13
votes
Accepted
Can I support 6x6" deck posts on 10" diameter poured concrete footings?
Summary - the post size seems questionable. Even at 12", it might have been insufficient. It depends very much on your soil type.
The remainder of this answer is a huge estimate based on lots of ...
7
votes
Accepted
How will concrete fill in?
This is a reasonable concern, but not necessarily a problem. It is not uncommon to have concrete forms the way you describe. The solution depends largely on the consistency of the concrete mix. A very ...
6
votes
How deep do I need to make the post footings for a residential deck in Northern Michigan?
The post depth depends on the frost line. The size of the footing depends on the soil type under the footing.
You need to dig until at least under the frost line, and then, if you are not on rock or ...
5
votes
How deep do the footings have to be for a gazebo?
How deep is the frost line in your area? Deeper than that. You may also need to use post-footing-base flares to get adequate load capacity on the bottom of your footings, depending on the soil bearing ...
5
votes
Accepted
How to calculate sizing for treehouse footing?
Hmmm...no digging in the ground and no concrete.
Sounds like the four perimeter beams will be your foundation. They’ll need to be treated for ground contact (pressure treated) as you indicate.
...
5
votes
Accepted
Are metal anchors or buried posts better for 6 x 6 posts for a pavilion?
The pier and footing is the best approach.
A structure, even a deck or pavilion should not have to rely upon the posts being anchored in concrete for structural support. The pavilion itself should be ...
4
votes
Adding rebar to deck footings and piers?
Concrete does not have very good tensile strength. Rebar is laid in such a manner that it adds tensile strength in the concrete.
Depending on the size and weight load the pier/footer assembly is ...
4
votes
How/where can I find out what the frost-line is for my area?
This map shows the frost line depth for each state.
4
votes
Should I pour a footing and pier at the same time?
I am a site coordinator for a tower construction company based in Raleigh, North Carolina. I am currently working on a project where we pour pad and pier together (because it is fairly easy and is ...
4
votes
Accepted
What can I fill a trench around my house with to avoid creating a drainage issue?
Below grade you should not be using EPS foam - that should be XPS (pink or blue, normally) - above grade EPS is fine. EPS is not waterproof, XPS is. You can also increase your subgrade insulation a ...
4
votes
Footings for free-standing structure
X-brace the structure (under the raised deck of the "fort" part) so that the posts work together to BE a structure. Run opposing diagonal lumber from the bottom of one post to the top of the one next ...
4
votes
Retaining wall: footing or no footing?
Can I convince you to not do this ?
Honestly not trying to be an ass.
Please, please - Get a quote from a company that builds retaining walls.
The quote will cost very little or nothing.
You will ...
4
votes
Concrete retaining wall with lean and crack, looking for input
This site prefers not to provide 'call a professional' answers and I might receive some less positive reception for this answer, but this is a case where I think that it is appropriate.
My suggestion ...
3
votes
Using old roof footings for a ground-level deck
Using the old footings sounds fine, so long as they've done their settling or were poured off kilter to begin with, it's those new ones I'm not too keen on, that will just sit on the ground. If you ...
3
votes
3
votes
How to create threads in leveling feet
Your cheapest and easiest option is a spacer under the foot. A small piece of plywood or a couple of wood shims will do the trick. Both will be available at a home improvement center or lumber ...
3
votes
How close can a deck post footing be to a retaining wall?
Comment by @BillDOe is correct: it should go the required depth for the post, measured from the base of the retaining wall as if there was no wall and no retained earth there. As long as it has ...
3
votes
Accepted
How can I pour a concrete patio under my existing deck without surrounding the deck posts in concrete?
Support either side of each post, cut it off, insert a steel stub base or pour a new concrete base to a height slightly above the planned slab, pour the new slab.
Or, just make sure the "expansion ...
3
votes
Can I support 6x6" deck posts on 10" diameter poured concrete footings?
If you are willing to dig some big holes, while stabilizing the piers so they don't fall on you, and do some drilling you might be able to solve this more simply. Hmm - actually, those (10" dia x ...
3
votes
Accepted
Is it a problem that my post bases overhang the footing edge slightly?
If I understand correctly that the post bases overhang the sides of the concrete piers slightly, it's not an issue. As you said, 6x6 posts are unnecessarily large for the load, so as long as you have ...
3
votes
Accepted
Patio Deck Piers Construction
The green sleeve appears to point specifically to "Techno Metal Post" per a brief search.
That's a specific brand of screw-pile or helical-pile. You can see the ground-screw parts on the ...
3
votes
Leaning fence due to loose posts
The posts may be loose for a variety of reasons and it's worth spending a few minutes considering which are likely so that you can mitigate them. As you said it could be that the posts were set too ...
2
votes
Accepted
How far does a ground rod need to be from the foundation?
There is no minimum or maximum distance from a foundation, footing, panel or otherwise.
It is best to keep it as close as possible, but nothing dictates this by code.
The main thing you want to ...
2
votes
Retaining wall: footing or no footing?
To make a retaining wall the stone (or other immutable material) must be make a 45-degree angle into the hillside.
The footing must be as broad as the plinth and must go as deep as the frost line. In ...
2
votes
how do i replace a fence post that was also used as a deck footing?
Use a sledgehammer and a large punch to drive out the old bolts. For one-time use, a spike just smaller in diameter than the bolts, with the tip cut off flat may work well-enough at a lower cost, if ...
2
votes
What is the laziest way I can build a non-structural, non-aesthetic cinder block wall to contain compost?
Dry stacking and filling with rebar and concrete sounds like a great idea. Pretty easy and brainless.
2
votes
Footings for free-standing structure
In such situations, implanted (vertical) pipe can be used.
For 4x4 posts, I'd choose 6 inch pipe.
Cut the pipe and dig holes as appropriate, perhaps so that 2–3 feet are underground and only 4-...
2
votes
How wide does a 6x6 concrete post footing need to be using an elevated post base anchor?
Well...I had to live and learn. I used 12 inch sonotubes with the same anchor and cheap cement (the fence post kind that was recommended to me) and 6 x6 posts, which turned out to be a bad idea. 2 of ...
2
votes
Accepted
What's the right approach for insulating the slab & footings underneath a masonry fireplace/heater?
Ecnerwal is right that the if the footing is uninsulated, some of the heat will escape into the dirt under the house, where it will sort of be stored due to (I hope) your insulated slab perimeter ...
2
votes
What's the right approach for insulating the slab & footings underneath a masonry fireplace/heater?
If this will be used as a serious heating appliance, (I'm inferring from "masonry heater") not merely decoration (as many fireplaces are), I'd go with uninsulated footing, especially if the stemwall ...
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