Footings & Attachment
Subject: What Goes Under Your Structure — And Why It Matters
Hi [First Name],
You can build the most beautiful structure imaginable, but if it is not sitting on the right foundation, none of it holds. Footings are the part of the project most people never see once they are done — and that is exactly why they need to be done right the first time.
Your engineering package includes footing specifications sized for your structure and your site conditions. This email walks through the types of footings, what the engineering covers, what you will handle locally, and the details that keep your structure solid for the long run.
01
Why Footings Matter
Footings do three things: they distribute the weight of the structure into the ground, they resist lateral forces from wind, and they prevent the structure from shifting due to freeze-thaw cycles in the soil.
A pavilion with a pitched roof works like an airplane wing — when wind flows over it, it creates uplift. Your footings and post base connections are what keep the structure anchored in place. Without the right depth, size, and attachment, even a well-built structure can move.
The loads are real. A 20×20 pavilion that weighs 10,000 pounds can carry an additional 12,000 pounds of snow at 30 psf — that is 5,500 pounds per footing. In heavy snow areas like Park City, Utah, that number can climb above 8,500 pounds per footing. This is why your footings are engineered to your specific location, not a generic standard.
Footings are rarely seen, but they’re one of the most important parts of any timber frame structure. Hidden below ground, they support the weight of the structure and help it withstand snow loads, wind, and other environmental forces for years to come. Getting them right is the foundation of everything that follows.
02
Common Footing Types
Not every site calls for the same foundation. The right footing type depends on your soil conditions, frost line depth, the structure you are building, and whether you are working with an existing concrete pad or starting from bare ground.
| Type | What It Is | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Poured Concrete | Excavated hole with rebar reinforcement, concrete poured into a form tube (Sonotube) with a bell-shaped base | Most residential projects — pavilions, pergolas, gazebos, decks. The standard approach for new construction. |
| Existing Concrete Pad | Mounting directly to an existing patio slab using post base hardware and anchors | Projects over an existing patio that is in good condition (no major cracking, adequate thickness, 3,000+ PSI) |
| Helical Piles (Screw Piles) | Steel shafts with helical plates screwed into the ground with specialized equipment | Sites where you cannot dig traditional footings — over an existing deck, near sensitive landscaping, or in tight-access areas |
Your engineering package specifies which footing type and size your structure requires. If your local building department requires a different size due to soil conditions, we work with you to adjust.
Frost Line — Why Depth Matters
When soil freezes in winter, it expands. When it thaws in spring, it settles. This freeze-thaw cycle is called frost heave, and it can lift, crack, and shift a footing that is not deep enough.
Your footings must be dug below your local frost line — the deepest point at which the ground freezes. In some areas that is 12 inches. In others, it is 48 inches or more. Your engineering package accounts for this based on your location.
03
Post Base Hardware & Attachment
04
What the Engineering Covers vs. What You Handle
Footings are a shared responsibility. We engineer the specifications. You (or your contractor) handle the local work. Here is how that breaks down:
We Handle
- Footing size and depth calculations for your site
- Load calculations — snow, wind, seismic, dead load
- Post base hardware included in your kit
- Stamped engineering plans for permit submission
- Rebar and reinforcement specifications
- Responding to building department questions
You Handle
- Calling 811 before digging (required by law)
- Excavation — digging the footing holes
- Sourcing concrete and rebar locally
- Pouring and curing the concrete
- Setting anchor bolts while concrete is wet
- Local building permit and inspections
We have done this over 7,000 times. If your building department has questions about the footing specifications, we are happy to speak with them directly. You are not figuring this out alone.
Before You Dig — Call 811
Before any excavation begins, call 811 (the national utility-locate hotline). A technician will come mark underground utility lines — gas, electric, water, cable — so you know exactly where it is safe to dig. This is required by law in every state and is a free service. Call a few days before you plan to break ground.
A strong structure starts with what you cannot see. The footings, the post base connections, the engineering behind the specifications — these are the details that keep your pavilion, pergola, or deck standing solid through decades of weather, weight, and use.
If you have questions about the footing requirements for your specific project — the soil, the frost line, what equipment you will need, or how to work with your contractor — I am happy to walk you through it. Every site is different, and we will make sure yours is set up right.
We hope you found this information helpful as you explore your options.
[Name]
Western Timber Frame
[Phone] | [Email] | westerntimberframe.com
Western Timber Frame, Inc.
Winner — 2026 U.S. Small Business Administration
Utah Manufacturing Small Business of the Year
