Yep, that’s a hole. It’s also one of the most important parts of the whole deck.
Every deck we build starts with its foundation, and on most decks that means piers: concrete footings set into holes like this one. Each pier carries its share of the deck’s weight, plus the furniture and everyone standing on it, down into the ground.
Code says a pier like this has to be at least 14 inches wide and 36 inches deep. We dug this one 18 inches wide and 36 inches deep.
Why go bigger than the minimum? It all comes down to how the weight is spread out. If the piers aren’t sized for the deck they’re holding up, the deck can start to sag. And since most decks are attached to the house, a sagging deck can end up damaging the house too.
Footings are also the part of a deck you never see again once it’s built. That’s exactly why we don’t cut corners on them. We stay up to date on code and size every footing for the deck it’s carrying, so we go into every job without any concerns about what’s underneath.
Planning a new deck, or wondering what’s holding up the one you have? Give us a call at (816) 656-1874 or request a free quote.
