Anyone have a cheap substitute for Sonotube concrete forms?

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

How big is the deck and are you going to ever add a porch or something on top of it later? How deep are you going to dig your footers?

Don’t set your post in the concrete and have the top of the footerat a slight angle, so it sheds water.

Why not? a slight dome would seem beneficial to me.

[look 171]

I was under the impression that this deck would be huge, on the hill side or something with 16" Sonotube. Maybe I am reading this wrong, but this is only about 12" above grade? Down here, any deck udner 30" does not require permits. Unless its attached to the house then maybe, just maybe a permit is required. If it has a roof, then a permit is needed.

Just dig a bunch of sq holes about 16x16 deep, fill with concrete and install a concrete pier with metal clips for 4x. If too tall, sink the pier a little more into the concrete so the posts can be attached. If not, just drop the 4x on it sideways onto the clips. This is more difficult to do because everything must be perfectly level. No sonotube or anything fancy is needed. All are covered by the deck. My biggest complain about a deck like its is weed control. Black plastic, or any type of weed barrier and put gravel on top to keep it from moving. It aint going nowhere.

[VINMAN]

Here in NJ, deck footings hvevto be 36" min depth some towns tequire 42"". Footing diameter is usually 16" for your average deck.

When I use sonotubes, I cut a 4 footer into 3 pieces and use it for the top 3rd of the footings.

There is also a bag, "sonotube" basically a long sock that is filled with concrete .


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[javadog]

Spread footings can be used in lieu of piers, as mentioned above. Might be easier.

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Why not? a slight dome would seem beneficial to me.

Maybe I wasn’t clear… it should shed water

[look 171]

He's up in Fresno, there aint any water to be had

Yeah, slope or dome the top.

[look 171]

Tidy, don't over think it. Its a very low deck with little weight, a small pad will hold up that deck just fine for a very long time. Save your money on the Sonotube. No form needed