When designing your new deck, you need to take into account stability and how much weight your new deck will be able to support. This is where deck footing comes into play.
Decks and overheads rely on load-bearing posts for support. Load-bearing posts, in turn, rely on footing, which is a term that refers to the deep holes in the ground that are filled with concrete. If these holes aren’t deep enough, your new deck might become unstable.
Read on as Gresham Roofing and Construction, your trusted roofer, discusses the factors that can affect your new deck’s footing.
Dead and Live Loads
The footing should be able to support dead and live loads. The former refers to the weight of all your deck’s permanent components—its posts, beams, framing and railing—while the latter refers to the combined weight of the transient or temporary elements. How much weight load would the deck footing need to support? It depends on your area’s local building codes. However, in general, the deck needs to support a dead load of 10 pounds per square foot and a live load of 40 pounds per square foot, which means the footings need to support a total weight of 50 pounds per square foot.
Consistency of the Soil
The firmer the soil, the more support it can provide for weight loads. If the soil in your backyard is too loose, you may need to offset the lack of support by using larger footings.
Local Climate
Abrupt temperature changes can cause soil to expand or contract. Any movement in the soil can shift the structure of the deck above. To learn more about the factors that can affect your deck, consult an exterior contractor or roofing contractor.
Looking for contractors? Here’s a tip: It’s best to hire local contractors. Since they’re more familiar with your area’s building codes and climate, they can make better recommendations.
Gresham Roofing and Construction has been providing professional exterior services to local residents since 1968. To get a free roof estimate or schedule a consultation, call us at (503) 205-9477 or fill out this form. Talk to us today!
