![]() Deck blocks placed on sandy or gravel-like soils work best. Here’s a good explanation video showing how to use deck blocks to give you an idea of how these are used.Īll things being equal, deck blocks are safe. There must be a minimum of 12 inches below the local frost depth.They must have a sufficient bearing area (the area of the block sitting on the earth).The blocks have a low bearing area, so you must take care when selecting the dimensions of beams and joists to be used with the blocks.īuilding codes recognize deck block foundations thus, they get subjected to the same requirements as typical deck footings. There might be some concerns about their load-bearing capacity in moderate wind areas, but if a lateral restraint is applied at the base of the post, there is no cause for concern. Concrete footings will support greater loads than deck blocks due to the increased mass and wider bearing area.įor simple low or ground-level decks, deck blocks are your ideal bets for foundations, as with simple tools and some skill with working wood, you can build a simple floating deck using deck blocks.ĭeck blocks are readily available in many home and garden stores they are relatively cheaper to use and are best for low or ground-level decks requiring small framing materials. ![]() On the other hand, the cost of in-situ concrete and the associated cost of soil excavation makes concrete footing the more expensive option. Deck blocks are fairly cheap and do not require much labor to install. Also, concrete footings require considerable amounts of soil to be excavated, whereas minimal digging is required to install deck blocks. Deck blocks are much quicker to install than concrete footings, as they are preformed units. How Do Deck Blocks Compare to Concrete Footings and Piers?Ĭoncrete footings and piers are popular options for deck foundations, and you may want to know how deck blocks compare to these.Īccordingly, the two will be compared under the following:
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