I have been planning on building my 16X28 deck for my home using the Dek-Bock system. I have been visiting this website and reading it almost daily for a month now. I am really excited and finally got the courage to take the plunge. I finally stopped by my local inspection office on my way to work to ask a few questions and pick up a building permit form. Well they totally burst my bubble.
I asked if they were familiar with the Deck-Block system and decks with a floating foundation. Well, the whole office looked at me like I was crazy! At the time I did not have any of the information I had printed from this website, so I tried to explain to them how the system works. Yet they still kept refering me to the footing specs. and telling me about frost heave. I told them that I understand what they were talking about, but wanted to build my deck with Dek-Blocks. I told them the the deck will not be attached to the house and will move up and down with the frost heave. Again I was refered back to the footing specs? No one there said or mentioned to me that other people had tried to build a deck with a floating foundation, or that, that type of deck was not permited in the county.
The impression I got was that no one here had ever dealt with this type of construction method, so they kept refering me to what they knew. I would have slightly felt better if they would have shown me in the code specs that ALL decks have to be attached and with specific footings. I will read up on the building code myself and see how it is worded. I will return this afternoon with as much info I can show them and maybe I can build my deck.

What I wanted to know is, is there anyone out there that has built a deck using Dek-Blocks here in VA. They sell them at every Lowes store out here? The building code might vary from county to county, but would like to know if anyone ran into any difficutly with the VA/locl code.
I live in the county of King George
Thanks

I wish you the best of luck. Post again when you have results, we'd love to hear how it turns out. There are still a lot of skeptics out there....

Hello I'm trying to build a 16x 16 deck with the dek block I'm down in Newport news Va and I had the same problem when I went to try to get the permit. So have you found out anything new can the blocks be used in Va and do you even need a permit??

Hello I'm trying to build a 16x 16 deck with the dek block I'm down in Newport news Va and I had the same problem when I went to try to get the permit. So have you found out anything new can the blocks be used in Va and do you even need a permit??

Based off the one response it doesnt look good for this type of system.....
that stinks.

Hello I'm trying to build a 16x 16 deck with the dek block I'm down in Newport news Va and I had the same problem when I went to try to get the permit. So have you found out anything new can the blocks be used in Va and do you even need a permit??

Based off the one response it doesnt look good for this type of system.....
that stinks.

Every building department and inspector will look at things differently. It sounds to me like they have never dealt with any one else in your area applying for a permit to build ta floating foundation deck. Our system meets all national and regional building codes, though states, counties and cities can always enforce other codes if they want. I think you are on the right track, gather your information and present to them your plans, and educate them on how the system works, and if there are no special localized building codes, they should grant you a permit. Be sure to print out our building code review and frost heave analysis if you haven't allready. It can be found in the support section of our website.