Why Deck Posts Should Not Be Set in Concrete

John Temmel Siding Guy
by John Temmel Siding Guy
The photo on the left shows a post set in a bracket that has been mounted to the top of a footer. The photo on the right shows a post that has concrete poured around it, which can lead to a crack like you see here. When concrete is poured around a deck post in this way, the post will rot due to moisture buildup by the soil. Concrete tends to absorb moisture and wood expands when it gets wet, so these two factors combined will result in the wood breaking the concrete. By setting the post on top of footing, you're creating a solid foundation for the deck to stand on.
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  2 questions
  • Marta V. Martin Marta V. Martin on Feb 01, 2016
    I have a fence post that is suffering from frost heave. Could I fix it the same as the deck post footings?
  • Manleybrown Manleybrown on Jun 26, 2016
    Setting new posts for a fence around my home
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  • Carbon Sink Carbon Sink on Sep 23, 2018

    Just a note, this is for support posts only not fence posts. Fence posts have pressure from the side and so need to be buried. I believe that fence posts should not be set in concrete either but instead set in compacted gravel.

  • Uta39449998 Uta39449998 on Feb 05, 2019

    you have telephon#

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