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Dek-Block® Piers vs. Footings

There are several major differences between a Floating Foundation Deck System and Conventional Deck construction. If you're considering building an unattached deck between 13 inches and 5 ft. in height, a Floating Foundation Deck has several major advantages.

The two systems should never be mixed. For instance, you wouldn't use conventional frost footing with a floating deck and you wouldn't use Dek-Block® piers with a deck that has frost footings or is attached to the house.

Floating Foundation Deck Systems

Conventional Deck Construction

Deck is not attached to home.

Deck must be lag-bolted to home.

Weight is evenly distributed across the ground surface.

Weight is concentrated on a few specific points.

Build an entire deck using only standard 2"x6" and 4"x4" lumber.

Requires many types of lumber with hard to find sizes.

Dek-Block® piers eliminate the costly substructure.

The substructure of heavy double header beams is costly.

2"x6" deck support boards are supported directly by piers or 4"x4" posts.

Each footing must be set in a deep, cement-filled hole, which is usually labor intensive.

No drilling or complicated hardware is needed.

Drills and metal brackets are required.

Why are there so many Dek-Block® piers?

The piers are designed to ensure that the weight of the deck is evenly distributed onto the ground, hence the number of piers. In order to meet national building code requirements, you must follow our recommend spacing requirements or follow the plans provided on our website.

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6. Dek-Block® Piers.
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© 2008 DekBrands. The content and plans provided on this site are for consumer use only. They may not be reproduced, copied or disseminated, except for consumer construction, without the written permission of DEKBRANDS. DEKBRANDS and Dek-Block are trademarks of Proshop Plans Co., Inc. Patent No. 5,392,575, 5,953,874, 6,324,801B1, 6,446,403B2, 6,550,201B2, and 6,609,346 Pat. Pend/App. Pend. Manufactured under license.