I might be building a deck for a woman, about 20' x 12'. I've seen pillow blocks do well but I've also seen them sink a bit. I don't want a call from her in a few years complaining that her deck is now horribly uneven.

Coincidentally, this month's Fine Homebuilding has an article about a more thorough foundation for a deck, involving sinking piers down a few feet and even doing it with a larger foot on the bottom, say 12" diameter and a smaller concrete post, maybe 6" diameter extending to the surface.

I'd rather use the pillow blocks -- there's not going to be a hot tub on this deck. One deck I did a few years ago was going to receive a hot tub so I poured a footing with a smaller square footing under where the tub was going to be.

Any thoughts?

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