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Originally Posted by Ducay
b) Floating decks (deck-blok brand-esque): Any experieces or tips (or best place to buy) with these? I know putting in footings is always best, but the way the utilities run at my place, Id rather not risk it with augering holes or using those sketchy deck spikes.
Wondering what people have been putting the blocks on top of? Manuf. says to just plunk it on dirt, but Im wondering if it works better on a sidewalk block, or some tamped sand/gravel.
Deck is gonna be ~18" off grade max.
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I used Dek-Block to build a 12x12 deck, and I am happy to report that even without tamping, gravel, or anything else, placed directly on settled ground, there has been zero heaving or movement after 4 years. Every spring I take out my level and check it, and it hasn't budged at all. I didn't secure the deck to my house - I placed the top boards so that there was about a quarter or 3/8 inch gap, and it's stayed +/- about a 1/8 inch in that time.
I followed the instructions on their website for planning placement and overall number of blocks to use, and I think that is the real secret to success - you end up using quite a lot of them, and they are each a square foot in base area (or more, maybe they are 14" square, I can't remember) so when all is said and done, a 12x12 deck is sitting on like 20+ square feet of support.
I would definitely use the product again.