Deck Post Calculator Project Checklist

Introduction

A deck post job has a lot of moving parts — permits, layout, digging, pouring, setting, plumbing — and the order matters as much as the work itself. This checklist sequences the whole post-and-footing phase from planning to final inspection so nothing gets skipped or done out of order. Print it, tape it to the job box, and check items off as you go. Start by locking in your quantities with the Deck Post Calculator before the first item below.

Pre-Build Checklist

• Finalize the design. Deck dimensions, beam layout, post spacing (per IRC R507 span tables), post sizes, footing diameters and depths all decided on paper. See the complete guide for the inputs.
• Confirm the frost depth with your local building department and set every footing depth below it — no exceptions. Record the number on your plans.
• Pull the building permit and confirm the inspection sequence and scheduling notice required (footing, framing, final). Details in the code compliance guide.
• Call 811 (or your local utility locator) before any digging — hitting a buried line is dangerous and expensive. Required in most US states.
• Complete the material takeoff: structural post count, guardrail post count, post lengths by purchase size, concrete volume in bags or cubic yards, forming tubes, gravel, post bases, beam caps, bolts and screws. Method in the estimating guide.
• Order materials with lead time: 12-ft+ 6×6 stock, specialty connectors, and ready-mix delivery slots can all take days. Add 10% waste contingency to lumber and 5-10% to concrete.
• Verify treatment ratings on the lumber order: UC4A or better (ground contact) for anything near grade. Re-check against the material guide specs.
• Stage tools: auger or post-hole diggers, wheelbarrow or mixer, 4-ft level, string line, plumb bob, batter-board lumber and stakes, circular saw, drill, and preservative for cut ends.
• Plan concrete logistics: water source, mixing station location, wheelbarrow path to the farthest hole, and a washout area. If using ready-mix, confirm truck access to the site.
• Check the weather window: no pouring in freezing temperatures without cold-weather measures, and no digging in saturated soil that will collapse the holes.

Layout Day Checklist

• Establish the ledger line (or house-side beam line) and mark it clearly.
• Pull the outer beam line parallel; verify square with the 3-4-5 triangle at every corner (3 ft / 0.91 m, 4 ft / 1.22 m, 5 ft / 1.52 m on the diagonal).
• Set batter boards outside all corners; stretch string lines for each beam line and level them.
• Mark every post center with a stake, dimensioned cumulatively from the beam end.
• Walk the full layout and verify: post count matches the estimate, no span exceeds the maximum spacing, guardrail posts included.
• Confirm setback distances from property lines meet local zoning — moving a laid-out deck later is miserable.
• Photograph the layout with a tape in frame — useful if questions arise at inspection.

Digging and Footing Checklist

• Dig each hole 4-6 in (10-15 cm) deeper than spec; fill the bottom with compacted gravel.
• Verify every hole: diameter meets spec, depth reaches below the frost line, bottom is on undisturbed soil.
• Bell out hole bottoms where soil allows for extra bearing and heave resistance.
• Set forming tubes plumb and at the correct elevation; brace them so the pour cannot shift them.
• Call the footing inspection and pass it BEFORE pouring. Keep batter-board strings up as layout proof.
• Pour each footing in one continuous session; rod the concrete to release air pockets.
• Set anchor bolts for post bases while concrete is wet, positioned per the base manufacturer’s template.
• Crown and slope footing tops away from post locations; keep footings moist and undisturbed for at least 3 days.

Post-Setting Checklist

• Confirm posts are the specified size, species, and treatment rating before cutting.
• Set each post on its standoff base — never bury end grain in soil or concrete.
• Brace every post in two directions; check plumb on two adjacent faces with a 4-ft level.
• Recheck plumb after 30 minutes; keep bracing until initial set (24-48 hours).
• String a line across post tops along each beam line to verify shared elevation.
• Mark and cut post tops in place at true beam elevation; seal every cut end with preservative.
• Install beam caps or through-bolt beams per the connector manufacturer’s spec — no improvised connections.
• Set guardrail posts at even spacing, none exceeding 6 ft (1.83 m) apart, with required rail connectors and tension ties.
• Call the framing inspection before decking covers any connection.

Wrap-Up Checklist

• Pull soil and mulch back from all post bases; confirm drainage slopes away from footings.
• Verify no post base sits in a low spot where water will pond.
• Touch up any preservative on cuts or abrasions; confirm all hardware is the specified galvanized or stainless grade.
• Clean and return rentals; store leftover concrete bags dry (moisture ruins them).
• File the approved plans, permit card, and inspection sign-offs where you can find them — future buyers and insurers ask.
• Schedule a 12-month check of post bases, hardware tightness, and drainage — the first year of settlement reveals issues while they are still easy to fix.
• Call the final inspection after railings and stairs are complete.

Related Guides

• Deck Post Complete Guide — the flagship overview behind this checklist.
• Deck Post Pro Tips — the field techniques each checklist step assumes.
• Deck Post Common Mistakes — what this checklist exists to prevent.
• Deck Post Estimating Guide — building the takeoff the checklist starts from.
• Deck Post Code Compliance — permits and the inspection sequence referenced above.

Get Your Number

A checklist is only as good as the numbers behind it. Finalize your post counts, spacing, footing sizes, and concrete volume in the Deck Post Calculator, transfer the results onto this checklist, and work it top to bottom. Checked boxes, passed inspections, square frame — that is what a professional post-and-footing phase looks like.

Disclaimer: Results are planning estimates only. Verify quantities and prices with your supplier and consult a licensed professional or your local building authority for structural or code-related decisions.