Footings installation for Decks

[SteveR]

Hi all,

I'm looking for some infromation on buildng a deck this summer. I'm leaning towards using the helical pile system but got my first quote back and kind of got sticker shock... My preferred company would probably be Techno-Metal Post however I have email about 5 companies for quote requests. The first quote I've received was for 19 posts, 7 ft in length for an approximate price of $5025+HST. This would include the Engineering review as well which is a cost of $250. I'm not sure what the cost of sonotubes would cost but I'm guessing not this much. Has anyone used Helical Piles for anything they have done? If so which company and how much did it cost?

Another option is to do it myself. Has anyone used this one from Lowes? - https://www.lowes.ca/deck-adapters/p..._g2668711.html


Thanks for any info.

[good2know]

That's a crazy price. I have used these:

https://www.lowes.ca/deck-adapters/p..._g2396648.html

Preparation requires digging a 18 inch deep hole, fill that with clear stone, pack it down, set each support on a 8 x 8 inch interlock block.

Can you post a sketch of the deck plan?

[Halton Home Inspector]

Why not consider normal post holes with pressure treated 6 x 6's. Cost would be significantly less.

[lex_rx]

Cost from vendors should also be dependent on soil conditions. In my part of Kanata, it's hard digging through rocks.

[SteveR]

Originally Posted by lex_rx

Cost from vendors should also be dependent on soil conditions. In my part of Kanata, it's hard digging through rocks.

I'm in Kanata as well. Bridlewood area. It is pretty rocky I guess so maybe harder digging. I got a 2nd quote back and it was for $9,000. Makes the first one look pretty good. Oddly enough one quote stated I needed 19 piles. The 2nd stated i needed 30 piles. Not sure what to believe. 30 piles was the $9,000 quote.

[SteveR]

Originally Posted by Halton Home Inspector

Why not consider normal post holes with pressure treated 6 x 6's. Cost would be significantly less.

I'm obviously debating this but I like the ease of installation with the helical piles. Easier and faster to install and when down the line it's time to remove.. easier to do that as well.

[good2know]

Steve a caution - turning those piles in to stony ground is very difficult. Often requires hydraulics on a bobcat to turn them. Often that wont work depending on rock size and density.

If you could post a sketch, you could get some input on the number of posts/piles needed.

[SteveR]

That's a good point and something I've been thinking about. Apparently the ground in Bridlewood where I live is quite rocky. To be debated I guess. Maybe cheapest solution is to get someone to come and install some sonotubes with cement.