[Shop-talk] Pole barn and deck footers

[Brian C. Kennedy]

I have a cottage on a lake. Water level is down about 2 feet. I want to put
in a deck ~20x16' and a pole barn type garage about 20x20'. Question is what
do I use for footers? People have told me that normal 12' cement footers
with a 4x6" post will sink and heave. I'm in MI so the freeze/thaw has a
tendency to pop things out of the ground. I'm thinking something like a flat
rebar reinforced concrete pad might be better.

Appreciate any thoughts.

Brian Kennedy