Introduction
When you come to the decision to build a deck, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration. The soil, the terrain, the design, the materials, and of course, the deck foundation. To decide properly, these factors need to be considered individually, as well as combined. You cannot design a deck which isn’t suitable for your terrain. And whilst having poor soil conditions, you cannot choose the foundation that increases the risk of your deck collapsing right in front of your eyes.
There are quite a few types of deck foundations, varying from the price, installation time, and work required. Each has its benefits and its downfalls, but at the end of the day, it all depends on your deck design, deck weight load, and location. Thinking of having a nice jacuzzi, powerful grill, and large sitting area on your deck? Then you need to start thinking of the strongest foundations out there. Do you experience heavy wind gusts in your area? The deeper you go, the better. Different types of deck foundations are suited for different circumstances, some more than the other, and we are going to ‘dig deep’ into them.
Poured Concrete Foundation
This foundation is one of the most popular ways for builders out there. It is strong, it is stable and provides the support for bigger decks. Its benefits continue mostly in the matter of safety, as it includes protection from water damage, fire, or abnormal shifts of the ground. It is also a good solution when you are a jacuzzi lover, building a large deck with some exceptionally heavy loads with larger water movement.
However, you need to be ready for some hard work. First, a hole needs to be dug out to a sufficient depth, in some cases going below the frost line. After that, the concrete is poured in, the bracket placed in the concrete pile, the concrete needs to dry and then the deck is attached to the concrete pillar. It can be one very time consuming and labour-intensive process which possibly requires building permits. Concrete foundations are also called ‘static’ foundations, which come with risks in frost periods, when the concrete can be pushed upwards.
This foundation is one of the most popular ways for builders out there. It is strong, it is stable and provides the support for bigger decks. Its benefits continue mostly in the matter of safety, as it includes protection from water damage, fire, or abnormal shifts of the ground. It is also a good solution when you are a jacuzzi lover, building a large deck with some exceptionally heavy loads with larger water movement.
However, you need to be ready for some hard work. First, a hole needs to be dug out to a sufficient depth, in some cases going below the frost line. After that, the concrete is poured in, the bracket placed in the concrete pile, the concrete needs to dry and then the deck is attached to the concrete pillar. It can be one very time consuming and labour-intensive process which possibly requires building permits. Concrete foundations are also called ‘static’ foundations, which come with risks in frost periods, when the concrete can be pushed upwards.
Pros
- A very strong and reliable solution
- Permanent and stable foundation
- Considerably cheap
Cons
- Expensive and hard labour work
- Time consuming process
- Waiting time for the concrete to dry
- Not suitable for poor soil capacity
Pros
A very strong and reliable solution
Permanent and stable foundation
Considerably cheap
Cons
Expensive and hard labour work
Time consuming process
Waiting time for the concrete to dry
Not suitable for poor soil capacity
Buried Wooden Post Foundation
A foundation constructed from wooden post buried in the ground is a strong solution which comes off as a little bit less labour-intensive than pure concrete foundations. It can be used for both low and raised decks but is mostly more beneficial for raised decks. Usual process starts with digging a hole below the frost line and pouring in the concrete, to which a wooden post is attached. The post extends above the ground and the space around the post is backfilled with gravel or concrete.
This type of foundation is still hard work because of the need for a hole, which extends the costs and the time spent on it. The concrete in the ground works like a sponge which creates high humidity and causes the wood to rot unless you give the posts extra coats of protection. That is why wooden posts may not be as long-lasting as other solutions. Because concrete takes time to dry, some people skip the step of pouring concrete and only fill the space with strongly compressed gravel. This will prevent the moisture to set around the post more than if concrete was around.
When it comes to the cost of this foundation, there is little amount of material needed. You still need the concrete, but a smaller number of cement bags are required.
A foundation constructed from wooden post buried in the ground is a strong solution which comes off as a little bit less labour-intensive than pure concrete foundations. It can be used for both low and raised decks but is mostly more beneficial for raised decks. Usual process starts with digging a hole below the frost line and pouring in the concrete, to which a wooden post is attached. The post extends above the ground and the space around the post is backfilled with gravel or concrete.
This type of foundation is still hard work because of the need for a hole, which extends the costs and the time spent on it. The concrete in the ground works like a sponge which creates high humidity and causes the wood to rot unless you give the posts extra coats of protection. That is why wooden posts may not be as long-lasting as other solutions. Because concrete takes time to dry, some people skip the step of pouring concrete and only fill the space with strongly compressed gravel. This will prevent the moisture to set around the post more than if concrete was around.
