You are very inspiring and interesting. I like every tips that you have here though I am a diy for so many years, I still enjoy yours a lot. Thank you for sharing, from Toronto, Canada.
Dug hundreds of holes by hand. Seen all kinds of ground. I recommend a clam shovel - the best ground can be dug out without the need for an auger or jackhammer. For harder ground I use a jackhammer with a spade bit and extension. Still, some ground is literally like concrete - Never considered a pressure washer. Brilliant!
That ground looks a lot like the hardpan here in Antelope California. Locals call it Antelope concrete. When you plant a tree it's like putting it in a flower pot.
Very good. However were it me, and it might be this Spring, I'd run back down to HD and rent a jackhammer with their longest bit or make one. Also, people who like quality/pro's always take the extra 2 minutes to crown their piers. If you do that, AND put some roofing tar/sealant where the wood enters the concrete and up 2-3 inches, you'll gets years more life out of your pier. Most wood rot in piers starts at that location.
Hello. Thank you for sharing your deck project. Does your brick facade have an air gap and did you consider Simpson's BVLZ masonry connector? Any thoughts? Also curious if you considered using any of the liquid flashing products like Zip-Systems' Liquid Flash or Prosoco's R-Guard/Cat-5 at the ledger and/or top of structural framing?
I had to subscribe to someone who has the same mental afflictions I do when it comes to construction. I had to laugh at the thought of drainage in that last hole. Nope.
Floating deck is good in many ways too (1) You can avoid getting a permit in many cities since it is not attached to the house. (2) It's way cheaper than concrete or helical piles (3) Less effort and easier to build (4) No worries about frost heaves For everything below frost line, it is more stable and solid. The deck can be built much higher and more stable than floating for sure. If you are planning to build pergola or privacy screen on a floating deck, I would be a bit worried, since strong wind can potentially move your deck if there is enough gusts. It may not happen to you, just my concerns. If you really want to do that, I would use some light materials such as aluminum for the posts and also make sure the shade let the wind pass through or your deck may move like a sail boat. Those pergola or gazebo from Costco or Home Depot can be a good candidate for floating deck IMO.
Hey I'm currently dealing with the same problem! I want to try this method, what PSI does your pressure washer operate at and what tip did you use to do this? Thanks
My pressure washer was Simoniz, it was very old I believe it's 1500psi. I was using the YELLOW color tip (15 degree). It's very messy and it takes a while if you have very hard clay. Don't give up, IT DOES WORK!!! It does take a lot of effort.
You are probably already done with your hole but I'll add my thoughts in the chance it'll help someone else. You don't always need the water to use a vacuum to dig a hole. In fact, i use my shopvac for this all the time and use no water at all. Just the vacuum and a digging bar and your all set. It wont create any of the mud or quickly plug up your shop vac filter. Its allows you to dig much more ground that doesn't end up being mud and creating a big mess. The water is used by utility company's rather than a bar because the water wont damage any existing underground pipes or installations.
Thanks for sharing this. I'm fascinated by the incredible lengths you have gone to to prepare / pile for your deck. I live in the southwest of France where frosts are brief and the winters generally mild however - are you simply going below the frost-line to avoid ground heave? Here we would be happy with 50cm, especially on ground as hard as yours! I assume you're located in Canada.
not surprised that adding water to clay and letting it soak turned it into a concrete like substance. In order for that to work it either needs to be top soil, or constant soaking, otherwise water + pressure seems to work. Kind of interesting how 2/22 posts were probably more work than the other 20, that seems to be life though, guess you're just lucky it didn't fully follow the pareto principle and you have 4-5 posts take up 80% of your time.
Totally agree, it's extremely time consuming. Nope, that's not an effective way using consumer grade pressure washer and wet vacuum. However, I have seen professional Hydro Excavator (a huge truck with big tank) in our city everywhere when they are doing repair on the busy street in Canada. Here is the pro hydro excavation: vac-con.com/what-are-hydro-excavation-trucks-used-for/
Using a sonotube underground is a new one on me,,,,,and Ihave been at this for over 50 years. ..... The concrete has to be in contact with virgin (or recently compacted earth. If an inspector approved this he hasn't got a clue about his job. Loose dirt around a sonotube is totally worthless. They can shift location as the soil compacts. The tubes are for forms ABOVE ground. Nothing more. Sorry bubba, but this is Bob Villa all the way.
![[TH] 2024 PMSL SEA W2D5 | Fall | พลาดวันนี้ จะต้องเสียใจ](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/A5-Cuo12p6A/mqdefault.jpg)
THIS is the reason, at least for me, what the TH-cam was meant & designed for! Awesome...awesome video my friend...keep it going...!
You are very inspiring and interesting. I like every tips that you have here though I am a diy for so many years, I still enjoy yours a lot. Thank you for sharing, from Toronto, Canada.
Thank you so much! WE THE NORTH!!!!!!!
Dug hundreds of holes by hand. Seen all kinds of ground. I recommend a clam shovel - the best ground can be dug out without the need for an auger or jackhammer. For harder ground I use a jackhammer with a spade bit and extension. Still, some ground is literally like concrete - Never considered a pressure washer. Brilliant!
Indeed it worked very well with pressure washer, but it's a mess when you are dealing with muddy water
Great Video - Thanks!
😏how much to voice over Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger?
Great video shots, voice over and well explained! You got my sub
Thanks!
That ground looks a lot like the hardpan here in Antelope California. Locals call it Antelope concrete. When you plant a tree it's like putting it in a flower pot.
The clay is so hard.... it's unbelievable.
