"The thought of digging multiple giant holes beneath my flagstone patio was a non-starter. We used the Deck Foot Anchor with great results! Installed a pergola in an afternoon with these babies. Voila! Minimal, modern pergola installed."
- Katrina B., Deck Foot Anchor Customer
The Deck Foot Anchor gives you strength and security similar to a poured concrete footing without the labor, time and cost. Quickly and easily install ground anchored footings for freestanding decks, pergolas, sheds, ramps and more*
- in minutes!
Not sure how to order? Click here.
Each KIT includes your choice of :
Post Connection (Post Saddle or Brackets)
Plate
Auger
Don't Need a complete kit? Check Out our Post Saddle, Load Plate, Auger, Bracket
"The thought of digging multiple giant holes beneath my flagstone patio was a non-starter. We used the Deck Foot Anchor with great results! Installed a pergola in an afternoon with these babies. Voila! Minimal, modern pergola installed."
- Katrina B., Deck Foot Anchor Customer
The Deck Foot Anchor gives you strength and security similar to a poured concrete footing without the labor, time and cost. Quickly and easily install ground anchored footings for freestanding decks, pergolas, sheds, ramps and more*
- in minutes!
Not sure how to order? Click here.
Each KIT includes your choice of :
Post Connection (Post Saddle or Brackets)
Plate
Auger
Don't Need a complete kit? Check Out our Post Saddle, Load Plate, Auger, Bracket
Like what type of post connection? What kind of load plate? What length of auger?
Watch this video and learn the quick and dirty stuff you need to know to get your project moving forward with confidence.
Have more Questions on frost? CLICK HERE for more information.
Using a lightweight handheld ½" electric impact wrench and a 12mm six point socket, drive the auger deep into the soil.
Tighten the nut and compress the load plate against stop washer below the load plate.
Place the post saddle in the desired location. Tighten the upper nut to attach the saddle to the auger and load plate.
It's dependable Direct Drive system ensures you can drive the anchor forward or reverse for quick installation. Installs with a handheld ½" impact wrench.
*For floating or free-standing structures where freezing soil conditions exist.
Shorter saddles are most common for supporting decks. Taller saddles are more popular for pergolas or taller structures where appearance matters more.
Pergola Brackets are designed for non-standard sized wood or metal posts that screw directly to our Load Plate.
Convex plates are used for direct ground contact and the Flat plate over pavers.
The dog ear corners of the Convex plate grip and compact the soil firmly. The Flat plate sits tight and flush to paver bricks or other hard surfaces.
The 24" is best for low level decks or where soil conditions may not be suitable for a longer auger. The 36" is better for decks 3'-6' tall, pergolas or on slopes. The 48" is best for maximum uplift or in sandy soil.
Either way, we still refer to the Deck Foot Anchor as a non-frost footing out of an abundance of caution because of the large load plate resting on the surface.
You can build your deck with joists as low as 2"-3" above grade if you wish. Simply hang the joists from the perimeter joist. If you want to extend the deck beyond the footing, extend the side perimeter joists 6"-10" and fill with blocking joists along the length.
With proper bracing in both directions from 6x6 posts to beams, you can make a six-foot high freestanding deck as solid as a rock. It's possible to go even higher but it is not intended to support decks at a second-floor elevation.
The Rule of Thumb is 6'-0" apart for each footing. This corresponds to a design load of 50 psf and tributary areas over each footing of 36 sqft.
So the total load imposed on the soil below each footing would be a maximum of 1800 psf as the footing is just slightly larger than 1 sqft.
If you have a large deck where three or more beams are going to be used, consider adding one additional footing along the interior beam. This is because the tributary loads of any structure are always greatest in the middle.
Some soil is not well suited for augers. The soil may be full of rocks, roots or other obstructions.
The Deck Foot Anchor™ can be retracted easily enough and there is some latitude with where to choose to install each footing.
However, if you are unsure about your soil use a 24" Bit Extender (or longer) with a 1" spade bit and a cordless drill. Try driving the bit into the ground as deep as it will go. This will tell you right away if an auger will work in your soil.
