Do you need Sonotubes for deck footings?

Do you need Sonotubes for deck footings?

Deck Designer/Builder Deck Piers – always, always, always use sonotubes. In the Toronto area, footings have to be 48″ below grade and sonotubes have to extend 6″ above grade.

How deep should concrete piers be for a deck?

By code, the bottom of a footing must be at least 12 inches deep and below the local frostline—whichever is deeper—and bear on stable, undisturbed soil that is free of organic matter. And the code requires a minimum compressive strength of 2,500 psi for the concrete.

How much do precast concrete piers cost?

Precast footings usually cost about $150 – $250 each for the material, but require less labor.

Can I use deck pier blocks instead of footings?

Pier blocks can be used instead of footings for a ground-level deck not requiring permits. Piers blocks can also be used if the frost level depth is less then the height of the pier block.

Do I need to use a sonotube?

I also agree that you don’t need the sonotube. For what you’re doing it will only weaken the lateral strength. If your local soil keeps collapsing into the hole a sonotube would help with that. Also, you can use a foot of sonotube to just make what you’re doing look neater.

Are concrete form tubes necessary?

Hi JPC, Concrete form tubes are used for pouring concrete above ground, not below. When pouring concrete in a hole in the ground the hole is the only form you need. Like mentioned above, the pour will be stronger if you just pour the concrete straight into the hole.

How deep do deck posts need to be?

Set footers a minimum of 6” below the frost line for your area to prevent movement during freezing temperatures. Pour about 6 inches of all-purpose gravel into postholes and pack the gravel tight by using the end of a wooden post.

What size concrete piers do I need?

For sizing pier diameters for small foundations, the rule of thumb is “1 inch per foot of span.” Thus, a deck that spans 8 ft. will stand comfortably on 8-in. -diameter piers, while a deck that spans 10 ft. requires 10-in. -diameter piers.

How much are foundation piers?

Using this frame of reference, if your home requires 12 support piers you may be looking at $9,500 – $15,000 in repairs….

How much do precast concrete piers weigh?

Precast Concrete Pier Sizes Precast concrete piers are available in 4ft and 5ft heights and have a top diameter of 8 inches and a ground bearing diameter of 23 x 23 inches. The periods weigh 750 lbs.

Can I use deck blocks?

Deck blocks are a good idea for low decks, decks around trees, areas with low frost levels and economical decks. It is a bad idea to use deck blocks when attaching the deck to the house, on stable ground or supporting elevated decks, pergolas or a roof.

How much weight can a pier block hold?

A single 8” x 16” concrete block can carry 8,000 lbs. Don’t go over 36′′ high. The single blocks that can be used for your pier can easily carry 5,500 lbs. They limit a dry stack, single block pier to 5,760 lbs.

How does an EZ tube concrete pier footing work?

Save up to $100 on your qualifying purchase. Curbside pickup available. EZ Tube is a patented precast concrete footing system, consisting of a base section, 1 or more upper sections and a threaded rod anchor to secure it into a single, solid pier-type footing.

What’s the best way to level up concrete piers?

Adding patching concrete to the tops of the piers is one option. Another is to grind the concrete flat, as several posters suggested. Assuming NoTalent has an extra inch or so of height, that’s how JTC1 would proceed: “I would be inclined to grind the tops of your existing piers to level,” he says.

What kind of tubes are used for deck footings?

Footings and piers are designed to support the weight of a deck through all types of weather and stress. The following steps demonstrate the use of waxed cardboard tubes, popularly called SonoTubes, for making concrete piers. These tubes may be required by your building code, especially if the local soils are sandy or loose.

What should I add to my concrete deck piers?

It’s smart to take photos of how you constructed the piers to avoid any question later-on about depth, bottom treatment, re-bar, etc. Gravel: Also under some codes you may need to add several inches of gravel to the bottom of each footing before adding concrete.