Water in the surrounding soil collects and freezes into thin layers of frost called “ice lenses.”. Keep reading... or click the link below to BUY NOW. can help anyone Save Time, Money and Labor. Deck Footings. Ice exerts a pressure of about 50,000 lbs. the ground, walkways, sheds or other lightweight structures, than concrete blocks. it down and take it back up with no issues. soil. Redi-Footing's strong and safe construction makes building your deck, shed, or outdoor structure fast and easy. For my project I would have needed 60 bags of concrete or a lot of deck blocks. It means a builder can price a job lower than one requiring a ledger connection. But this The Titan Deck Foot Anchor is a fast and easy solution for supporting any light weight structure that is floating or free standing from a house. The minimum load from the three sample test was 19,000 lbs! About 30% less! Fit a 24mm socket over the nut and tighten it until the saddle is locked in its final position. Let's take a closer look at what a freestanding deck is in order to understand how the Deck Foot Anchor can be used to support it. You can use some small concrete blocks where you can lay planks into grooves that are already there, or a post that sets into a pre-formed hole. References. Safety Rule for Deck Footings. next time to give some more room to notch posts. Visit the 2018 IRC website to find a footing sizing table and design figures: 2018 International Residential Code – IRC (ICC) The DCA-6 Prescriptive Residential Wood Deck Construction Guide (American Wood Council) is Compression load testing was done to determine how much weight the footing anchor device itself can support. The Fastest Way to Build a Deck The Nuraspike is designed to be driven into the ground to support the adjustable Nurajack deck pedestal. compacts nicely over the clay and also allows rain water to pass through But it's up 55% savings if you use  add the cost of digging the holes. The mechanics of frost heave are complex, but here’s a quick primer. You'd be shocked at how many bags of concrete mix you'd have to mix by hand to fill a form tube. high. But even if footings are deep enough, ice lenses can latch onto the rough surfaces of wood and concrete and lift footings and posts from the side. Check out our deck footing frost map to help you understand how deep your footings will need to be excavated. ground before drilling these 6 deck feet in. It does all the work. Stone dust is ideal. An exceptionally cold winter with wet clay and four feet of frost could easily expand the soil by ¼" to ½". This could mean the need for 3-ft.-deep footings in some areas. The Deck Foot Anchor™ is a DecksGo Recommended Product. To avoid this we decided a floating deck would be the best option. It is very common in garage floors and mobile home slabs, and in many parts of the world, it's simply referred to as a slab foundation. This in turn saves thousands of dollars in labor for precise flashing and detailed ledger work for the homeowner, and the builder. And you avoid the risk of an improperly flashed ledger. It can adapt to asymmetrical uplift forces over a season and keep your post and beam connections protected. DecksGo was the first company to bring this product to the market, and you can expect more great "first" moments like this. without eroding soil. And this does not even include the time taken to mix all that cement. Honestly installed Creating seamless, floating tile or timber decks on Nurajack deck supports I'm a believer! Second, the deck would just loosely sit on them. But the pergola could also stand on its own. Third, we didn't want to see cement blocks when you walked by the highest level deck. The very best examples all have several aspects in common, just like standard decks. I hope this helps with your own build. Stop and put the load plate over the drive head. 20 min for 3 deck foot anchors. Use a 24" for most applications where soil is hardest. The depth you are required to set your frost footings will vary from region to region across the country. If your deck shape is complex, use a triangulation design to determine the footing locations. The frost depth varies by region. Simply hang the joists from the perimeter joist. sure to remove sod and add gravel to LEVEL ground. A "Free Standing" deck, also called a "floating" deck, is not supported by a dwelling. We wanted to keep the design simple and clean, so with the help of our friends over at Kreg Tool Company, we used the deck jig and let the wood do all the talking. is very light and the installation with an impact wrench goes very fast :-)  Seriously, I can’t thank you enough. Our patented "Terra-Shift™" technology was developed specifically for the Titan Deck Foot anchor™. After the wide part at the bottom of the hole has filled, the tube will fill too. This product worked very well in this situation. The Titan Deck Foot Anchor™ costs about $60  per footing. Cost $ $ $ Skill Level Start to Finish 2+ Days. The reason buildings and decks don’t always return to their original height is that surrounding dirt sometimes fills in under the