I know. I know. :huh:

My dad built a 3-level deck on the back of his house more than 25 years ago. I helped quite a bit. For the footers, he dug a hole about 12" in diameter and about 12" deep. He poured concrete several inches deep in the hole and let it dry. Then, he poured concrete into KFC buckets and imbedded the post anchors in that. Once those had dried, he sat them on top of the concrete in the holes, then he back filled around the part that came out of the bucket until about 4" were sticking from the ground. The deck is still standing. Overall, I'd prefer a footing that goes into the ground and has a mechanical attachement to the wood, rather than a block sitting on the gound with the post sitting on it.

Ok I should clarify. I have 4 holes with 36 inches of concrete in them with an 8 inch block on top of that.

What's the block for?

The post will sit in a footing on top of the block.

We think you have 36" of concrete in them but they were existing - so if the last guy short cut it, by trusting his work you're putting your faith in somebody else's hands - somebody you've never met and who probably was the lowest bid for some builder.

This whole situation is bunk. If it were me, I'd bring my sledge and start with a blank slate.

For the record, Pete emailed me pictures. My reluctance to second guess somebody else is now gone.

Except.... Heh - look at this picture. If he doesn't hit the circle in this concrete everything else is going to crack away....

There is an attachment file that looks like a paperclip.. Took me months to find it..

Your welcome..

You glazed over a 8" what??? Ohh... blocks, I thought you said...nevermind..

Here's the picture of what Pete is describing.

Does anybody else feel confident this deck is going to be done correctly?

Looks something like this where the concrete block is serving as #2 in the picture. My complaints would be 1) I'd rather have a solid peir (stronger than a concrete block and 2) does the post base attach to the concrete block?

I'm also guessing that the holes dad dug were wider and deeper than I described them. It's been a loooong time.

Pete - there's a dozen bits of evidence in the 04 picture that tells me that the guy is clueless. Don't waste another moment of time.

Well, based on the pictures Phobia posted, never mind.

Am I a meth user or not?? Need more info on how drugged out I am...

LMAO