Proper Procedure Of Jacking Up A Deck To Replace Post
Any deck project must accept the fact that it will eventually settle. This is due to the soil gradually compressing, shifting, and moving in other ways with Mother Nature. Even if you can build the deck as firmly as humanly possible using the suggested installation techniques, settling problems will inevitably occur. You must jack up the deck to rebrace and level it in order to fix a deck that has started to droop or sink. You should refrain from elevating the deck entirely at once. The joists will split, crack, and in the worst scenario, break in half if you attempt to jack up the deck in this way. Once the cross-joist braces are in position, the plan is to place the jacks beneath the braces and elevate them gradually, 1/4 inch at a time. Starting at one side, move from jack to jack throughout the entire length, gradually increasing each jack until you reach the desired height.
Cross-Joist Bracing
- The fact that you cannot just set jacks under two or three joists and expect to be able to lift the entire section is one of the most crucial components of jacking up a deck. If you do this, you will only be able to lift a portion of the deck and not the entire surface. The ideal solution is to attach cross braces to the underside of the joists along the entire length of the deck, such as two-by-fours.
- Place them so that they are parallel to the joists, allowing you to lift the entire deck at once if necessary. The jacks should be spaced equally apart from any posts or supports. It is highly suggested using joist jacks for taller decks and any hand-crank jack for decks that are close to the ground, such as those seen in vehicles for changing tyres.
Brace The Deck
- The deck needs to be braced against potential slumping next. Under the joist braces, you can insert blocks of wood, cinder blocks, bricks, river pebbles, or any other kind of sturdy, dense material that can support the weight of the deck. To correctly reinforce the deck and hold it in place once you have elevated it, set them at the same spacing as any existing posts. Then, remove the jacks one at a time. These blocks are used to support the deck and prevent further drooping; they stay in place when you take the jacks off.
Replacing A Post
- One of the most extreme actions you will need to take to fix a severely sagging deck is to replace a post. In order to assist support the deck against potential drooping, you will need to either replace a bowed pillar or fill the hole beneath it with fresh concrete and packing.
- The same guidelines apply in that you must cross-brace the nearby joists and elevate it gently and carefully to release the pressure under the current post before replacing it. This will cause the current post to be pulled out of the ground, therefore you must add a new post and use fresh concrete.
Conclusion
At best, jacking up a deck is a temporary fix. A deck may continue to sink a little further into the ground each year after it starts to do so. Or perhaps it will only settle after 15 years. Everything is dependent on the state of your soil and the neighbourhood where you live. You will ultimately reach a point where you will need to fully replace the deck if the deck keeps sinking over time.