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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    CA
    Posts
    2

    Question footing question

    I am going to be adding a wood patio cover in my back yard. I am fishing around for some suggestions since you guys know what to look for and i have no idea even where to look. The cover will be 20' wide by 16' deep and right around 8' tall at the side against the house. I have not decided if i should attach to the house or let it be free standing but i am leaning more toward attached. About half of the depth is a concrete slab. I am adding pavers so whatever legs are on the outside will be in the pavers area. So i will have to pour some kind of footing for each leg to sit on. I live in thousand oaks california so we do get high winds and an occasional earthquake. There is no snow load or frost line to worry about. i am thinking i will use 4 legs (if one side is attached to the house) but might go to 3 if i can find long enough lumber for the spans that isnt really expensive.

    Anyone know what the requirements are for footings for this type of structure?

    Thank you for any help!

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Knoxville, TN
    Posts
    2,560

    Default Re: footing question

    Go down to the Thousand Oaks building dept. and ask them. They will likely have a handout to give you that will tell you everything you need to do, including sizes of lumber for the spans you have.


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    13

    Default Re: footing question

    Footing depth will likely be 12" but check with the building department, they are usually very helpful. If you attach the structure to the house you will likely need a permit, if its detached you may not. Dont let that make your decision though, continue your research and ensure you are compliant with local codes and you will be much better off.

    James McKinley, Certified CREIA Inspector
    Professional Property Inspections
    www.proinspectsocal.com

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    CA
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: footing question

    To be honest, i am almost afraid of getting the city involved. I'm not saying i dont want to build it right, i do. most things i build i over build so it is extra strong. I've just heard from others that getting the permit, and everything that goes along with itcan cause a small job to cost a lot more. As with a lot of other Americans right now is extremely tight. I am disabled and rely on my wife to bring home the bacon. Also, i have a couple of big sheds in my back yard that will be moving with me when and if i ever move. they are 12' x 25' each and made of molded plastic. not sure how happy the city would be but i need them for product storage for my wifes home based business.

    I will go down and see if they have something with the info and ask what is involved with the permits. A job like this will take me a bit of time as i can only work an hour or 2 before my disability starts hurting too much. Then it might take a couple days to recover. So this job will take a lot of time to complete but it makes me feel like i am contributing so i dont want someone else making it hard on me.

    Thanks for the help


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Knoxville, TN
    Posts
    2,560

    Default Re: footing question

    I lived in Long Beach, and the building dept there had hand outs for all kinds of projects, free for the asking.


  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Snowbird (this means I'm retired and migrate between locations), FL/MI
    Posts
    4,086

    Default Re: footing question

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Ellis View Post
    To be honest, i am almost afraid of getting the city involved. I'm not saying i dont want to build it right, i do. most things i build i over build so it is extra strong. I've just heard from others that getting the permit, and everything that goes along with itcan cause a small job to cost a lot more. As with a lot of other Americans right now is extremely tight. I am disabled and rely on my wife to bring home the bacon. Also, i have a couple of big sheds in my back yard that will be moving with me when and if i ever move. they are 12' x 25' each and made of molded plastic. not sure how happy the city would be but i need them for product storage for my wifes home based business.

    I will go down and see if they have something with the info and ask what is involved with the permits. A job like this will take me a bit of time as i can only work an hour or 2 before my disability starts hurting too much. Then it might take a couple days to recover. So this job will take a lot of time to complete but it makes me feel like i am contributing so i dont want someone else making it hard on me.

    Thanks for the help
    Thousand Oaks - Handouts

    See especially: Patio Cover Beam Span and Footing Table on page 2 of this Thousand Oaks Blgd Dept. "handout" document (reference 'Detail C') attached .PDF file below.

    If you're heading down to get some information, suggest you bring a site plan sketch and an elevation sketch of the backside where you're planning this project and photo or a few of the backside so they can alert you to a host of conditions that you may need to research, plan for, and address in your official planning/permitting documents so you won't encounter difficulties and your labor, efforts, and funds won't be wasted and most cost-effective. Sometimes you can find a decent aerial view at Google earth and add some rough measurements (also regarding improvements/set-backs from adjacent lots, fences, etc. Sometimes site sketches at assessor/county office, sometimes a redacted copy of lot survey as a part of real estate closing documents can prove useful during the question/answer visit to the building department desk.

    Topography and (I know..) drainage may also effect. I don't recall if you indicated slab or post-tension slab foundation, presence of alternate exit(s), EEROs, need for accessibility due to your present or a future disability, etc.


    If you haven't started anything requiring planning/permitting/approval yet, frankly I don't understand your reluctance to information gathering at the local building department!

    You can best explore your options and consider attached/detached, etc. when you've found out what the requirements will be for your specific site/home/yard/soil/conditions.
    HTH.

    Attached Files Attached Files

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Fredericksburg, VA
    Posts
    895

    Default Re: footing question

    DEtached is the way to go. But really, get a permit. If you ever want to sell the house it can be a deciding factor.

    The above statements are expressed solely as my opinion and in all probability will conflict with someone else's.
    Stu, Fredericksburg VA

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Knoxville, TN
    Posts
    2,560

    Default Re: footing question

    I had a head slap moment HG. I left CA in 94, and there were printed documents free for the asking - no PDF's.
    Portable Document Format - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


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