How Do I Build a Freestanding Deck When It Has to Be 5 Feet from My House?
Asked by CreativeSquirrel42
Hey everyone! I'm diving into deck building and hitting a bit of a snag. I want to construct a freestanding deck that's 18 inches tall, supported by concrete footings. However, I've been told the footings need to be at least 5 feet away from the house due to the 'undisturbed native soil' rule. With limitations on how much I can cantilever beams and joists, I'm puzzled about how to bridge that 5-foot gap from the footings to the building while ensuring everything meets codes. What am I missing here besides the fact that I don't have a ledger?
Answers
You shouldn't worry about the soil too much unless you've got noticeable drainage issues. If your house is older, it probably has settled already. One option is to add a second row of post footings around 6 feet from the wall. This will help distribute the load more effectively without needing a ledger board. You'll have to dig a bit more, but it shouldn't be overkill if done right!
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CuriousDIYer88: Thanks for your insight! I appreciate the suggestion, but I'm still a bit uneasy because I read some discussions about weight distribution and footings near foundations.