
What size footings are required for decks?
What size footings do I need for a deck? 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 many footings do I need for a deck?
For an attached 12 x 12’ deck, you’ll need at least 3 footings, plus at least 2 more if you’re planning on building stairs with it. If your deck will be a different size, it’s easy to figure out how many you’ll need. Just decide its size and shape, then calculate and measure each element of the design as detailed step-by-step below.
How many footing do you need for your deck?
How Many Footing Do You Need For Your Deck? The answer depends on the size and shape of your deck, the size of your footings, and the size of your beams. The larger the beam and footing size, the fewer footings that are required. For most situations, you will want to place footings and posts less than 8' apart.
Do deck footings need to be spaced evenly?
Do deck footings need to be spaced evenly? If you’re building a simple deck, footings and posts should be placed less than 8 feet apart. However, if your deck will include a hot tub or roof, you must support that weight with additional footings.

How deep should a deck post footing be?
12-inFooting must be dug down into undisturbed soil and to a minimum depth of 12-in below the finished grade.
Does a deck footing need rebar?
Plain concrete deck foundations without rebar are acceptable under the minimum standards of construction established in the International Residential Code. However, placing reinforcing steel within footings is a relatively easy and inexpensive practice that can provide increased performance.
How many footings do I need for a 16x20 deck?
Quick Attached Deck Footing ChartSize of DeckBeam SizeNumber of Footings16' x 16'(3) 2×8320' x 12'(2) 2×8320' x 14'(2) 2×8320' x20'2 beams (2) 2×86 (2 rows of 3)4 more rows
What is the best footing for a deck?
A poured concrete footing is a good option when building a large deck that sits high up from ground level. Concrete is extremely strong and able to withstand extreme forces and substantial weights. A poured concrete footing is created by digging a hole and pouring concrete into it.
How long do deck footings need to cure?
Allow the concrete to cure for one day before constructing your deck or placing heavy weight on the footing (if standard concrete mix was used, wait about 3 days to begin construction).
How many footings do I need for a deck?
How Many Footing Do You Need For Your Deck? The answer depends on the size and shape of your deck, the size of your footings, and the size of your beams. The larger the beam and footing size, the fewer footings that are required. For most situations, you will want to place footings and posts less than 8' apart.
What is the maximum distance between deck posts?
Spacing of Deck Posts The two most common sizes used for deck posts are 4×4 and 6×6. When using 4×4 posts, place them no more than 6 feet apart, and when using 6×6 posts, no more than 8 feet apart.
How far apart should joists be on a deck?
16″Deck joist spacing should never exceed 16″ on center (with the exception of MAX deck boards, which allow for maximum 24″ on center). For a more rigid feel, 12″ or less may be preferred. If adding additional framing, be sure to keep all boards level and in plane across the tops.
How many posts do I need for a 10x10 deck?
A freestanding 10' x10' deck needs 4 posts, supporting two pairs of 2-ply non-incised 2×8 beam, upgrading the beam to 3-ply using incised wood.
How deep should 4x4 deck posts be?
Dig post hole so diameter of the hole is 3 times the width of the post (i.e., the hole for a 4” wood post should be about 12 inches wide). The depth of the hole should be 1/3-1/2 the post height above ground (i.e., a 6-foot tall fence would require a hole depth of at least 2 feet).
Do deck post need to be in concrete?
Deck posts set in concrete increase rot and make it impossible to replace the post in the future if it is damaged. Also, in many jurisdictions, setting deck post in concrete is illegal; instead, deck posts need to be placed above the concrete footing extending below the frost line to 6″ (150mm) above grade.
Can I use deck pier blocks instead of footings?
A deck pier block is in many ways just a simplified version of a “precast foundation”, a foundation type recognised by building codes. They're subject to all the same requirements as a typical footing, regardless of not being cast-in-place.
Do pier footings need rebar?
As you already know, including rebar in your concrete pier footer is CRUCIAL for creating compression and tension within the concrete.
Where should rebar be placed in a footing?
