Built new ICF home in Sudbury, Ontario. Regrettably, plans did not included footing for stairs base now being done. Plan is to build 7 foot wide, total rise 35″ wood stairs, rails, etc leading up to completed covered verranda.
Ground is 100% clay.
Looking for how to advice.
Thanks
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A lot of jurisdictions do not require a frost footing at base of stairs and allow them to float with the slab. I’m not a fan of this, but many do it this way and the stairs do not collapse. I’m sure in Canada you have some crazy freeze thaw cycles, so it may be more problematic and against your local code to install w/out a frost footing. You can dig post holes at frost depth at each stringer and have the stringers rest on those. If you are hoping to minimize digging, you can dig post holes on the side stringers only and have a beam installed between them to carry weight of all the stringers. Just make sure the beam isn’t resting directly on earth or might lift when ground freezes. If you want to get away from any digging you might be able to use screw piles. You will need to check with local code authority if they are allowed, but it could be a good solution.
Thanks for reply. Frost is big issue up here. Screw piles is an alternative but very expensive.
I think I will need dig down to frost level as I did with ICF footing and do footings. I expect will then need put cement block duly anchored to ICF basement concrete and fill cavity with gravel then backfill outer perimeter AND THEN I can build steps on that base. Make sense?