Deck foundation

[Swimgirl]

What should be the foundation for the deck supporting posts to rest on? Should I use concrete blocks? I don't want our deck posts to sink in the first rain!
Our ground is fairly firm, btw. A hard rain can make it a bit mushy, though.

[JohnT]

Where do you live? Winter weather is important when planning a foundation.

[Poolidiot]

Dek Blocks

[Swimgirl]

AZ - in the middle of the desert. Go months without rain, then it can rain buckets during the monsoon in the mid-summer. No bad frost, but we do get some below freezing nights in mid-winter, usually no colder than upper 20's, and once in a very great while (like once every 10 years or so), snow.

I saw dek blocks on the net. That good, huh?

[MikeInTN]

Check with your local codes department first, if you have one for the middle of the desert.

I was thinking of using dekblocks too, but was told by our local codes folks that under no circumstances would they accept it. The requirements here are 16"x16"x12" concrete footers.. I just hope I never have to dig them back up.

(If I haven't mentioned it, the codes people here are very anal - they wouldn't let me install the electrical feed for the pool - said I had to have a licensed electrician do it. Doesn't matter that I have a BS in Electrical Engineering...I don't have a license... )

[Poolidiot]

I saw dek blocks on the net. That good, huh?

Well My deck is built with the deck blocks, I have had mine since 2003, and have had NO problems at all

[lartay]

usually you only have to pour footings to a depth below the frost line to prevent "heaving." So I do not think you have that problem in a warm climate.

[crabboy]

The requirements here are 16"x16"x12" concrete footers..

That's one **** of a footer for a foot traffic deck.

Once great advantage of having an AGP is it's not permanent,so why should your deck be? I'd say blocks. I have no plans on moving my pool or deck for as long as I live here so I used Sonotubes buried at least 2' down.