Our new flat load plate allows simpler installations over pavers or stone. Pairs perfectly with our standard Post Saddle.
Remove just enough pavers to allow the auger blade to pass through and use the Flat load plate.
The pergola post brackets can be used with a wide range of different post sizes. Posts can be wood, metal, hollow or with closed bottoms.
When using a solid wood post or a closed bottom metal post, an access hole for the drive head of the auger must be bored into the post.
A common bi-metal hole saw can be used to cut a hole in the flat bottom of metal post. This hole allows the drive head of the auger to reside inside the post.
Remove enough pavers to allow the 3-¼" blade to clear and drive it into the ground.
Mark the post location with masking tape and align the brackets with the edge of the tape.
Place the brackets on the edge of the tape where the post walls are located.
Metal drilling screws are driven through the brackets and the plate to mark their position on the pavers below. This ensures the brackets and screw locations are perfectly registered on the pavers.
Remove the plate and drill the marked holes with a masonry bit to a depth of 1". This allows the metal screws to sit in the cavity within the pavers.
Place the plate back on the pavers, remove the tape, and screw the brackets securely to the plate. You will have a perfect fit.
Put the post in place and drive screws through the brackets to secure it.
The footing is firmly anchored into the ground by the helical blade and the posts are securely connected to the heavy metal load plate.
The Deck Foot Anchor™ does not heave up from the ground like a fence post that is literally popped out of the ground a little bit each year. The Deck Foot Anchor ™ remains anchored to the ground and moves with the soil as it expands up or settles down during freeze or thaw cycles.
The Deck Foot Anchor is not promoted as a frost footing and falls under Section R403.1.4.1. Exception 3 (IRC) and Section 9.12.2.2.(7) (NBC). Therefore it is recommended for use with freestanding decks, unless the soil does not freeze in your area.
Terra-Shift refers to our unique friction release system in the bracket that protects critical post to beam connections on your deck in the event of any seasonal soil movement.
If any uneven uplift forces are imposed on your footings, posts will slide up or down independently as needed to protect and preserve the post and beam joints from separating.
Independent compression load testing has confirmed that each Deck Foot Anchor can support a minimum of 19,000 pounds.
This is far more than your soil will ever support. So the Deck Foot Anchor is not the weakest link. Your soil bearing capacity is the limiting factor.
Pull out resistance (tension) from undisturbed soil varies by soil type and auger length. If you are building a project where known uplift data is required please see our Tension Test data for sandy or clay soils based on auger length.
This is data taken from field testing by Intertek in a location in Colorado and is part of an extensive residential code compliance review program this is expected to be completed in 2022.
Decks supported by concrete blocks that rest on the surface are susceptible to uplift in high winds and have to be secured to the ground with a webbing of cables and ground spikes.
The Titan Deck Foot Anchor™ holds your footings securely to the ground. Almost 2/3 of the United States and parts of Canada are in high wind zones.
For maximum uplift resistance, consider using the 36" auger.
Grab a copy of our installation guide and use it to help plan your project.
Pergola Posts from Kits often vary in size. These brackets will work with virtually any of them. Grab a copy of this installation guide and use it to help plan your project.
It's full of easy to understand illustrations to help you every step of the way.
GET STARTED ON YOUR DECK TODAY !
Low Set Beams
You can also hang joists from beam face to beam face if you really wanted to hide all the beams of a low-level deck. That is next to impossible to do with blocks.
First, if we used concrete blocks we would have had trouble figuring out how to get the deck joist framing as low to the ground because they sit higher.
Second, the deck would just loosely sit on them. Here, each footing and post to beam connection is secured to the ground.
Third, we didn't want to see cement blocks when you walked by the highest level deck.
Download a full-size copy of the Warranty.
DECK FOOT ANCHOR
Take a selfie video with your deck or project in the background and post it to Instagram or Facebook using hashtag #DecksGo.Then email it to decksgo.com and we will send you a Starbucks Gift Card.
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