footing while it’s lifted. But on the Titan Deck Foot Anchor, your deck will safely weather the ride. This saves builders and DIYers the major expense and skill of ripping apart the envelope of the house in order to secure to the ledger and install the proper flashing to keep the connection dry. away from the house. The Nuraspike is a ground spike designed to be used as a deck footing to support low profile decks. However, any deck that is 6' or less above grade is a potential candidate for a freestanding structure. However, if the piers are in a backfill region, as is the case with piers nearest the house on a freestanding deck, the footing depth may have to be as deep as 10 ft. to reach undisturbed soil and to comply with code. It's the first helical ground anchor footing system that installs easily with a lightweight hand held tool. Local counties and municipalities may have varying height restrictions on freestanding decks but 6' and lower seems to be typical. Footings for a deck or shed to save you more time and more money. You just screw the auger portion into the ground using a lightweight hand-held impact wrench and never experience any kick back. Starting with your perimeter, mark the location of each deck post to locate the fitting position. One of the biggest plusses of a floating deck is that you (probably) won’t need to get a permit to build it. Wet clay will expand the most and sandy soil the least. Protection of freestanding accessory structures with an area of 600 square feet (56m2) or less, of light-framed construction, with an eave height of 10 feet (3048mm) or less shall not be required. Only a few inches off the ground, this platform takes a little time but is easy once you get going. Huzzah! This ledger was installed Except where otherwise protected from frost, foundation walls, piers and other permanent supports of building and structures shall be protected from frost by one or more of the following methods: 1. Just contact us and request a copy of the report if you need this. Adding a floating deck to your backyard can provide a much-needed platform for patio furniture, a grill, a hammock and other backyard amenities. A floating deck adds a great elevated place to sit and enjoy a view of a yard. When you contact your local building department to get your building permit, ask what the frost depth requirement is and the required size and shape of the footings. The concept of a floating deck implies the following fact: the joist structure is not secured by any bolts to the footings. And this does not include the $1000 or more you will save by not having to rip apart your siding and flashing a new ledger connection. Often, the posts supporting them are not visible… Complete DIY projects like a pro! The Terra-Shift™ post bracket allows a post to slide up in the bracket under at least 50% less force when compared to a standard vertical slot. The Nurajack Nuraspike system replaces traditional decking pile footing system. Not every deck can be freestanding such as walkout decks from second stories which should always be ledger connected and therefore supported by frost footings. This is what we do - try to bring you leading edge building solutions before anyone else. layer and will hang over the ledger board with a drip edge to direct Disturbed soil isn’t compacted enough to support the weight of a deck, so you end up with a much greater risk of sinking. drive top on the post anchor is ingenious to say the least you can put I am now worried that these footings may be less stable. My wife even said this is very cool. We recommend our users to update the browser. It A puny little deck on inadequate footings doesn’t stand a chance. a free standing deck with the Titan Deck Foot Anchor avoids all of these issues. Total time spent was over 100 hours during a period of a couple months. the rim joist is and remove the siding to match it. This permits freestanding decks, walkways, ramps, shed platforms and other similar structures to be supported without frost footings. Then dump concrete through the tube into the bottom of the hole. In the winter, the ground freezes from the top of the soil downward. The depth of frost penetration depends on the soil type, the severity of the winter, the amount of water in the soil and the depth of an insulating blanket of snow. Fit a 12mm six point socket over the hex headed end. Be It's possible to go even higher but it is not intended to support decks at a second floor elevation. I hope my question makes sense. Thanks to the Titan Deck Foot Anchor™ anyone can effortlessly install ground anchored deck footings at a fraction of the cost of concrete footings. Three samples of the Titan Deck Foot Anchor were crushed in a hydraulic press until destruction of the post saddle was achieved. I was using them on a small 10'x8' deck. . Price. Three separate areas. Put the post saddle over the drive rod and adjust it laterally. Use a 36" where soil is softer, sandier or you just want maximum pull out resistance. I had about 5 of my neighbors just in awe of your deck feet when I was As stated above, a deck that is