Concrete block decking piers.
- Yorkshire Kris
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Concrete block decking piers.
Anybody used these? Seam to be readily available in Usa and Oz but only found 2 suppliers in uk one very expensive the other very expensive delivery.
I want to use them rather than digging loads of post holes for a decking walkway.
I want to use them rather than digging loads of post holes for a decking walkway.
- Arlon Tishmarsh
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Re: Concrete block decking piers.
B&Q have them. For what its worth Kris, its an unnecessary expense imo. They'd have to be laid on solid, level ground to start with. If i've learned anything in all my years in construction ( i helped with the Ark... ) ...Do it once , do it right.
- Yorkshire Kris
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- Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:59 am
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Re: Concrete block decking piers.
Arlon Tishmarsh wrote:B&Q have them. For what its worth Kris, its an unnecessary expense imo. They'd have to be laid on solid, level ground to start with. If i've learned anything in all my years in construction ( i helped with the Ark... ) ...Do it once , do it right.
I thought it would be no more expensive and much easier as no need for mixing conrete ot posts as I could put joists straight into the slots on the contrete pier. Like these..
http://www.supremeconcrete.co.uk/genera ... d-dekpost/
On second thoughts the ground I intend to put the walkway is where there are a lot of tree stumps so flat ground is an impossibility. I have loads of round wooden bollards (rounded posts) so could I fix joists to these?
The joists are 4.8m by 145mm by 45mm the bollards are 90cm.
Re: Concrete block decking piers.
No idea if relevant / appropriate, but you can get get cardboard tubes for forming concrete. Dig a hole,place cardboard tube in it (and above ground up to height of timer work) and pour concrete into the tube.
I used 4" drainage pipe here under the "feet" of my pergola. Got the pipe spot-on level and then filled with concrete,and put the uprights of the pergola on those (on some metal stand-off feet so that the post bottoms don't rot)
I used 4" drainage pipe here under the "feet" of my pergola. Got the pipe spot-on level and then filled with concrete,and put the uprights of the pergola on those (on some metal stand-off feet so that the post bottoms don't rot)
- Yorkshire Kris
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Re: Concrete block decking piers.
I think a few photos are in order to show what I intend to do.
- Arlon Tishmarsh
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Re: Concrete block decking piers.
Depending on how far apart you set the joists, a joist that depth/thickness (145mm x 44mm) will have a clear span approx 3m to 3.5m (ish). As its 4.8m long, you defo need to put a support mid span, otherwise you'll get a lot of "bounce".Yorkshire Kris wrote:
The joists are 4.8m by 145mm by 45mm the bollards are 90cm.
Personally i'd stick with timber supports in the ground. It'll give you more leeway when leveling your joists thru, providing you leave them all a few inches high and then just trim them down once the joists are fixed in.
Even with mid span support, you're only looking at eight post holes.
- Yorkshire Kris
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Re: Concrete block decking piers.
That's good to know. I though that they would need supporting every 4-5 foot along their lengths?Arlon Tishmarsh wrote:Depending on how far apart you set the joists, a joist that depth/thickness (145mm x 44mm) will have a clear span approx 3m to 3.5m (ish). As its 4.8m long, you defo need to put a support mid span, otherwise you'll get a lot of "bounce".Yorkshire Kris wrote:
The joists are 4.8m by 145mm by 45mm the bollards are 90cm.
Personally i'd stick with timber supports in the ground. It'll give you more leeway when leveling your joists thru, providing you leave them all a few inches high and then just trim them down once the joists are fixed in.
Even with mid span support, you're only looking at eight post holes.
- Arlon Tishmarsh
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Re: Concrete block decking piers.
Scroll down to page 12 and 13 on this link, it'll give you a better idea of spans etc at varying loads. Bare in mind these tables are for stress graded construction timber but it'll give you a good idea of what your timber will support.
http://www.dfpni.gov.uk/d.pdf
http://www.dfpni.gov.uk/d.pdf
Re: Concrete block decking piers.
Kirsten, that looks like an inexpensive way of making round concrete posts especially with some reinforcing steel in the middle.
- Yorkshire Kris
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Re: Concrete block decking piers.
They look a good idea but in this instance I'm trying to avoid having to make a lot of concrete up. I'm looking for the easy and good solution if that's possible. I can get these for around £6.50 delivered.
http://www.wrekinconcreteproducts.co.uk ... lay-layout
No need for making concrete or digging lots of holes or even posts as joists can sit right in them. My issue would be level areas for the concrete piers to sit.
- Arlon Tishmarsh
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Re: Concrete block decking piers.
Same as the B&Q one's . Personally i wouldn't use them for reasons stated before. If your ground isn't solid , they will start to sink, especially with the weight of use / traffic and then you're back to square one. They rely on a wide footprint to spread the load.Yorkshire Kris wrote:Kristen wrote: I'm looking for the easy and good solution if that's possible. I can get these for around £6.50 delivered.
http://www.wrekinconcreteproducts.co.uk ... lay-layout
Imo, they are the equivalent of what Metposts are for fencing, in time the fence goes over / leans...............
- Yorkshire Kris
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- Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:59 am
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Re: Concrete block decking piers.
The concrete piers are around 30cm across so the same size are when you pour contrete in holes for posts so I would have thought gave the same stability?Arlon Tishmarsh wrote:Same as the B&Q one's . Personally i wouldn't use them for reasons stated before. If your ground isn't solid , they will start to sink, especially with the weight of use / traffic and then you're back to square one. They rely on a wide footprint to spread the load.Yorkshire Kris wrote:Kristen wrote: I'm looking for the easy and good solution if that's possible. I can get these for around £6.50 delivered.
http://www.wrekinconcreteproducts.co.uk ... lay-layout
Imo, they are the equivalent of what Metposts are for fencing, in time the fence goes over / leans...............
Re: Concrete block decking piers.
when I make decking a paving slab / breeze block is sufficient to spread the load.
you can kind of see in this video at about 2m57s
If its higher I put a 4" fence post on top and attach to a joist you can kind of see in this video at about 2m57s
- Arlon Tishmarsh
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Re: Concrete block decking piers.
No, because with posts you dig down thru the softer top soil etc into something more substantial.Yorkshire Kris wrote: The concrete piers are around 30cm across so the same size are when you pour contrete in holes for posts so I would have thought gave the same stability?