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Plans for the Multi-Level Backyard Deck

Bob comes out the back door of the new addition to the back yard that is currently four feet down from the entry. The new deck will be quite extensive, with various sections that read into one another and onto the sloping back and side yards. Bob reviews the plans that show an extensive deck section at one level, with long stairs cut into the grade in one direction and deck sections that step down to the side yard in the other direction. Tim Berky, the general contractor, is on site to dig the holes for The Footing Tube PVC forms that create the deck footing and pier in one concrete pour. Each costs about $40 and provides a flared design that combats frost heaving when set below the frost line. Berky will pour the concrete to grade so that no concrete will show above it. He will use structural lumber above the grade and face it to hide the lumber. The Footing Tube forms are capped to prevent accidents until the footings are ready to pour. Once they areset in place and backfilled, the concrete is transported to the deck area and shoveled into the forms to set the deck footings and piers.

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Clip Transcript For:

Plans for the Multi-Level Backyard Deck

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" OK now building the backyard deck on this house is a pretty complicated project as you can see were about. Four feet above the existing grade of the lot right here and the grade slopes in that direction. And the idea is not just to build a little square deck here but something. Quite a bit more elaborate that involves different levels and that really. Flows in that direction to kind of engage with that little gazebo that's already here because they don't want to do away with that I've got -- a sketch of it over here. On the tailgate. And I just basically walked out of the house right here this this whole area of our drawing is the house and this is the kitchen that we're remodeling. This whole area in here. So we've got French doors ago -- it. To this area I just walked out here into what will be that platform but you can see that there's steps involved all over the place. And then one very large section of decking at one level. And then a couple of wooden steps to a grass platform and couple more back into into the side yard. It's gonna take several weeks to get it all underway and today we're starting with the underpinnings if you will putting in the footings that will be. Down to 44 feet below grade so that they don't frost but let's take a look on the other side. All right so Tim we've got you on all details today. The deck construction in any cold climate involves digging supports. Piers they're usually called. And going down to about four feet below the grade so that you're below the frost line in which trying to avoid is having winter freezing. Soils heave the pilings up out of the ground and that would. Force your deck out of level. In the past we've often used cardboard circular forms for for the tears and what we've got here are a new."

" It's a new product that's Canadian that it combines that the best footing we normally have to have a pad of concrete. All in one so you can pour a monolithic. Footing and column all at once now these are made out of PVC that's totally recycled so I guess what we're looking at is old bottles. And they're about 4041 dollars apiece. And I think it's a very interesting shape that they've given to it because from the point of view of what is going to be underground it flares out it's wider at the bottom than it is at the top and that in and of itself will help you prevent -- you also got it. Marked so that you can calculate your dimensions but. -- how are you coming up high with these when you pour them full of concrete. I'm gonna actually pour mine right to grade level that way I don't see any concrete when it's finished. OK because sometimes lots of these decks get built with the the concrete columns coming all the way up to wherever the deck surfaces and you either see the concrete or you kind of mask it with. Latticework or something right when once again I prefer not to see any concrete because that way they structural wood that's going up. Allows us to be able to attach to that in any fashion we want exactly and you used your little machine to dig these holes that's correct and you're down what about four feet four and a half of four feet. Okay so you ready to -- one of these guys in."

" They weigh nothing."

" The footing to and so. Now it comes with them. The top capped off like that it's a safety top that way you know have to worry about somebody falling in on the job site while you're waiting for concrete yeah. Then you went when the country can you just cut it open we cut it at whatever line we want. Okay everything is marked by inches on the tube 36 to five feet OK. And so I guess the next thing to do is to and backfill it backfill it OK great."

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