What's the easiest and most cost effective method of installing piers for a deck?

Question

There would probably be only one laborer (me) and the soil is rocky and ridden with old roots. What type of equipment should I plan on renting for this?

Answer 1

A large electric jackhammer and a asphalt cutter point.

Answer 2

You can rent a 1 man power auger. It will allow you to dig the holes very quickly and accurately. You'll need to ask the rental center how deep based on the frost level. If you don't go beyond that depth, the posts will just heave out of the ground and ruin your deck. You can also rent an electric cement mixer instead of doing it by hand. It's worth the money. So after all this you should really get a book on decks to learn how to do a proper layout of the piers, as well as joist placement, etc. You're going to spend a lot in materials. No sense saving $15 on the book and waisting hundreds on materials because it wasn't done right the first time.