flare out bottom of deck pier hole?

08-25-2009, 10:57 PM	#1
Knucklez Member     Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ontario canada Posts: 796	flare out bottom of deck pier hole? i dug a hole 8.5" dia 4' straight down using a post hole digger. i want to flare the bottom of the hole to assist in preventing frost jacking. i tried using a garden hoe but i had no leverage at all with which to dig out the sides of the pier hole. any ideas on how to do this effectively? Knucklez __________________ "if you can't be handsome, at least you can be handy" -Redgreen

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08-25-2009, 11:24 PM	#2
Termite Moderator     Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 6,520	flare out bottom of deck pier hole? That's a mighty narrow pier and it'll be hard to get much angle at the bottom. It it were wider a sharpshooter shovel usually does the trick, and you clean out the spoils with the hand posthole digger.

08-25-2009, 11:44 PM	#3
Gary in WA Moderator   Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 8,767	flare out bottom of deck pier hole? If for frost heave prevention, it needs to be wider for the gravel under and around to keep the water from freezing: http://books.google.com/books?id=1gg...num=3#PPA31,M1 Plastic wrapped, footings attached, etc. http://rockproducts.com/mag/rock_agg...prevent_frost/ http://www.sustland.umn.edu/implemen..._footings.html I gave you three, because I know how you like to read.... And some added protection: http://www.oikos.com/esb/43/foundations.html Be safe, G

08-26-2009, 05:26 PM	#4
Knucklez Member     Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ontario canada Posts: 796	flare out bottom of deck pier hole? OK, i hear you. "don't be lazy, dig a bigger hole." __________________ "if you can't be handsome, at least you can be handy" -Redgreen

08-26-2009, 07:14 PM	#5
Willie T Old School     Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Minds of moderate caliber ordinarily condemn everything which is beyond them. Posts: 3,056	flare out bottom of deck pier hole? GBR, you always come up with some of the most interesting reading! __________________ "True eloquence consists in saying all that is necessary, and only that which is." François Duc de La Rochefoucauld Willie T