Glad you knew what you are doing that auger could mess up and entangle the not so smart very easily.
Did Arnold S. do the voice over.
Very good. However were it me, and it might be this Spring, I'd run back down to HD and rent a jackhammer with their longest bit or make one. Also, people who like quality/pro's always take the extra 2 minutes to crown their piers. If you do that, AND put some roofing tar/sealant where the wood enters the concrete and up 2-3 inches, you'll gets years more life out of your pier. Most wood rot in piers starts at that location.
As the former governor of caaaliforrrnia Arnold dosen't need a permit like he said at the end
LOL.. LOL
Looks like Brampton soil...hard clay especially in the summer...😉
You were not playing around on those footings...you could support the empire state building with all that ...
Dude great job, but your wetvac still has the dust filter installed, pop that off when using it for wet lol.
Do you have a full video how to install Peak Metal stair steps for the Out door deck
Hello. Thank you for sharing your deck project. Does your brick facade have an air gap and did you consider Simpson's BVLZ masonry connector? Any thoughts? Also curious if you considered using any of the liquid flashing products like Zip-Systems' Liquid Flash or Prosoco's R-Guard/Cat-5 at the ledger and/or top of structural framing?
Okay King Julian
I had to subscribe to someone who has the same mental afflictions I do when it comes to construction.
I had to laugh at the thought of drainage in that last hole. Nope.
take the filter out for wet vacc
Nice
Thanks. Hope it helped.
@@DIYable 😊😊😊 than thanks for your reply
Whats the advantage of everything under frost line vs floating? I mean, its not attached to house or anything
Floating deck is good in many ways too (1) You can avoid getting a permit in many cities since it is not attached to the house. (2) It's way cheaper than concrete or helical piles (3) Less effort and easier to build (4) No worries about frost heaves
For everything below frost line, it is more stable and solid. The deck can be built much higher and more stable than floating for sure. If you are planning to build pergola or privacy screen on a floating deck, I would be a bit worried, since strong wind can potentially move your deck if there is enough gusts. It may not happen to you, just my concerns. If you really want to do that, I would use some light materials such as aluminum for the posts and also make sure the shade let the wind pass through or your deck may move like a sail boat. Those pergola or gazebo from Costco or Home Depot can be a good candidate for floating deck IMO.
Arnold is making TH-cam videos?
Yes, that's me. I will be back...
Hey I'm currently dealing with the same problem! I want to try this method, what PSI does your pressure washer operate at and what tip did you use to do this?
Thanks
My pressure washer was Simoniz, it was very old I believe it's 1500psi. I was using the YELLOW color tip (15 degree). It's very messy and it takes a while if you have very hard clay. Don't give up, IT DOES WORK!!! It does take a lot of effort.
You are probably already done with your hole but I'll add my thoughts in the chance it'll help someone else. You don't always need the water to use a vacuum to dig a hole. In fact, i use my shopvac for this all the time and use no water at all. Just the vacuum and a digging bar and your all set. It wont create any of the mud or quickly plug up your shop vac filter. Its allows you to dig much more ground that doesn't end up being mud and creating a big mess. The water is used by utility company's rather than a bar because the water wont damage any existing underground pipes or installations.
This guy sounds like the guy off of 'Despicable Me'
LOL... maybe I can start a new career in voice acting!!! LOL LOL
What's the going rate for labour to build a deck where you live??
Thanks for sharing this. I'm fascinated by the incredible lengths you have gone to to prepare / pile for your deck. I live in the southwest of France where frosts are brief and the winters generally mild however - are you simply going below the frost-line to avoid ground heave? Here we would be happy with 50cm, especially on ground as hard as yours! I assume you're located in Canada.
i guess Im kinda off topic but does anybody know a good place to stream newly released movies online?
@Israel Tommy lately I have been using Flixzone. Just search on google for it :)
not surprised that adding water to clay and letting it soak turned it into a concrete like substance. In order for that to work it either needs to be top soil, or constant soaking, otherwise water + pressure seems to work. Kind of interesting how 2/22 posts were probably more work than the other 20, that seems to be life though, guess you're just lucky it didn't fully follow the pareto principle and you have 4-5 posts take up 80% of your time.
Totally agree, it's extremely time consuming. Nope, that's not an effective way using consumer grade pressure washer and wet vacuum. However, I have seen professional Hydro Excavator (a huge truck with big tank) in our city everywhere when they are doing repair on the busy street in Canada. Here is the pro hydro excavation:
vac-con.com/what-are-hydro-excavation-trucks-used-for/
That's a fascinating accent, I've never heard one like it. Where are you originally from?
That's a secret
He’s Arnold Schwarzenegger
Lol you’re supposed to remove the vacuum filter when sucking water. Throw it out, get a new one
LOL.. that's exactly what I was planning to do... that's why...
Just scrolled through all the comments to see if anyone else beat me to this 😂
Using a sonotube underground is a new one on me,,,,,and Ihave been at this for over 50 years. ..... The concrete has to be in contact with virgin (or recently compacted earth. If an inspector approved this he hasn't got a clue about his job. Loose dirt around a sonotube is totally worthless. They can shift location as the soil compacts.
The tubes are for forms ABOVE ground. Nothing more. Sorry bubba, but this is Bob Villa all the way.
this is way overkill. i guess well done?
Are you referring to 12" diameter tube or 4 feet deep? 12" maybe it is a bit overkilled but 4' deep isn't because that's where the frontline is.
@@DIYable sorry brother i was drunk when i wrote that - and maybe alittle jealous of your work. Thanks for the vid - well done