Replies

1. 
   JDRHI | May 12, 2009 09:28pm | #1

   6 holes, 4' deep....that's two 12' lengths of sonotube cut to 42". What are you trying to avoid?

   J. D. Reynolds

   Home Improvements

    

    

    

   
   

1. 
   cameraman | May 12, 2009 09:33pm | #2

   Trying to advoid nothing. Just thinking that just filling the hole with cement would give me a better footing that a sonotube and then back filling around the tube.

   I realize that with no tube would cost more because of more cement to use.

   I am asking which way would give me the best end results????

1. 
   JDRHI | May 12, 2009 10:00pm | #6

   Aaaahhhh....I gotcha now.

   Really doubt there's any benefit either way, although I would imagine that using a sonotube (or any form for that matter) would just help ensure your pier is nice and straight for when you center your supports atop.

   That, and as you mentioned, the excess see-ment that would be required to fill a hole without a form.

   J. D. Reynolds

   Home Improvements

    

    

    

2. 
   DaveRicheson | May 12, 2009 09:34pm | #3

   Agree with that.

   Now what's this mean?

   Keeping in mind that I am in a heavy freeze area and I would want more of a rough surface for the frost to grab onto and push up.

   He wants the piers to get pushed up?

1. 
   cameraman | May 12, 2009 09:40pm | #4

   Sorry, Typo, I wouldn't want a rougher surface for the frost to grab and heave.

   I was told if I could bell out the bottom of the hole it would act as a big foot type of tube. I initially planed on using a tube the full length but a deck builder guy recommended not to??????????

2. 
   MikeSmith | May 12, 2009 09:43pm | #5

   camera

   i  like  to  dig  a hole  below  frost  depth,  mix  one  bag  of  quickcrete   and  place  it  in  the  bottom  of  the  hole

   tamp  the  top  of  the  footing  smooth

   next  day  set my  ground  contact  posts  on  the  footing,  square  the  frame,  plumb  the  posts ,  then  backfill

   no  sono tubesMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

1. 
   cameraman | May 12, 2009 10:06pm | #7

   Mr. Mike,

   That's pretty much what I have done on other decks that I have built. And fill with a crushed  compacted stone. But now I plan on building a roof, later, and that roof will be attached to the house.

   I don't want to run into problems down the road.

   I am not looking for the cheep way or the ez way, just opinions like yours on a tried & true methiod.

    

   Thanks

1. 
   gfretwell | May 12, 2009 10:23pm | #8

   As a guy who looks at uplift as much as download I would say to be sure to use a stick or 2 of rebar in the pier. That is particularly true if you have a cold joint in there.
   I think I would pour the bottom foot or so, set the Sonotube on top of that and level them all (pushing it down in the mud to get them even), Backfill a little to keep it in place. stick in the rebar and pour the rest. With a couple of people this should go fast.Just be sure you get the right end of the tube up ;-)
   (one end peels easier)

2. 
   cameraman | May 12, 2009 10:30pm | #9

   Just be sure you get the right end of the tube up ;-)(one end peels easier)

    

   I didn't know that!!!!!!

   Is that the reason you always eat a bananna from the top to the bottom.

3. 
   gfretwell | May 12, 2009 10:36pm | #10

   My mason told me about it.

4. 
   mike4244 | May 13, 2009 01:27am | #12

   "just get the right end of the tube up".This got me laughing and brought back memories.Having set and stripped a number of sonotubes in my day I told another carpenter about the same thing you said. This moron told me he knew what he was doing and it did not matter which side was up. I told him that I would strip the ones I set, he would strip his. We had a bet, I gave him a one hour lead  to strip the sonotubes. The loser had to buy lunch for a week.

   Guess who ate lunch free for a week. I enjoyed watching him struggle unwrapping the tube from the bottom to the top,especially on the 15'-0" foot ones.

   mike

5. 
   MikeSmith | May 12, 2009 11:09pm | #11

   if  you're  concerned  about  longevity,  spec  a .60  PT  instead  of  a .40

   no reason  the  PT  shouldn't  last  a  lifetime

    Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

2. 
   brownbagg | May 13, 2009 03:58am | #13

   yes, we do it all the time