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rockies
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# Posted: 27 Jun 2016 20:53
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I saw this on the Fine Homebuilding site. Looks like an interesting solution.
http://www.finehomebuilding.com/2016/06/17/every-deck-starts-good-footings?source=w29 96enl&utm_source=eletter&utm_medium=eletter&utm_content=fhb_eletter&utm_campaign=fine -homebuilding-eletter
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Don_P
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# Posted: 28 Jun 2016 06:57
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An interesting solution to what?
ESR for their DP50 model;
http://www.pinfoundations.com/docs/Build-Official-Assist-2.pdf
Again no lateral strength... you've found just about every foundation type that cannot stand upright on its own. Looks like each pier has 1.8 sf bearing area... @1500psi soil=<3,000 lb capacity. For gravity loads under a building 3,000lbs of load is provided by an area about the size of a sheet- sheet and a half of floor ply.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 28 Jun 2016 13:54
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Always read the ESR. "... for supporting gravity loads. "
I found some other info from WI and MN regarding this product. They had conditional approvals for use supporting a deck. A deck with one side attached to a building. I assume the building would have to be on a foundation approved for a habitable building. The building provides the lateral resistance.
"gravity load" indicates no approval for uplift loads.
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rockies
Member
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# Posted: 28 Jun 2016 19:08
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Never let engineers near your plans. lol
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creeky
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# Posted: 28 Jun 2016 21:58
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Sheesh. It's a deck. What? Not the Taj Mahal.
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 28 Jun 2016 22:40
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Quoting: creeky Sheesh. It's a deck. What? Not the Taj Mahal.
True, that is what the item is marketed as. But then those funky concrete blocks called "deck blocks" have been used by many as the foundation for a cabin. So, I expect many readers here may consider these pin blocks as the foundation for a cabin that turns into some full time residence. And FWIW, those "deck blocks" are not considered suitable for a deck by current code.
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creeky
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# Posted: 29 Jun 2016 12:32
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I'm just trying to remember that this is a "small cabin" site. And not "build a huge house that you will hand down to the ends of all time" forum.
Those deck blocks look great for a small/medium sized deck. I doubt finehomebuilding is promoting bad tech.
I'll also point out, they look better than plain old deck blocks in that you screw pins into the ground. And, as you point out, lots of folks here have small cabins on the plain old style.
My decks are unconnected to anything. They sit on some old paver stones I got for free. They're 6 years old. The only time they've gone anywhere is when I've dragged 'em to a new location.
Folks aren't dumb. I can't see anyone suddenly turning a 12x20 cabin into a 3500 sq ft house.
Well. Unless it's me. That I could see. 
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sparky30_06
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# Posted: 29 Jun 2016 13:05
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I was trying to find the article, but couldn't about building in Hawaii and how they use something like this or the deck blocks over there cause the ground shifts so much and is so rocky
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 29 Jun 2016 13:35 - Edited by: MtnDon
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Quoting: creeky I'm just trying to remember that this is a "small cabin" site. And not "build a huge house that you will hand down to the ends of all time" forum.
But what's wrong with promoting building a good solid small cabin that can be handed down through family generations? A well constructed small cabin is a better use of the resources we have. My opinion.
There's the tiny house movement, many people downsizing their larger homes for small ones. Just because it is smaller does not mean we should not build for longevity. Again, my opinion.
And a cabin is not a deck and these are touted as deck blocks....
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Rebel300r
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# Posted: 29 Jun 2016 13:45
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Whilst I would not stamp them, they do seem like a pretty good idea, ahead of typical pier blocks that most of us use for decks. Codes are great guidelines or tools that keep most of us out of danger. However, we are all individuals with responsibility for ourselves. Byzantine rules meant to cover the dumbest possiblities always reduce our options and leave us all equal to the weakest link amoung us.
Scott
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Don_P
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jun 2016 22:02 - Edited by: Don_P
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Well, you see the need. What would you stamp?
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Rebel300r
Member
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# Posted: 29 Jun 2016 23:39
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It seems like a good question. Stamping is governed by those same rules, leaving little room for common sense or personal responsibility. I don't have a solution as elegant as the Diamond Pier system that would meet the rules. Maybe a better question is why not press for change and move toward putting engineers out of business for simple single story dwellings? I have only built cabins in two jurisdictions that did not have building codes. They just had codes for septic and electrical. Rereading the paragraph I just wrote reminds me I am off topic.
I think the Diamond Piers look cool and probably work better than what most people use for deck footings.
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Don_P
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# Posted: 30 Jun 2016 00:30
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I don't disagree for whatever that is worth. However, common sense says to hold people responsible during construction.
I'm failing to see the advantage over a typical correctly sized and installed spot footing for a deck. What are you seeing as the advantage?
How would you feel using these for a residence with their lateral details;
http://www.diamondpier.com/docs/DP-flyer_Skirt-Wall-Parallel-to-Joists.pdf
http://www.diamondpier.com/docs/DP-flyer_Skirt-Wall-Perpendicular-to-Joists.pdf
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rockies
Member
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# Posted: 30 Jun 2016 18:51
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I think what the Diamond Pier Deck footings are trying to do is to insert themselves into the "hierarchy" of deck footings. At the top of the list would be the concrete pier footing dug down below the frost line with the metal beam support set on top. The options then decrease all the way down to a precast deck block that sits on the ground.
Usually the choice for a footing depends not on an engineers specs but how much work the home-owner wants to do (placing a deck block on the lawn being the least amount of effort). I think the Diamond Pier block is designed to be a step up from that by providing a more "anchored" support than just using the weight of the deck itself to keep everything from shifting.
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Rebel300r
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# Posted: 1 Jul 2016 11:15
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Don, I don't think there is an advantage over correctly install spot footings. Just an advantage over what most people end up doing (pier pad). Residential, maybe but you'd have to have some pretty clever math to get the lateral resistance thru a permit process. There is some obvious eccentricity to overturning in the design.
Rock, if that was thier goal, I think they are in a good position to achieve it if the price is not too spendy.
Hope you guys have a great weekend.
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Don_P
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# Posted: 1 Jul 2016 20:20
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Darn, I hope you saw where I was trying to go with that curtain wall on pier posts... ah well, a thought.
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