What Is a Footing?

A footing is the concrete foundation poured below the frost line that supports a pergola or pavilion post and keeps the structure level.

A footing is a concrete pier or pad poured into the ground to carry a post’s load and resist frost heave. In Pennsylvania, footings are set below the local frost line so freeze-thaw cycles do not lift or tilt the structure. Posts attach to footings with galvanized post anchors.