These blocks will form your deck’s foundation and will need to be even. Place a standard joist so it is centered on each pair of lines, making sure the tops of the joists are flush. Going further up the scale, there is cedar, followed by redwood. Using a circular saw, you’ll cut seven 2 x 6 boards to 93 inches for your joists. While it’s a good size for a city, the problem is that it’s not level. You’ll also have two boards at 10 ft serving as your end joists. A deck does not need a handrail or stairs if its walking surface is under 30 inches above the ground. We’re building a 12×12 deck over the grass in the backyard. Floating Deck Plan and Layout The plan for this deck is to use paver base and concrete deck blocks for the foundation. It is generally made from recycled material, requires no finish or maintenance. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. I read the "Deck Building: How to Build a Deck Introduction" on this fantastic site, and no mention is made of this step. Arrange the remaining rows of blocks so all are evenly spaced between the corner blocks. If you’re wondering how to build a floating deck over dirt, you’ll first need to choose a level surface and remove the grass/rocks and other material and rake it so that your ground is level in preparation for placing the deck blocks. We used a total of 6 deck blocks. Cut seven pressure-treated 2x6 boards to length at 93 inches, using a circular saw or power miter saw; these are the ​standard joists. You can buy special blocks designed for deck support, or you can use standard solid concrete block (the type without holes), which are cheaper and give the deck a lower profile. Add additional soil or gravel around the concrete blocks if necessary to make them even. Lay the boards out in a rectangle and drill screws into each corner. A floating deck is a type of deck that sits on top of the ground. Pressure-treated 5/4 decking boards (10 feet long; typically 1 inch thick by 5 1/2 inches wide). Place the two end joists over the ends of two of the standard joists to create a 96-inch-by-120-inch rectangle. Clear a flat area of lawn (or use a garage floor or driveway) for building the deck frame. I would love to save my back! If necessary, you can also build the deck on top of the concrete blocks. If you’re laying your deck straight onto the ground, cover the area with a layer of weed control fabric. From ‘Instructables‘, this simple DIY floating deck tutorial is one of my favorites, because it’s so basic I think even beginning DIY’ers could do it. If you can find ground contact pressure-treated lumber, that’s even better. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, 17 This will reduce the likelihood of moisture seeping into … Install your floating deck flooring by measuring all of the boards and trim them as needed so they’re even. Arrange your floating deck frame over the concrete blocks. This type of deck can only be made in areas that do not have a deep winter frost. Fasten the deck board to the joists with 2 1/2-inch deck screws. Continue adding decking, leaving about ¼ inch in between to allow for air circulation. Build a Floating Deck If a properly formulated plan is implemented, floating decks offer a wide range of choices, ease of use, and a significantly low-cost. If you’re ready to find your floating deck materials, check out our find a deck builder page for long-lasting Trex products. The driveway or other flat space will make a good area to build your floating deck frame. But it's best to support the deck on concrete blocks. It angles down from the house, dropping many feet in relative elevation. The 2-inch-by-6-inch joists will rest on top of the blocks. