Ground movement under my deckI have a walkout basement with a deck and

[Hookmaster]

I have a walkout basement with a deck and three season porch. During the coldest winter temps and the thawing, there is some upward ground movement. It is currently dirt underneath the deck and patio pavers under the porch. Is there anything I can do to reduce or eliminate this movement? My back yard has a spring fed creek running through it so the water table is kind of high. When I had my deck redone they hit water with 6 inches to go when digging the holes for the footings.

[Bear55]

How deep are your footings?

[jerkbait]

If the deck is moving the footings are not deep enough.

If just the ground is moving there is nothing you can do, the frost will make it move.

[Hookmaster]

The deck moves a little so the entry door on the porch binds. I had the deck and new footings put in ~8 years ago because there was more movement. The footings were inspected by the city but maybe they still aren't deep enough.

[Bear55]

I put in footings for a deck a few years back and city city required them to be 60 inches deep, it was a pain but those things have not budged an inch. Were you footings anywhere near that depth?

[Hookmaster]

I don't remember but I don't think they were that deep.

[setterguy]

Install drain tile around all the footing to try and move the water away from the deck footings. It will only get worse as every year as the footings move earth fill in below it and never lets it settle completely.

Where i live the ground is awful, awful clay. I went 18" deeper than the city called for and with an 8" wider bell at the bottom.

There are companies that will re-do footings while the deck is still up, but it isn't cheap.

[reddog]

Frost protect it with underground horizontal foam insulation. Make the footings think they arent in a freezing climate.

[folke2000]

Setterguy...Where would I go about finding someone to redo the footings under an elevated gazeebo?

Thanks,

Folke

[setterguy]

email me, I know a guy who does it.

[email protected]

[Hookmaster]

reddog, I think I understand what you said. Put foam insulation around the footings so the frost doesn't go down so far. Can you explain how to do it, how thick of foam? Or just dig around the footings (how far down?), lay the foam and cover back up?