Topic: Deck question

[PJungnitsch]

Well, it's the end of the season, and I'm pleased to report that my deck renovation efforts worked excellently, both the renewing of the paint and the cover that was installed.

However, apparently the supports underneath are missing or were never done right and I've got to take some boards off and support things.

Question, will concrete deck blocks and various bits of wood work well enough, or are the purpose made screw adjusters needed?

Deck is about a foot off the ground.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I prefer the adjustable supports. If things do move, it makes it that much easier to re-level.

[Fobroader]

Youve gotta get below the frost line......concrete, sonotubes and adjustable plates are your best bet. Its a PITA, but its the only real way to anchor a deck. I think our current forst line is somewhere around 36-40 inches, I went 60" just to make sure.

[bridgecity]

Code in our area is anything over 6' off the ground requires piles, minimum 4' in the ground.  My deck is just under 6', I went with concrete blocks with custom made screw adjusters (thanks to my FIL).  The top level deck shifts an inch or so through the winter, I don't even bother to level it until the frost is out of the ground. 

My neighbour put in 8' piles for his deck last summer.  Due to the brutal cold last winter,  his deck heaved so bad that joists were pulling out of their hangers.  He added screw adjusters this summer.

Being that your deck is complete, if you can, add the screw adjusters.  Putting piles in would probably require removal of the whole deck.

[Snowman]

I am very surprised that the expanded deck around our pool never moved with the winter we had. Concrete footings below the frost line was well worth it I guess.

[Fobroader]

I built our deck 5 years ago and it has never moved an inch, yeah, renting an auger and digging through clay was a PITA, but well worth it. If you plan on keeping the house, its the only way to fly.

[Noto]

I watched part of an episode of Deck Wars once...I'm an expert and will field any and all questions deck-related. 

[dr_spock]

I built our deck 5 years ago and it has never moved an inch, yeah, renting an auger and digging through clay was a PITA, but well worth it. If you plan on keeping the house, its the only way to fly.

I dug mine by hand 10 years ago.  It is definitely worth the effort to go deep. 

[PJungnitsch]

Thanks everyone. I think if I'd do it new I'd look really hard at a permanent foundation (especially with the cover) but for now I'd be happy just without the 'trampoline effect' in the middle. The edges, which look like nothing more than a chunk of 4X4 sitting on a scrap of wood, are holding up fine.

Thinking now, it would be nice if I could figure out some way to adjust the center supports tight without having to pull up deck boards.

[Northernridge]

I built our deck 5 years ago and it has never moved an inch, yeah, renting an auger and digging through clay was a PITA, but well worth it. If you plan on keeping the house, its the only way to fly.

I dug mine by hand 10 years ago.  It is definitely worth the effort to go deep.

Without question. 

[Fobroader]

I built our deck 5 years ago and it has never moved an inch, yeah, renting an auger and digging through clay was a PITA, but well worth it. If you plan on keeping the house, its the only way to fly.

I dug mine by hand 10 years ago.  It is definitely worth the effort to go deep.

Without question.