Trevor Wegner’s Post

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Deck Builder/Owner at TW Craftsmen

I see many don’ts in the decking world…. But one of the most common I run into is improper footing height. Most deck footings are put in on new houses at the same time other concrete work is being done. Contractors will generally dig their footings and pour their concrete to the height of the existing grade. But it’s important to note that at this point on a new home final grade has not been completed. It’s all too common that when final grade and landscaping do get completed those footings are now several inches into the soil where the deck posts attached to them are now constantly exposed to moisture and over time will rot. If you have a deck don’t be afraid to pull your landscaping rock back and see how far your deck post is sitting in wet soils. Don’t be surprised if you find your deck posts aren’t even connected to the footing anymore. Over time this can lead to decks sagging as they continue to settle and have a very real potential for collapsing someday if the posts rot enough. There are solutions to this however. - The #1 best solution is to have your deck built with steel framing. This is the strongest and longest lasting material for your deck framing and will give you a lifetime of enjoyment of your deck without the worry of your deck posts rotting. - If steel is not in cards for you consider making sure your builder/contractor is putting your deck footings in tall enough that your posts will not down be in the ground where they can rot, but rather will be high and dry. Decks don’t have to be replaced every 10 years and continue to cost you money. They just have to be built right.

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