When I was doing decks some moons ago, we would use sonotubes down to 4 ft
and fill with concrete. If there was water there, as Joe stated make the
mix handle the water. Then we would cap off the concrete with a bracket
that would take the pole. I was always told you never put a pole directly
in contact with concrete or below grade cause it will always rot over time,
even the pressure treated ones. Besides with the bracket if the pole needs
replacing in the future then it is really easy. For added stength in the
sonotube you can add a couple of rebars.
My current deck had someone put the pole in the concrete directly and now
water has got in around it and cracked the concrete causing the pole to rot.
I have now seen the "bury the pole method" and fully believe the
concrete/bracket is best method for northern areas. This to be repaired on
the restoration of the deck.
Hope this helps a little
Regards
David A. Templeton
Open Text Corp.
Waterloo, ON
Canada
WebSite: http://trandmustang.homestead.com
Hope to have new barn/shed/garage/workshop next summer.
'74 Triumph SpitSix '66 Ford Mustang (Wife's)'66 Ford Mustang GT '59
Triumph TR3a (Project) '99 GMC Safari '95 GMC K2500 Sierra
>
> You also need to consider the freeze line for your part of the
> contry. If you live in the north where it gets really cold, the
> concrete needs to be below the frost line so it doesn't freeze and crack.
>
> The water doesn't really matter that much if you use one of those
> cardboard tubes and mix the concrete so that it will cure in the
> presence of added water. They do that all the time on beach houses!
>
> Joe
>
> MJSUKEY@cs.com wrote:
> >
> > Started building my pole barn last weekend so that I can move
> the Triumphs
> > out of the garage. I dug 4 foot deep holes for the post with
> the intention
> > of putting 6 inches of gravel in the bottom followed by a 6 inch pad of
> > concrete on top of which I would place the poles. Well, I
> found that the
> > water table is at 3 foot. The last foot of the holes filled
> with water. So
> > now my thoughts are to fill the hole up to the water with
> gravel and then the
> > 6 inches of concrete and follow with the pole. Short of the
> matter is the
> > poles will be at 30 inches instead of 36. To all those that do
> this sort of
> > thing, am I doing the right thing??? FYI I am in northern Ohio.
>
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