how to set deck posts

General Off Topic
1

deck posts- the typical 4x4 inch treated post that a deck sits on.
I need to replace one. under a beam
whats ok with the chase county building codes? what do most people do?

  1. dig hole, put gravel in bottom of hole, pack it down, and then place post, and side fill with dirt, cement, or gravel? If you do this will the post then “settle” over time into the gravel some, losing your support upwards?

  2. dig hole, pour some cement say 1/2 bag in bottom of hole for 4x4 to sit on, let it set up, Or put a cement paver block in bottom of the hole for post to sit on, then put post in hole.

  3. use all cement?

after setting the post how do you load up the post to get it tight with the existing beam above

2
  1. Set temporary post to take load off of post to be replaced.
  2. Remove damaged post.
  3. Clean out old post debris, and concrete from hole.
  4. Pour a small footing of concrete into hole, and let it set up.(putting a couple of bricks, or 1/2 of a solid cinder blocks in bottom of hole helps).
  5. Carefully measure from top of new footer to bottom of existing beam and cut new post.
  6. Install new post.
  7. Remove temporary post.
  8. Miller Time!
3

If the post is under a beam, then it’s obviously load bearing. That said, the important thing is to re-engage the load after you have set the new post. If you can slightly jack it up with a floor jack or bottle jack then you can let it back down to the same elevation after the new post is set, thus fully re-engaging the load.

Narcosis

4

Code for the footer is 12"x12"x12" with some sort of strapping/post base for uplift.