Placement of Rebars It is a general rule that reinforcements should be placed at the tension side at the bottom of the footing. In a square footing, rebars are placed uniformly in both directions. ACI code requires that the rebars be placed not more than 18 apart.
How do you attach footing to a deck?
0:572:26How to Build Deck Footings with QUIKRETE® - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce you have determined the minimum footing depth based on the local building code dig the footingMoreOnce you have determined the minimum footing depth based on the local building code dig the footing holes about six inches deeper than required slightly larger than the quick tube diameter.
How much rebar do I need for footings?
Generally, one stick of rebar per 8 inches of footing width will suffice. If your footings are 16 inches wide, you will need to add two sticks of rebar along the width of the footing; however, if your footings are 24 inches wide, you will need three sticks.
How thick should a footing be?
The flat part at the bottom must be at least 6" thick. This is a common rule for footing so don't forget that.
How thick should a deck be for a 4x4?
That is assuming you are using a 4x4 which is 3.5" square. You will have to wait for the cement to cure and then back fill over top.
What happens if you dig too shallow?
If you dig too shallow and not wide enough the pier can be pushed up with frost heave.
What footings are used to adapt to a variety of form dimensions?
Going one step further, use a pre formed bell shaped footing to adapt to a variety of form dimension diameters.
How is a post anchor secured to concrete?
Notice the post anchor on top is secured to the concrete with a J bolt dropped into the cement and the post is set up off the concrete surface.
How to reduce imposed load on soil?
Just add a wider base and you substantially reduce the imposed load on the soil below.
Why should post be treated for ground contact?
So, any post used in this manner should be treated for ground contact because overtime it will be subject to a lot of moisture.
What happens when you bury a footing in the ground?
Once your footings are buried below the frost line the ground will act as a barrier to insulate the soil below the footing from freezing in the winter.
Do you have to dig a foundation deeper than a flat surface?
If you are building into the side of a steep hill or beside a retaining wall you will have to maintain the minimum distance to grade not only vertically but also laterally. In order to achieve a suitable lateral barrier you may need to dig your foundation much deeper than on a flat surface.
What size footingpad for post # 2?
As 1.39 > 1.28, we are able to stay with a 16” or larger FootingPad will for post # 2.
How to determine the footing size needed to support the load?
You can determine the footing size needed to support the load by using this formula: A = B/C. A = Surface area of the footing. B = Load on the footing in pounds. C = Load carrying capacity of the soil in pounds per square foot ...
What is footing size calculator?
In our footing size calculator, the data you input is used to identify the footing which has the largest tributary area, and subsequently, the largest load. This allows the calculator to provide a FootingPad large enough for all posts. In practice, once you understand the calculations, you can easily determine the footing size needed for each individual post for each project. Often, the sizes needed will be different. Usually, the design of the deck results in interior posts, versus those nearest an outside edge, will have a larger tributary area and therefore larger load.
Why is an isolated footing straight forward?
The footing is “isolated”, and therefore it is straight-forward to calculate the load capacity of this footing type because there is no shared weight. All the weight carried by one post is transferred to one footing. Regardless from what material an isolated footing is made, it functions by spreading the load carried by ...
What happens if a footing is stronger than the soil?
If stronger than the soil AND overloaded, a footing will simply sink into the ground.
How much snow is needed for a deck?
Unlike post frame buildings, the snow load on a deck is used only if it is higher than the live load of the deck, generally assumed to be 40 lbs. per square foot (psf). The assumption is that there will not be both live load (people) and snow on the deck at the same time. Consequently, the load formula changes slightly when the snow load is greater than 40 lbs. psf. Using our earlier example of tributary area size, except that now we have a snow load of 50 lbs. psf:
How to find the surface area of a footing pad?
FootingPad post foundations are round, and the surface area of any circle is determined by the formula: pi r2 = 3.14 x (radius x radius) The surface area of a square or rectangle is determined by length x width . For example, a 12” x 12” square has a surface area of 1 sq. foot.