not supported by a dwelling need not have footings that extend below the frost line (IRC Section R.403.1.4.1,  Exception 3). The Deck Foot Fit a 12mm six point socket over the hex headed end. 3. This is a permanent footing and is great for large or high decks that need very strong footings. As you can You input the dimensions of your deck and the estimated soil bearing capacity and it will show you the number of footings so you do not exceed the soil's load capacity. The new direct This compresses the plate on the surface below. When solid ground is reached, it is recommended to dig an additional 50mm into the solid ground. Just drive the anchor down using an electric impact wrench. Tools. see it's a simple installation process. But it is do-able and you can save a lot of money by doing it yourself rather than hiring it out. Your bill would come in around only $1386. Utilizing the concrete footings, we placed our pressure treated 2×6 lumber into … wrench and it went down very straight and easy even in very thick clay The total cost for this was almost exactly $1600 USD. But it is true. My easy and budget friendly DIY floating deck that cost less than $500 and was put together during naptime. to. Posts can temporarily rise up in the bracket so that the post to beam connection is not pulled apart. Divide the total by 27 to get the cubic yardage you need to order. You can even build ground anchored pergolas using the Deck Foot Anchor so long as the pergola is built to include any necessary bracing to keep it stiff and rigid. So all your critical connections remain protected in the event of frost. The Rule of Thumb is 6'-0" apart for each footing. Prepare and level the area, about 24" (60 cm) square by removing any sod and There is little material cost to a buried post footing. In this case, the deck was framed around the pergola. Home  >  Deck Foot Forum  > Titan Deck Foot Anchor. The foundation actually does float on the earth and moves as temperatures compact and expand the soil. was the first company to bring this product to the market, and you can expect more great "first" moments like this. Decks for second floor levels should be ledger connected and supported on traditional concrete frost footings. clean). up from the bottom of the footing. Just click the link to BUY NOW. The exterior was vinyl siding so much easier Drive the anchor down until the welded stop washer on the auger shaft is almost in contact with the soil. All 24 footings were installed before lunch hour. Building a deck is a lot of work, and it isn't cheap. Unless you are an experienced carpenter, do not try to attach your deck to a ledger on an existing home. Layout and Footing Locations. Allow 3/4" to 1" of clearance between the siding of the house and the deck for any seasonal movement that may occur. A deck that does not have frost footings will float on the surface of the grade if the soil freezes and expands in the winter time. The Floating decks typically come in square or rectangular designs, but can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes. Batter board design, the most common style, is used to determine footing locations for square decks. Constructing in accordance with ASCE 32; or4. Erected on solid rock. When you pour concrete footings, hold the cardboard concrete form tube about 12 in. Deck jacks with a unique, self-levelling screwjack head. Your product is fantastic All intricately designed to wrap around a hot tub spa and create intimate areas. This is the depth at which the moisture present in the soil is expected to freeze. It's like a shock absorber system for your deck footings and posts! laying down a few inches of ½" and smaller crushed stone (not things stay dry. Then each space between the joists had to be block with 2x8 material because the rim joist was OSB board. this job was a natural gas line that the gas grill was going to connect Ground level floating decks can be built on floating piers rather than frost footings Image Credit: Deck City: Flickr Creative Commons Building a deck can be a very involved and complex project, especially if the deck is elevated high enough to require railings and stairways, and when it is attached by a ledger board directly to the structure of your home. I used a small post 21" to hold a beam for the joist. concrete bags you could get by with only four footings on the upper deck Go up high enough under the existing siding to ensure A deck that does not have frost footings will float on the surface of the grade if the soil freezes and expands in the winter time. 2. And thankfully the How to get a solid, frost-proof footing: When you pour concrete footings, hold the cardboard concrete form tube about 12 in. That’s why concrete piers poured in waxed cardboard tubes and smooth wooden installing deck posts work well for below-grade support. with minimal preparation. Once you feel tension in the auger, stop driving it. Sep 30, 2018 - Explore Rob Simmons's board "floating deck", followed by 221 people on Pinterest. This ledger had to be accurately cut to fit perfectly. A well-constructed floating deck adds style