****. Deck footing off 4"

[jmiller_2308]

I was sweating my buns off drilling and filling three 4' footings for a deck on Friday and found out this afternoon (when sweating more) that the last footing is 4" out of line with the other two

The deck is really a walkway that connects an existing deck to a new concrete area outside my shop. It is two steps off the existing deck and sits about 27" high at that point. The ground raises over the 14' to where the deck is only 2" off the ground at the concrete. The footing that is out of line is next to the new concrete. Footings are only 7' apart and with the deck only 4' deep there load is relatively small but should still require a footing.

I'm dreading trying to dig this out and busting it up by hand. Any ideas for other ways to fix this? I thought briefly about trying to encase the existing footing by pouring a new one around it. Essentially put a new tube that is 6" to 8" larger diameter around the bad one and fill in the space with new concrete but I don't really think that is a good idea if for no reason other than it would be difficult to mechanically connect the new concrete to the existing bad footing.

 

[kd3pc]

blasting cap?

 

[yhprum]

Having difficulty picturing this from your description, Photos would help.
Is just one poured post 4 inched short? Could you make a spacer for that?

 

[Chris705]

Are these Sonotube footings? If so what size? I am picturing being able to pull a string line and maintaining it at least a couple of inches on the concrete? Can the mounting hardware for the one pier be altered by welding it to a mtl plate keeping the anchor bolt centered in the pier?

 

[johninct]

Can you split the difference between the footings with the deck or maybe build the deck with extra beams to be able to hit all footings where they are?

 

[jmiller_2308]

Thanks for the ideas but I think I'm still hosed. Here is some additional information.

The footings were poured in 8" sonotubes and the last footing is roughly 4" closer to the building than the other two are. The blasting cap idea was entertaining but I think I want to keep my new shop more than take out frustration.

The attached picture isn't to scale but it should illustrate the issue. The circle on the right shows how far off cent I'd need to move the post connector to get things to line up. I did look at sliding the other two posts toward the building more but it still doesn't line up well .

I think what happened is that we dropped the line when we started to drill the holes. Lots of cussing and engine maintenance later and we finally got the auger working but by then we were very hot and fighting the sun. The last hole also was a pain because an old tree root passed through it and this was also the first hole with significant numbers of rocks. Holes drilled, 2 hours behind, sun is high, and both of us are sweating and clearly frustrated enough that we should have stopped.

Instead, after getting the holes drilled I placed tubes and went about getting concrete ready. Instead of setting up the line again I remeasured each tube before putting concrete in. As I was finishing up the second tube my "helper" was busy on the third; the one that is out of line. Apparently he didn't measure again and I assumed he did . My fault for not measuring again.

 

[WhiffySpark]

I would just make a bracket and use it. You're not holding up a pole just a simple walkway. Unless you have Sasquatch or hulk living there you should be ok

 

[WWShop]

So the footings are off but the brackets still line up within the footings?

 

[maxpower_hd]

Well one option would be to dig next to the one you poured. Then cut the top off so you can bury the bad one. Then cut/notch a new tube to fit around the bad one with the top still being full round and sort of sitting on top of the bad one. Then fill with new concrete. From the finished look it would look like one properly poured footing but in reality it would be one sitting partially on the other. Does that make sense?

Still a lot of work but better than digging/braking the whole thing out.

 

[buddyboy]

are you running a beam across these footers or extending wood posts up from the footers?

 

[sands35]

Well one option would be to dig next to the one you poured. Then cut the top off so you can bury the bad one. Then cut/notch a new tube to fit around the bad one with the top still being full round and sort of sitting on top of the bad one. Then fill with new concrete. From the finished look it would look like one properly poured footing but in reality it would be one sitting partially on the other. Does that make sense?

Still a lot of work but better than digging/braking the whole thing out.

What he said.

Unless you have an engine hoist or some sort of loader / excavator, you aren't going to get that post out. If you must, you can dig a trench to one side, then tip the existing post over into the trench and bury it, then put in a new tube and pour. Just make sure you compact the removed soil properly.

Next time, use bigger tubes and shore them better. Concrete is relatively cheep.

What I've done is use 8" for the middle posts, then 12" for the corners. It looks symmetric and avoids the issues you've run into.

 

[larry_g]

Without knowing the way the beams are running and ifother factors are in play its hard to propose a solution. Pictures are HIGHLY advised so that we the members can propose good workable solutions.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[jmiller_2308]

So the footings are off but the brackets still line up within the footings?

Only the right most footing is off. The left two I measured both prior to pouring and again when putting the anchor bolt in. Since I measured the bolts on the first two they line up. The footing that is out of line my helper took care of and I mistakenly did not measure. My bad; my problem to fix.

Well one option would be to dig next to the one you poured. Then cut the top off so you can bury the bad one. Then cut/notch a new tube to fit around the bad one with the top still being full round and sort of sitting on top of the bad one. Then fill with new concrete. From the finished look it would look like one properly poured footing but in reality it would be one sitting partially on the other. Does that make sense?

Still a lot of work but better than digging/braking the whole thing out.

This is essentially what I was talking about with using a sonotube 4" to 6" bigger and placing it around the 8" footing that is in the wrong place. Your way allows the footing to look the same as the others above ground. If I put rods in the cut off footing I could also tie it to the over poured footing.

I kind of like this idea.

are you running a beam across these footers or extending wood posts up from the footers?

Footings will support posts that go up to a beam.

--

Thanks everyone for the ideas.

 

[Chris705]

Based on your input a possible solution......On the post that is off by four inches, use your footing and anchor bolt where it is...support your beam by running your short wood column up to the side of the beam & thru bolt it. And then add a second section of post along side the out of alignment post with additional thru bolts thru it.

 

[wssix99]

Well one option would be to dig next to the one you poured. Then cut the top off so you can bury the bad one. Then cut/notch a new tube to fit around the bad one with the top still being full round and sort of sitting on top of the bad one. Then fill with new concrete. From the finished look it would look like one properly poured footing but in reality it would be one sitting partially on the other. Does that make sense?

Still a lot of work but better than digging/braking the whole thing out.

+1. Only one modification: You should probably drill some 1/2" holes in the side of the original pier and hammer in some rebar so the two parts will be tied together as one when you pour the extension. (This will probably require digging bigger hole so you can get a drill down there, but still better than busting up the footer...)