Deck footing and porch design questions
Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2019 1:28 pm
I am working up some plans for a new deck (with porch).
I have a question on footings and on the general design of a porch.
Regarding footings, I'm wondering whether I need to change to having all posts resting on concrete piers (which are sunk about 2' [frost line is 12" to 18" here]) or whether I can use a mix of inner posts on the house's concrete pad (as is the current deck) and outer posts on concrete piers?
This footing issue becomes a bit more important when adding in a new porch. "Tying" (independently) the house's roof and the porch roof means I need the solution to provide as much synchronicity as possible. Utilizing the house's pad would seem to meet this requirement, but the outer posts would be independent and more likely to be out of concert with any movement. Would setting up small on-grade pads for the outer posts be more likely to match movement characteristics? (that's kind of how it is now with the current deck using concrete post blocks)
My other porch-design-specific question is how best to marry up the porch roof line with the house roof line. I am wanting to match the porch roof to the home's existing [faux] gable. As there is a bit of an overhang I'm wondering if I a porch roof can sit underneath; this would eliminate the need to splice in any transition material for the two roofs.
Here's a frontal view of the house: Rear of house (which more shows the concrete pad [I'm about to start my rim joist repair, door replacement, underbelly repair, maybe re-plumb and skirting work]):
I have a question on footings and on the general design of a porch.
Regarding footings, I'm wondering whether I need to change to having all posts resting on concrete piers (which are sunk about 2' [frost line is 12" to 18" here]) or whether I can use a mix of inner posts on the house's concrete pad (as is the current deck) and outer posts on concrete piers?
This footing issue becomes a bit more important when adding in a new porch. "Tying" (independently) the house's roof and the porch roof means I need the solution to provide as much synchronicity as possible. Utilizing the house's pad would seem to meet this requirement, but the outer posts would be independent and more likely to be out of concert with any movement. Would setting up small on-grade pads for the outer posts be more likely to match movement characteristics? (that's kind of how it is now with the current deck using concrete post blocks)
My other porch-design-specific question is how best to marry up the porch roof line with the house roof line. I am wanting to match the porch roof to the home's existing [faux] gable. As there is a bit of an overhang I'm wondering if I a porch roof can sit underneath; this would eliminate the need to splice in any transition material for the two roofs.
Here's a frontal view of the house: Rear of house (which more shows the concrete pad [I'm about to start my rim joist repair, door replacement, underbelly repair, maybe re-plumb and skirting work]):