The National Weather Service has a map of the Frost Line in the US.

One of the first things you need to think about when building your own deck is how deep your footings should be.

This is determined by the frost line in your area and the map below should give you a general idea of how deep you need to go.

The frost line is the deepest part of the ground.It is important to know the frost line depth.Water pipes should always be below a frost line.

It is important that the footings for a building or a deck are below the frost line so the posts don't shift as the ground thaws.To determine the proper depth past a frost line, check your local building codes.

It is best to wait until spring to start digging if you are in a cold zone.It will be easier to dig to the proper depth when the ground thaws.

Keep a stick within easy reach of your construction project so you can take regular measurements.

This map shows where the frost line is in your area.If you live on the edge of the line, it is best to go with the recommendations from the cold side.

The map shows the frost line map across the United States from the National Snow and Ice Data center.It moves down from 72 inches to 6 inches.

All the way to zero inches in Florida, southern Arizona, and southern California can be seen the maximum frost line depth of 100 inches.

If the map is not accurate for you.Use the map from the National Weather Service to check your frost line.

Before you start digging, make sure you check with your local building codes.

If you know how deep the water pipes are, you can avoid them.