I recently discovered a problem with my new deck's foundation and was hoping
you folks might have some advice on how to proceed.

Last year, I built a conventional 22' x 14' x 2'high single level deck. I
hired a local company to drill and fill with concrete the eight posts I
required for the foundation.

This year, I noticed that 5 of the 8 posts are disintegrating. The concrete
is was clearly not mixed correctly and can be easily broken apart with a
screwdriver. The remaining three posts appear to be OK. The posts extend
four feet under ground level and about 2 inches above ground level.

I am attempting to get the original company that drilled and set the posts
to fix the problem, but what they are proposing doesn't sound like a
solution to me. They want to put a layer of hydraulic cement around the tops
of the post to prevent further decay.

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what could be done to salvage the
project?

Thanks!
Andy

"Andy" wrote in message

I am attempting to get the original company that drilled and set the posts
to fix the problem, but what they are proposing doesn't sound like a
solution to me. They want to put a layer of hydraulic cement around the
tops
of the post to prevent further decay.

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what could be done to salvage
the
project?

Their idea can work. It may feel crumbly on top, but you still have a 4'
deep solid mass. Get more details as to exactly what they will do. I would
think they'd want to dig down at least a few inches and pour a ring at least
a few inches wider than the existing piers. See if you can get some
guarantee against frost heaves due to the original improper installation.

You may also want to post this on alt.home.repair for more information.
Ed

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

Their idea can work. It may feel crumbly on top, but you still have a 4'
deep solid mass. Get more details as to exactly what they will do. I would
think they'd want to dig down at least a few inches and pour a ring at least
a few inches wider than the existing piers. See if you can get some
guarantee against frost heaves due to the original improper installation.

You may also want to post this on alt.home.repair for more information.
Ed

But what if the concrete was indeed mixed incorrectly? IMO, it will be
crumbly

for the entire 4' length through the ground. It won't be a solid
supporting mass at all.

I'm sure the concrete below the patch will deteriorate also. A fix? New
posts in new concrete...
Mark L.

"Mark L." wrote in message
But what if the concrete was indeed mixed incorrectly? IMO, it will be
crumbly

for the entire 4' length through the ground. It won't be a solid
supporting mass at all.

You mean like the stone foundations supporting 250 year old houses here in
New England? Not a drop of cement, just packed stone.

I recently discovered a problem with my new deck's foundation and was
hoping
you folks might have some advice on how to proceed.

Last year, I built a conventional 22' x 14' x 2'high single level deck. I
hired a local company to drill and fill with concrete the eight posts I
required for the foundation.

This year, I noticed that 5 of the 8 posts are disintegrating. The
concrete
is was clearly not mixed correctly and can be easily broken apart with a
screwdriver. The remaining three posts appear to be OK. The posts extend
four feet under ground level and about 2 inches above ground level.

I am attempting to get the original company that drilled and set the posts
to fix the problem, but what they are proposing doesn't sound like a
solution to me. They want to put a layer of hydraulic cement around the
tops
of the post to prevent further decay.

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what could be done to salvage
the
project?

I don't think setting wood posts in concrete meets code in my area. You're
supposed to sink a concrete pier below the frost line (4' here), and embed a
bolt in the concrete. Then bolt a bracket on top of the concrete to accept
the 4 or 6 by post. So no wood, PT or not, is ever below grade. Eventually
it will rot below grade, PT or not.

Sounds to me like your going to have to rebuild the deck unless you can
pick the entire thing up, redo
the concrete and then set it back place.

I was at a party a couple years ago where the house had a deck (young
couple with kids with
their new house). As the party progressed we noticed part of the deck
started to bulge up in
the middle. It turned out that all the posts were rotten except for a
few where the bulges were.
The owner ended up ripping out the deck completely because of poor
construction and I hear
he installed a rock garden/patio. Another friend is currently
supporting his deck with a car
jack(s).

If you rebuild make sure the wood is not set in concrete. It will last
longer.


Andy wrote:

I recently discovered a problem with my new deck's foundation and was hoping
you folks might have some advice on how to proceed.

Last year, I built a conventional 22' x 14' x 2'high single level deck. I
hired a local company to drill and fill with concrete the eight posts I
required for the foundation.

This year, I noticed that 5 of the 8 posts are disintegrating. The concrete
is was clearly not mixed correctly and can be easily broken apart with a
screwdriver. The remaining three posts appear to be OK. The posts extend
four feet under ground level and about 2 inches above ground level.

I am attempting to get the original company that drilled and set the posts
to fix the problem, but what they are proposing doesn't sound like a
solution to me. They want to put a layer of hydraulic cement around the tops
of the post to prevent further decay.

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what could be done to salvage the
project?

Thanks!
Andy

It would be interesting to know why the concrete is disintegrating. As
an architect, the only thing I can tell you is to get the work redone
100%. Patching it with another product will not prevent the concrete
underneath to desintegrate. They're just hoping to buy some time and
hide what will happen next. Add a few more cycles of frost/defrost and
your concrete will become sand... and not support anything anymore.
What you don't see doesn't hurt you... You paid for it, you deserve to
get something in return...

