Instructions / Assembly

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Footings
Deck footings rest on the ground and sup-
port the deck posts. Footings may be
either concrete blocks, pre-cast pier
blocks or poured concrete pads. As a rule
of thumb, a footing should be about twice
the size of the post it supports. For exam-
ple, 4x4 posts should rest on 8x8 con-
crete footings.
Building codes are usually specific about
the form and placement of footings. In
general, they are required to extend
below the frost line and they should
extend above the ground to keep wood
posts away from ground moisture.
Mixing and pouring concrete footings is
a simple job. Cement, sand, gravel and
water mixed in a wheelbarrow can be
poured into a mold without much difficulty.
Builders can make their own molds or buy
forms, such as Sona Tubes, at building
supply stores.
Placing the footings is key to the deck’s
stability. The number of footings and posts
needed depends on the size of beams. In
general, deck builders like to use heavier
beams to minimize the number of foot-
ings. The placement of footings can be
calculated from the suggested beam and
joist spans.
Posts
Posts are vertical members which rest on
the footings and support the beams. The
length of the posts is critical in establish-
ing the height of the deck. Plan ahead
—
extended posts serve as a support for
railings, benches and overhead trellises.
Timbers 4x4 and larger are most often
used for posts. If large crowds, deep
snow or other heavy loads are expected,
or if the deck is elevated, larger posts
may be needed and cross bracing may
be necessary to prevent lateral move-
ment. Local building codes will answer
these questions.
There are several methods for attaching
posts to the footings. Metal post anchors,
wood nailing blocks, steel straps and
drift pins are common methods. Metal
anchors are recommended for high decks
while wood nailing blocks are suitable for
low decks.
Beams can rest on top of posts or double
beams can straddle the post. The double
beam method uses two pieces of thinner
dimension lumber. Sometimes this can
mean a savings. Naturally, if the double
beam method is used, the posts need to
be taller.
If a single beam is going to rest on top of
the post, the post top must be trimmed
carefully to make a solid seat for the
beam. Double-check measurements
before sawing. Measure and level the
post from a stable reference position.
Make sure the posts are plumb when they
are measured, installed and trimmed.
1 Metal post anchor set in concrete
2 Wood nailing block on
pre-cast footing
3 Drift pin post attachment
4 Extended post with rail
5 Built-up beam with
1
⁄2-inch spacers
6 Metal post/beam connector
7 Rim joist and fascia
8 Paired beams bolted to posts
9 Ledger
10 Butt-jointed beam with t-strap
11 Lapped joist
12 Joist hanger
13 Blocking
14 Random length decking
15 Rail cap
16 Toe clip
17 Joist spliced with wood cleats