Building and Construction - Dek blocks vrs. cement footings

Author

Dek blocks vrs. cement footings

Duke1973

2006-07-20, 9:25 am

I live in the Toronto, Canada area and am planning on building a deck
in the next few weeks. I have two co-workers who used dek blocks to
build their decks and also anchored the deck to their houses. They
swear by using the deck blocks and have had no issues with their decks
moving or any damage caused by the floating deck and the anchoring to
the house.

I am debating using the dek blocks vs. cement footings. Dek blocks
certainly do seem easier then cement footings. I am wondering if
anyone in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) has used dek blocks and
anchored their deck to the house and if it has caused any issues. I
don't know how much movement would occur from frost in the GTA.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

Duke1973

marson

2006-07-20, 1:25 pm

Duke1973 wrote:
> I live in the Toronto, Canada area and am planning on building a deck
> in the next few weeks. I have two co-workers who used dek blocks to
> build their decks and also anchored the deck to their houses. They
> swear by using the deck blocks and have had no issues with their decks
> moving or any damage caused by the floating deck and the anchoring to
> the house.
>
> I am debating using the dek blocks vs. cement footings. Dek blocks
> certainly do seem easier then cement footings. I am wondering if
> anyone in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) has used dek blocks and
> anchored their deck to the house and if it has caused any issues. I
> don't know how much movement would occur from frost in the GTA.
>
>
> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>
>
> thanks
>
>
> Duke1973

are you getting a building permit? where i live, anything attached to
the house needs to have frost footings.

if you are on very well drained soil, you will get away with putting a
deck on blocks. if not, your blocks will move over time. yeah, maybe
it will be alright for a year or two, but come back in ten years to
really judge.

mrsgator88

2006-07-21, 3:25 am

I used them for my shed, but when I build my deck I won't. I'm near
Chicago.

S

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