In reminds me my own house after a water infiltration damage in the
kitchen. I had a weak point on the roof and I must had a hundred
liters of water that leaked in the exterior wall. The gypsum board
bubbled everywhere... The insurance guy came and he was proposing to
just "glaze" the walls and repaint. He was pretending the inside of
the wall will dry and be just fine. I didn't accept his proposition
and asked to have the whole wall torn down and redone. They accepted
after I threated them to bring them to court. When I opened up the
wall I had mold all over the place. Duh!

In your case, my best bet would be to have from now on everything in
writing from everybody involved. Ask for a written proposal from the
company who made the concrete post. Next, hire an independant
consultant (architect, engineer, etc.) to get another "point of view".
Compare and use that to force the company to do the correction or
else... it will end up in court.

Good luck.

Ben




"Andy" wrote in message . ..
I recently discovered a problem with my new deck's foundation and was hoping
you folks might have some advice on how to proceed.

Last year, I built a conventional 22' x 14' x 2'high single level deck. I
hired a local company to drill and fill with concrete the eight posts I
required for the foundation.

This year, I noticed that 5 of the 8 posts are disintegrating. The concrete
is was clearly not mixed correctly and can be easily broken apart with a
screwdriver. The remaining three posts appear to be OK. The posts extend
four feet under ground level and about 2 inches above ground level.

I am attempting to get the original company that drilled and set the posts
to fix the problem, but what they are proposing doesn't sound like a
solution to me. They want to put a layer of hydraulic cement around the tops
of the post to prevent further decay.

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what could be done to salvage the
project?

Thanks!
Andy

you can probably just do them one at a time.

you can set PT wood posts in concrete just fine but you must do a few
things. if the end of the post is encased in cement moisture will collect.
its this standing water that pt cant hold up to. you want the cement more
like a doughnut around it with the end sitting in gravel so water can simply
drain away. so dig a little deeper, and make sure the last 2-3 inches of
the post is entirely in gravel. it wont last forever, but it will last a
very long time.

randy

"william kossack" wrote in message
news:kHhzc.104819$Ly.17445@attbi_s01...
Sounds to me like your going to have to rebuild the deck unless you can
pick the entire thing up, redo
the concrete and then set it back place.

I was at a party a couple years ago where the house had a deck (young
couple with kids with
their new house). As the party progressed we noticed part of the deck
started to bulge up in
the middle. It turned out that all the posts were rotten except for a
few where the bulges were.
The owner ended up ripping out the deck completely because of poor
construction and I hear
he installed a rock garden/patio. Another friend is currently
supporting his deck with a car
jack(s).

If you rebuild make sure the wood is not set in concrete. It will last
longer.


Andy wrote:

I recently discovered a problem with my new deck's foundation and was
hoping
you folks might have some advice on how to proceed.

Last year, I built a conventional 22' x 14' x 2'high single level deck. I
hired a local company to drill and fill with concrete the eight posts I
required for the foundation.

This year, I noticed that 5 of the 8 posts are disintegrating. The
concrete
is was clearly not mixed correctly and can be easily broken apart with a
screwdriver. The remaining three posts appear to be OK. The posts extend
four feet under ground level and about 2 inches above ground level.

I am attempting to get the original company that drilled and set the
posts
to fix the problem, but what they are proposing doesn't sound like a
solution to me. They want to put a layer of hydraulic cement around the
tops
of the post to prevent further decay.

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what could be done to salvage
the
project?

Thanks!
Andy

On Sun, 13 Jun 2004 21:06:29 -0400, "Andy"
wrote:

I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what could be done to salvage the
project?

That entirely depends on how severe your winters are.

@sympatico.ca

Ah. That's not California is it ?
You're going to have to replace them.

--
Smert' spamionam

But I would guess (I'm not a stone mason, not related to one, never been
stoned, etc....) that stone is a lot more solid than sand, portland
cement and gravel that haven't been mixed correctly or cured properly.
But without more details or seeing it, who can say?

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
"Mark L." wrote in message

But what if the concrete was indeed mixed incorrectly? IMO, it will be
crumbly

for the entire 4' length through the ground. It won't be a solid
supporting mass at all.


You mean like the stone foundations supporting 250 year old houses here in
New England? Not a drop of cement, just packed stone.

Mark L. wrote:

But I would guess (I'm not a stone mason, not related to one, never been
stoned, etc....) that stone is a lot more solid than sand, portland
cement and gravel that haven't been mixed correctly or cured properly.
But without more details or seeing it, who can say?

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
"Mark L." wrote in message

But what if the concrete was indeed mixed incorrectly? IMO, it will be
crumbly

for the entire 4' length through the ground. It won't be a solid
supporting mass at all.


You mean like the stone foundations supporting 250 year old houses here
in
New England? Not a drop of cement, just packed stone.

Most of the stone used in construction in New England 250 years ago was
basically disposing of the rocks that they dug out of the farm fields. If
you go walking in the woods with any regularity you'll come across stone
walls and the occasional hole in the ground that used to be a cellar,
obviously long abandoned. The rocks are usually fairly sizeable--they only
moved the ones big enough to present an obstacle to planting. If one wants
to pile up a bunch of rocks to use as footings it should work fine if it's
done right but that's not the same as bad concrete.

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)