Evaluate Frost Footings and Foundation
At 2:21 in
How NOT To Build A Deck - Ultimate Guide On Every Mistake You Can Make
What happens here
Examine the deck's foundation for proper frost footings. The video shows inadequate footings, with a 4x4 post sitting directly on a 'crappy paver' and other posts resting on the ground or cinder blocks without proper embedment. In the video's area, frost footings should be 32 inches deep; the existing ones are only 8.5 inches deep, meaning they are 23.5 inches too shallow. This leads to shifting and instability as the ground freezes and thaws, causing the deck to fall down. Proper frost footings are essential to prevent structural failure due to ground movement.
Goal: Install proper frost footings and a stable foundation to prevent deck collapse due to freeze-thaw cycles.
Tools and materials
- 4x4 Post N/A — A common type of post used for deck support
- Cinder Blocks N/A — An inadequate foundation element shown in the video
- Deck Boards N/A — Used as shims in the improper construction
- Paver N/A — An inadequate foundation element shown in the video
- Tape Measure N/A — Measuring footing depth