Can you build a deck with pier blocks?

The average do-it-yourself homeowner with minimal carpentry skills can easily create a good-looking, functional deck in a day’s work. A 12-by-8 foot freestanding deck requires no sawing or hammering with a simple ladder frame and pier blocks. Lay out the concrete pier blocks into six columns and three rows.

How far apart should pier blocks be for a deck?

The blocks should be spaced to make a 7′ x 19′ rectangle, leaving about 6 inches from each block for deck boards to add another 8′ x 20′ rectangle. Using a string level or laser level, make sure each block is level.

How much weight can a pier block hold?

A single 8” x 16” concrete block can carry 8,000 lbs. Don’t go over 36′′ high. The single blocks that can be used for your pier can easily carry 5,500 lbs. They limit a dry stack, single block pier to 5,760 lbs.

When should you not use deck blocks?

Deck blocks are a good idea for low decks, decks around trees, areas with low frost levels and economical decks. It is a bad idea to use deck blocks when attaching the deck to the house, on stable ground or supporting elevated decks, pergolas or a roof.

How far can a 2×6 span without support?

2-grade 2×6 joists can span up to 10 feet 9 inches from beam to beam when spaced the standard 16 inches apart with a maximum live load of 30 inches per square foot. In comparison, No. -1 grade lumber can span slightly further to 10 feet 11 inches under the same parameters.

How much weight can a 12 concrete pier hold?

So, your pier can be constructed with single blocks that can easily carry the 5,500 lbs. So for every square foot of footing, it can hold up 3,000 lbs.

How much does it cost to build a 12×12 floating deck?

A 12 x12 deck can range in cost from $2 200 to $13 000, but the average will be $6 000. Costing $40 a square foot but can be as little as $15 or as high as $85, depending on the deck’s features. A pressure treated deck is the most economical, with composite being the more expansive option.

Can I build a deck without digging holes?

Yes. It’s possible to build a deck without digging holes. This type of deck is called a floating deck, and it sits right on top of the ground without any posts or support areas that you’d dig down into the ground [to secure].

What is a deck block?

What are Deck Blocks. Deck blocks are a preformed mass of concrete with formations in the top sized to hold lumber for vertical posts or beams to support a structure.

What is a pier block?

Pier Blocks are sometimes called Deck Blocks. They have a redwood square block cast in 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ thick.

What is brick pier?

Brick piers are vertical structures that typically act as supports for walls that they are built into, or for construction built on top of them. Historically, these were widely used, in some locales, as foundations for houses.