Re-leveling Deck

[jeffo]

I'm in a 'slanted' situation -:) Or should I say the deck is in a 'slanted' situation.

One corner 4x4 post has lifted out of the ground 1-2". I'm pretty sure that the lifting has ceased (no movement in a few years). I'm interested in leveling the deck. I'm looking for suggestions.

Here's what I've come up with: I'm going to remove the load from the deck (remove the table, chairs and BBQ) and jack the deck up beside the lifted 4x4 - just to take the load off of the 4x4 (ie not to raise the deck). Then I'm going to cut the 4x4 taking out a slice as thick as need be to level the deck. After taking a slice of the 4x4 and having someone stand over the post, I was going to use some stainless steel plates screwed to both sides of the post.

The deck is about 20 years old and is going to need replacing in a few years. However, I'm looking to get a few more years out of it before replacing the whole deck. But the unlevelness (is this even a word :???: ) bugs me everytime I'm out on the deck. Nothing is rotted, but the deck boards are starting to split - it looks as though the boards were installed crown down so the water sits on the deck boards.

[pushkins]

If as you mention the post and bearer wood is still in good condition then the following would buy you more than a few more years of level deck.

The main if not only reason a post lift from the ground is poor footings to start with so make sure any new footings you make are below frost lines or a minimum of 32" if frost is not a problem.

As you mention SUPPORT the area of the deck that you want to repair, using a post stirrup (galvanized) measure up from the grade and mark the post where the stirrup will sit. Cut the post at this point.
Dig a footing below this area so as to mix and pour concrete into a 32" deep hole and set the stirrup. Once it has dried bolt the post to the stirrup and remove the support.
Wallah !!

[jeffo]

Whoah! I must be tired because I can't figure out what you mean. I agree with you that the footings were done incorrectly. Actually, what I think happened was the top of the footings were pushed up because the footings are a little over the ground (like a 'T' revolved around it's y-axis).

What's a post stirrup? How do I dig a hole under the deck? Oh, BTW the deck is about 10" high - no higher than 1'.

Thanks.

[pushkins]

A stirrup is a galvanized bracket that has a long leg that will be buried in the new concrete footing you create, the other end usually has two legs with holes pre drilled into them to allow your new/repaired 4 x 4 to sit on and be bolted to. This keeps the post from sitting in or on the concrete and helps with water avoidance/rot. (they are called stirrups as they resemble roughly a stirrup on a saddle).
They are available at any hardware store in the lumber section.

As it's the corner of the deck it should be easy to dig the new hole for the concrete, you at least have two sides to be digging from.

[jeffo]

Oh. OK. I know what you're talking about - just didn't know what its name was. So you would say my idea is a no-go? (Cutting a 'slice' out of the post and reinforcing it with metal plates on 3 sides). I'm just thinking that digging a hole might be a problem because although it is a corner of the deck, it's not a right angle corner. I would guess it to be 135 deg. And there are rose bushes in the flower beds at the corner.

Thanks.

[pushkins]

I see you live in Ontario so freeze thaw is of a major concern and probably the reason your having problems now.
If your looking for a quick fix and one that will only alleviate the problem temporarily then do as your suggesting , cut out a section to make it level and then using two plates one on either side of the post bolt the plates to the post.

This will only be a short term solution as the present footing will continue to move up and down with the seasons.

[jeffo]

Yeah. I might give the brackets a try (already have some for some reason). If it doesn't work out, i'll replace the footing. Normally I want to do things the correct way, however, this is just temporary to last maybe a year or two. That'd give me a year to save $$$ for a nice new and larger deck.

[Under_Miner]

What I have seen people do around here is use a connection that allows the owner to periodically adjust the height of the deck to compensate for frost heave. The pictures below are examples of how this is achieved...

http://www.strongtie.com/graphics/products/large/AB-ABE-ABA-ABU6.gif http://www.strongtie.com/graphics/products/large/AB-ABE-ABA-ABU.gif



This particular product can be found here (http://www.strongtie.com/products/connectors/AB-ABA-ABE-ABU.html)