The Essentials of Deck Footing Installations

A good deck roof or overhead is perfect for providing shade, but there must be something to support all that weight. This is where properly-installed deck footing comes into play. There’s more to deck footing installation than just digging a hole and sticking a pillar of wood in the ground.

Two Types of Loads

What people tend to forget is that the deck footing supports two kinds of loads. The first one is known as “dead load”, which consists of the weight of the deck itself. The “live load” refers to the total weight of objects and people on the deck surface. Because of this, the deck footing must be able to hold up the weight of the entire deck PLUS the total weight of what you expect will be put on the deck when it’s done.

The Soil Consistency

The soil itself will have a big effect on how much load two identical deck footings can bear. The looser the soil is, the less load it can bear. Exterior contractors will make sure that your deck footing is installed with local building codes in mind (optimized for the area’s soil consistency) to prevent serious problems, such as sinking or soil movement.

The Climate

Local climate has a significant effect on the soil’s consistency. In areas with very cold winters and hot summers, thermal expansion and contraction can cause the soil to be more loose than compact. This could cause soil movement, which could cause poorly-installed deck footing to shift drastically, causing structural damage.

Slopes or Uneven Terrain

Installing deck footing for a deck or overhang over uneven terrain requires careful planning. Since aside from having to meet local building codes, there’s the extra need to have at least seven feet of soil between the bottom of each deck footing and the face of the slope. Because of this, deck footing installation is best left to certified exterior companies.

Have your deck roof or overhang supported by properly-installed deck footing. GO Construction Services, LLC is the leading exterior and roofing company in the area. You can call us at (717) 854-1573 or fill out this contact form to request a quote.