Serious question, is everyone just overcomplicating deck footings?

Honestly, I was at the lumber yard in Franklin last week and overheard a guy telling his buddy he was renting a two-man auger and buying those plastic tube forms for a simple 10x12 deck. Tbh, for a ground-level deck like that, I've set over two dozen just using solid concrete blocks on packed gravel. It passed inspection every time and saved me a full day of work and about $150 in rental fees. Has anyone else had an inspector okay a simpler method when the plans called for something more complex?

3 comments

3 Comments

matthew_lee422mo ago

Franklin lumber yard guy is renting an auger for a 10x12 deck?

shanewells1mo ago

Renting that auger is a no brainer for a deck that size, matthew_lee42. The soil around here has more rocks than a quarry, and hitting one by hand will stop you cold. The rental cost is cheaper than a single visit to the chiropractor. Just make sure you have a friend to help manage the torque, those things have a mind of their own.

palmer.zara2mo ago

Absolutely go for it, matthew_lee42. I tried to dig all my post holes by hand for a 10x8 last year and it was a huge mistake. My back was wrecked for a week and the holes were all crooked. Renting that auger for like forty bucks was the best choice I made on the whole project. It took maybe an hour to get all the holes done perfectly straight and deep. You'll save so much time and pain.

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