to be very large, higher than the first floor, or if you’re going to have a lot of weight on it ( such as a hot tub), then building your footings out of cement is going to be your best option.įor additional support in softer soils or for the heaviest decks, a wider footing can be poured at the bottom below the frost line. The deck posts will be attached to the top of this pillar using metal brackets.Īlthough they take the most work to build, concrete footings are also very strong and provide plenty of support for your deck. Once the hole is dug to the appropriate depth, the concrete is poured in to form a strong pillar. This type of footer requires a good deal of work as you have to dig below the frost line, which can be over 70” deep in some parts of the country. Types of Deck Footings Poured Concrete FootingsĬoncrete footings are dug and poured directly into the ground.
If your deck is attached to the house, you may have different needs than a deck that is “floating” or not attached to anything else. If you’re planning a larger deck or one that is above the first floor, you’re going to need stronger footers than a deck that is on the ground floor or is much smaller in size. Which one you choose will depend on the size and height of your deck and the building codes in your location.Įach type of footing has different requirements and is going to take different amounts of work to install. What types of deck footings could we use to build our new deck? Poured concrete footings, buried post footings, precast cement footings, deck blocks, and screw/helical piles are all viable options for deck footings. Can you imagine building your beautiful new deck, then having it collapse under the weight of your family and friends? That would be horrible and embarrassing, not to mention dangerous! Beyond this, the choice of footings you use on your deck will greatly impact the cost to build it, as well as the amount of work it will take. One of the most important pieces to planning your deck is deciding what type of deck footings to use to support it.
Each block will support up to 770 kilograms and tested to over 5,000 kilograms.
Ultra-lightweight concrete alternative, with each block weighing 680 grams.TuffBlocks are an extremely popular alternative to digging holes and mixing concrete, which saves both DIY enthusiasts and professionals time and money.ĭesigned to suit metric standards, TuffBlocks will accept 35-41mm or 41-47mm joists and bearers as well as 90 x 90mm or 100 x 100mm posts. TuffBlocks are 19 times lighter than standard concrete and 11 times lighter than the Evo-Crete Handi Block. TuffBlocks are an Australian made, 100% recycled, ultra-lightweight multi-purpose foundation system used for a range of home improvement projects including low profile decks, garden sheds, landings, pathways, cubby houses, dog shelters and more.Įach block weighs 680 grams but can support up to 770 kilograms.