How to Stop a Deck From Heaving

Frost heave is a condition that occurs during winter when moisture in soil freezes and compresses against objects embedded in the soil, such as deck footings. As the water freezes, the soil pushes upward on the footings, causing them to rise and push the deck upward as well. The solution is to dig footing holes below the soil's frost line. The frost line varies by location. This task requires bracing the deck and extensive digging, but it prevents frost from completely uprooting the deck.

Power drill
Hydraulic jacks
Shovel
Safety glasses
Work gloves
Sledge hammer
Tape measure
Footing base form
Carpenter’s level
Concrete mix
Wheelbarrow
6-inch long rebar
Galvanized metal post support brackets

Instructions

- 1
  Examine the base of all the deck footings, which look like square or round posts that probably are wood. Determine whether or not anchor bolts are located at the base of any posts; if they are, remove them using a power drill. Set the anchor bolts aside because you will reinstall them later.
- 2
  Insert hydraulic jacks under the deck, placing one jack at each of the four corners and under the deck's center if you can reach it easily. Raise the jacks until they completely support the deck's weight.
- 3
  Dig beside one footing until you see the concrete portion at its base. Continue digging until you locate the bottom of the concrete portion.
- 4
  Put on safety glasses and work gloves, and demolish the footing's concrete portion by striking it repeatedly with a sledge hammer. Remove all of the concrete pieces from the footing's hole, and discard them.
- 5
  Measure the current depth of the footing's hole. Refer to your location's building codes to determine your area's frost line. Extend the depth of the hole until it is 6 inches deeper than that frost line.
- 6
  Insert a footing base form into the bottom of the hole, and ensure it is level on top by using a carpenter’s level. Pack soil around the footing base form but not inside the top circular hole.
- 7
  Pour concrete mix into a wheelbarrow, and mix it with water using the amount specified by the concrete mix's package instructions. Shovel the prepared concrete into the top hole of the footing base form until it reaches the top of the base form's hole.
- 8
  Insert two 6-inch long pieces of rebar into the top of the footing base form that is filled with wet concrete. The rebar will add support. Press two galvanized metal post support brackets into the top of the wet concrete in the footing base form. Wait 24 hours.
- 9
  Secure the deck footing post to the galvanized metal post support brackets using the anchor bolts you removed earlier. Back-fill the footing hole completely with soil.
- 10
  Repeat Steps 3 through 9 on each remaining footing post. Remove the hydraulic jacks after repairing all footings.

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