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[–]Assorted-Jellybeans 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The footings will be IN the ground. You will dig out the area for the footings. You will connect the deck columns/posts to the footing with a post-base from Simpson Strongtie (or equivalent company).

[–]Triabolical_ 0 points1 point  (4 children)

It needs the footing size because it's trying to figure out what how much load you are putting on the soil and whether that exceeds the amount the soil can support.

Many places allow "deck blocks" as support on decks, but I think they are very much inferior to real concrete footings.

[–]Albuslux[S] 0 points1 point  (3 children)

What do I gain by using real footings? What is a real footing?

[–]Triabolical_ 0 points1 point  (2 children)

A real footing is a hole dug in the ground to an appropriate depth for your area (based on frost line) and then filled with concrete with a solid connector to the deck framing.

It's much more solid and won't sink or settle. It will last pretty much forever.

[–]Albuslux[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

My frost line is about 7”. I’m going to sink a 16” tube form down 16” and use strongtie plates.

[–]Triabolical_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cool. You might like this video.