Yeah, I think that according to the building code you have to have piles a minimum 3 feet deep that support a deck that is higher than 3 feet in height. If your deck is less than 3 feet tall you don't need piles (according to code) but I'd do them anyway. Mine is 2 feet high, and it has concrete pilings. Shaky decks suck, and they're a waste of money because you'll end up replacing it within a few years when it topples over.
I once built a deck that was 15 x 20 and about 10 feet off the ground. I used 4, 4x4 posts 4 feet deep that were concreted in. That deck will NEVER come down......I pity the fool who has to take it apart if the homeowner ever decides to change it. I even went with 2x6 joists that were 8" on center....you could drop a hot tub from 10 feet on that bad boy and it would still stand up.
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