How does a diamond pier work?
The Diamond Pier Foundation System As a driving guide, the pier maintains the pin angles so that their capacity is definable and consistent. As a lock, the pier is designed to increase its grip on the pin cluster when loaded up, down, or side- ways—getting stronger and tighter as loads increase.
Are footings the same as piers?
A pier is a concrete columns that’s cast atop of a footing and is connected to the footing by steel rebar. The pier, built between the footing and the ground level, usually extends above ground level so wooden posts can be mechanically anchored to the pier.
How deep do my piers need to be?
The minimum thickness for a pier is 8 inches. The minimum thickness for pier footings is 8 inches or 1-1/2 times the length of the footing projection from the pier, whichever is greater.
Do deck piers need footings?
Large decks that are attached to the house should always have footings because they act to spread the heavy load of the deck from the surface of a support post over a large surface of the soil so the ground can adequately support it.
Can you bury a diamond pier?
The pier may also be buried for aesthetic considerations if it is preferred to only see the post, but access to the top of the pier needs to be maintained. Concrete slabs, patios, and other products installed MUST NOT interfere with the Diamond Pier foundation and the attached post/beam assembly.
Can I use deck pier blocks instead of footings?
Pier blocks can be used instead of footings for a ground-level deck not requiring permits. Piers blocks can also be used if the frost level depth is less then the height of the pier block.
Do concrete piers need rebar?
A larger-diameter pier should have four or more pieces of vertical rebar. The rebar provides the tensile strength needed to resist lateral stresses that can be applied to a concrete pier by ground movement, freeze cycles, and wind loads.
Can I build a deck without digging holes?
Yes. It’s possible to build a deck without digging holes. This type of deck is called a floating deck, and it sits right on top of the ground without any posts or support areas that you’d dig down into the ground [to secure].