Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - deck on grade
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macpfist
05-31-04, 01:17 PM
Help please! I'm building a 300 square foot deck at grade level and need to know how deep I need to excavate and how much aggregate to use. I'm thinking of using railway ties. Any suggestions/info would be much appreciated!
lefty
06-03-04, 12:07 AM
macpfist --
Welcome. You're not being ignored -- your post got interupted by a phone call and life hasn't settled down yet!
There are lots of ways to build a deck that is at grade level. Railroad ties is one of them. It's not one I would or could do -- the creosote would have put my Dad in the hospital and I probably wouldn't be far behind!! DekBlocks are concrete cubes that can be buried as deep as need be and have a formed top that allows you to use either a 2X joist or a post at each one. Not only are they chemical free, there's only about 1/10th the digging involved!!
Aggregate where?? Do you have to be concerned about frost?? If so, ask you local bldg. dept. how deep your footings need to be. If you don't get the footings below the frost line, the deck WILL heave.
Welcome. You're not being ignored -- your post got interupted by a phone call and life hasn't settled down yet!
There are lots of ways to build a deck that is at grade level. Railroad ties is one of them. It's not one I would or could do -- the creosote would have put my Dad in the hospital and I probably wouldn't be far behind!! DekBlocks are concrete cubes that can be buried as deep as need be and have a formed top that allows you to use either a 2X joist or a post at each one. Not only are they chemical free, there's only about 1/10th the digging involved!!
Aggregate where?? Do you have to be concerned about frost?? If so, ask you local bldg. dept. how deep your footings need to be. If you don't get the footings below the frost line, the deck WILL heave.