 I'm building an above-ground pool deck, 10-foot deep and 12-foot wide. My four-corner post, you know, I'm doing 36 inches deep. My question, the center three, can I get by with just using the cement, whatever you call them, to put the post on, or should I dig the holes? Well, you can put a footer on there. You just got to make sure it's big enough and deep enough.