Pros
Permanent and stable
Low material costs
Cons
Labour-intensive
Expensive labour power
Concrete drying time
Pros
- Permanent and stable
- Low material costs
Cons
- Labour-intensive
- Expensive labour power
- Concrete drying time
Pre-made Concrete Foundation
Pre-formed concrete pillars are the less messy, upgraded version of poured concrete foundations, providing some extra benefits to it. It has the same strength, which makes it as permanent and stable, but what more, there is no drying time of the concrete. It saves time, some labour work, and those sweaty drops on your forehead while considering if you got the concrete mixture right. So why is poured concrete still the preferred option?
Well, because even this foundation is not without its faults. First of which is, you still must dig a deep hole, same as for the poured concrete. The pillars are quite heavy to place and level in the holes just as your loading, unloading, and getting them to the building site can be a back breaker. And lastly, transportation and the material itself can climb to a ridiculously high cost.
Pros
- No mess
- No concrete drying time
- Strong and permanent solution
Cons
- More expensive solution than poured concrete
- Not suitable for soil with reduced carrying capacity (as they are not deep enough to reach supporting soil if deeper than 70-80 cm
- Heavy loading and transportation
- Still labour intensive (soil excavation)
Pros
No mess
No concrete drying time
Strong and permanent solution
Cons
More expensive solution than poured concrete
Not suitable for soil with reduced carrying capacity (as they are not deep enough to reach supporting soil if deeper than 70-80 cm)
Heavy loading and transportation
Still labor intensive (soil excavation)
Screw Pile Foundation
Screw piles are made from an entirely different material than the other solutions – hot dip galvanized steel. These can be screwed into the ground even below the frost line, but that mostly depends on the length of the piles. Screw piles of smaller sizes, perfectly suitable for decks, can be installed manually by any individual using the right tool- a handheld impact wrench at hand.
The installation is quiet, there is no drying time, no digging, and it is by far the fastest way to build a deck foundation. This type of footing is considered to be one of the revolutionaries among foundations.
The installation is quiet, there is no drying time, no digging, and it is by far the fastest way to build a deck foundation. This type of footing is considered to be one of the revolutionaries among foundations.
Since they are made from steel, many worry about its permanence and risk of corrosion, but there is absolutely no need. Hot dip galvanized screw piles will long outlive the wooden construction. But if you are installing screw piles in previous farmland soil or in coastal areas with a higher salt content combined with high ground water level, you might want to have your screw piles duplex–treated to prolong their lifetime.
And as we have already mentioned, as an individual who is set to install screw piles themselves, you need to rent the proper equipment first, but the cost of renting it is minimal compared to the time and labour cost saved. Additionally, screw piles are, material-wise, one of the more expensive solutions out there, ranging around £30 per piece and up. However, the price is made up for the time and hard work saved. At the end of the day, this is the perfect solution for those who value the time above anything else.
Pros
- Easy and quiet to install
- No heavy labour work needed
- No drying time
- Installable during all seasons
Cons
- More expensive compared to other foundations
- Handheld impact wrench needed for installation
- Occasional soil testing required
Pros
Easy and quiet to install
No heavy labor work needed
No drying time
All seasons installable
Cons
More expensive compared to other foundations
You need access to a handheld impact wrench for installation
Occasionally soil testing required
TIP FOR TODAY
Are your customers not keen on the idea to
build during winter?
Here is a few benefits that might convince them:
- The lawn is less sensitive during winer than in the soggy month of March
- Flowers buds aren’t peaking out their heads with the risk of getting trampled yet
- The more calm demand for materials and manpower means process is less likely to be delay
So, which one?
The concept of everything long-lasting depends on a strong foundation. This applies to decks as well. When building a deck, combining it with the local conditions, perfect design and your budget, might just make it all worth it. It is all about what you need, but also what you must avoid. The question is: What is your budget? How much time are you willing to spend? How fast do you want the project to be completed? How much hard work are you able to handle? How much mess can you deal with?
What kind of foundations do you have at home? Or are you planning on starting a deck project in a near future? What foundation speaks to your requirements the most?
GroundPlug® TwisterTM Foundations
We at GroundPlug® Easy Mounting SystemTM provide engineered screw pile foundations for residential use. The GroundPlug® Easy Mounting SystemTM is a no-dig, no-pour, screw pile footing solution, designed to make the foundation process much faster and more efficient.
FREE ENGINEERING SERVICE
Are you set on building a deck? Are you thinking of choosing a screw pile footing for your project? Foundation installation for decks has never been so easy. Just fill in the form and we will pre-calculate your foundations needs and send you a quote within 24-48 hours. Offer accepted? We’ll draw up your plan sketch and ship out your screw piles directly to the building site, your home or your office.