and comfort to a backyard, but it has a few possible downsides: Because floating decks sit … This permits freestanding decks, walkways, ramps, shed platforms and other similar structures to be supported without frost footings. Used my 1/2" impact Put the second washer over the drive rod and turn the second nut on to the rod. If you're pouring more than a few footings, order premixed concrete from a ready-mix company. Figure concrete volume by multiplying the height of the post and column in feet by the radius of the tube in feet squared times 3.14. The amount of annual up and down movement depends on the amount of water in the soil and the depth of the frost line. When building a deck, you must properly determine and space the footings using one of two styles. Building Properly attaching a ledger board to an existing home can be a major task. Our footings were placed equally within our 10′ x 12′ rectangle and we allowed for a 12″ overhang along the edge where our rim joist would be installed. 1. Keep reading... or click the link to BUY NOW. Flare the sides on concrete footings so the footings will resist heave in harsh winters when frost penetrates especially deep. The footings and framing totaled $600 and the decking itself was $1000. WARNING: If your soil is full of rocks or roots, you likely will not be able to use this kind of system or any spike system for that matter. ton more work to do and that is a lesson all unto itself. It is a poured cement slab that has two deep edges that go just below the frost line in northern climates. The rim and floor joists were engineered Not sure how many footings you will need? Put the lock washer on top of the plate and turn the nut onto the threaded rod until the hex drive head is full exposed. Very slick idea and a lot less work than setting posts in concrete or using deck blocks. BUILDING A FLOATING DECK: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. Constructing in accordance with Section R403.3; Clearly, no soil can support  19,000 psf so the limiting factor you have to consider is the bearing capacity or your soil. It's been tested in some of the harshest cold and sweltering heat temperatures and it has proven to be as tough as nails. All you need to know is that you can have peace of mind with the Titan Deck Foot Anchor™. Another building benefit is being able to use the Titan Deck Foot Anchor™ to easily drop beams within 2" of the grade. This movement is virtually imperceptible unless you measure it against the side of your house. A ground-level deck, sometimes referred to as a floating deck or platform deck, is so-called because, unlike conventional decks, a ground-level deck is not attached to a home or building. I think it would take an F5 tornado to rip up what I’ve built so far. Complicating The deck is not attached to a ledger board which is in turn bolted through to the rim joist of the floor deck of the dwelling. When you consider that the savings are truly huge. If the ledger is built during the construction of the house then all the details like flashing and siding are so much simpler. If the footing does not extend below the frost line, the footing will heave as the ground freezes and thaws. Either way, she offers some good ideas on how to build a floating deck similar to hers in your backyard, ... Once we determined our ideal placement, we leveled out our square exterior frame. Honestly one of the best products I have seen. The results were impressing. Helical Pile Footings . © 2004-2019 Decksgo.com. ... Did you pour concrete footing and attach the posts with footing brackets, or did you dig a deep hole and just pour concrete around the 4×4 posts. vast majority of residential decks can be freestanding. This saves builders and DIYers the major expense and skill of ripping apart the envelope of the house in order to secure to the ledger and install the proper flashing to keep the connection dry. If your setting deck posts move up in the spring then settle back down as the weather warms, then you have a bad case of “frost heave-osis.” So how deep is the frost line? After that was The deck above used 24 footings. NO cement to mix is a nice benefit. All Rights Reserved. Even if you're setting deck posts in the ground, instead of on top of footings, the concrete still needs to extend below the frost line. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. This corresponds to a design load of 50 psf and tributary areas over each footing of 36 sqft. Stop turning the nut as soon as you feel the plate has contacted the stop washer. Some builders position them every 4 feet for a completely rigid frame. Hardest thing was to prep and level the It allows any support post under a beam to slide up and down independently in the bracket whenever there are uneven forces or stress. Do this by nailing the sides of the tube to the center of a tic-tac-toe grid of 2x4s at the top of the hole. The Titan Deck Foot Anchor™ holds your footings securely to the ground. Then dig the footing holes so that the bottoms of the footings are at or below the frost depth. The real savings is time and effort.