Should I lay concrete or just build my covered porch floor on leveled ground?
Question:I've got the design down, but as far as the foundation goes, I'm not sure if I should build the porch on top of a slab or if it'd be ok just on the leveled ground.
Answers:
You don't really need a slab foundation but you will need to pour footers. Check with your local town office/building permit office. Here in Northeastern PA footers have to be at least 3 ft in the ground (below the frost line) and they are needed for any type of porch/deck you build.
Remember no matter how level you think you are making the ground it will always shift and change depending on the weather. If you build a porch on leveled dirt it WILL shift.
Are you asking if you should use a dirt floor or are you asking if a wood floor can be built without a slab. Having done a dirt floor for a shed and lived with an old garage with a dirt floor, I can't recommend that. A porch with a floor over bare ground is commonly called a deck with pressure treated posts. A foundation is needed when you have a freezing cycle where you want to go below the freeze line.
Here in piedmont N.C.,we use what is called pier blocks,for decking a lot if the ground is pretty level.Thay are withen code here. The blocks measure 12"x12" and stand about 9" tall in a piamide shape. On top it has a place where a 4x4 can stand. If these do not work in your situation, then with freezes not a big problem then ,I would just dig a post hole at least 12 to 14" deep, plum up my post and pore in concret, that you mix in a wheelborrow. Good luck on the deck
You can purchase metal brackets from builders supply and dig a round hole as deep as your frost level, put sackrete premixed cement int the hole, place bracket stem into concrete plumb & level for the post location.
You need concrete to hold covered porch down from winds lifting as well as to hold up the roof.
I would pour concrete pads a few feet deep if you never freeze and support the floor joists on 6x6's treated lumber. Depending on the width of the porch, you can safely go 12 ft wide span with grade one 2x8's or 16ft wide span with grade one 2x10's.
listen to daniel, his answer would serve you best. good luck.
I'd spend the extra money on the concrete and do the job right, then you'll never have to worry about it.
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