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When a deck is built with improperly installed deck footings, the deck can heave
or sink. When this situation arises repairing concrete deck footings is necessary. In
colder climates, if the concrete deck footings are installed above the frost line, the
deck footings or deck concrete pads often heave up during the cold weather and
then sink down when the warm weather returns. Repeated cycles of this type of
action often lead to a deck surface that is no longer level.
To repair a concrete deck footing you first need to brace or jack up the deck near the
area of the particular deck footing.
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If the deck post is mechanically fastened to the deck footing with anchor bolts
remove them so that the deck pole can easily rise up when you jack up the deck
area.
Next, use a shovel to dig out around the deck footing. Be prepared for some hard
work. Wear work gloves and proper shoe wear and plan some serious digging.
Once you have fully exposed the deck footing or concrete deck pad, break it up
with a sledge hammer and remove all the pieces. Make sure to wear eye protection
when breaking up the old deck footing or concrete pad.
After removing the old concrete deck footing, continue to dig down deeper in the
footing hole until you are at least 6 inches below the frost line area for your
local area. Make sure the base of the hole is wider than the top of it when
digging out the hole.
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It is important to understand that
deck footings support a serious amount of weight. A small deck, for example,
with deck furniture and people on it can easily way in at over 10,000lbs.
Consequently it is important to install new deck footings that are 12-24 inches
in diameter to provide an effectively wide enough area for supporting a
significant portion of the weight of the deck. In addition, it is important to
have the deck footing wider at the base of the hole. By creating an upside down
funnel shaped hole, if you will, it becomes more difficult for frost to push a
concrete deck footing pad upwards.
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After digging out your deck footing hole, visit your local home improvement
store to find Sono-tubes with wide plastic footing form bases. Place the
Sono-tube with the attached footing form base into your deck footing hole and
use a level to plumb it. Also use a plumb bob to position the Sono-tube directly
under the existing deck post.
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After ensuring that the Sono-tube is plumb backfill dirt around it. Then pour
concrete into the Sono-tube to create the new deck footing. As you pour the
concrete into the Sono-tube, place a few vertical reinforcing steel bars
(re-bar) into the Sono-tube to increase the strength of the deck footing. After
pouring the cement, install mechanical deck footing anchor hardware into the top
surface of the concrete.
Allow the new deck footing to setup for 24 to 48 hours, depending upon weather
conditions, and then re-attach the deck post to the repaired deck footing. You
may need to trim the deck post, depending upon the new height of the repaired
deck footing.
Finally remove the bracing and your deck should once again be level.
For help on building a new Deck, see HomeAdditionPlus.com's
Deck Installation Bid Sheet.
The
Deck Installation Bid Sheet
will teach your how to hire the right deck contractor, and help to
ensure that your deck project is completed on time and budget.
How to Finance your Deck Project
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can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if
financing is required.
Additional Deck Information
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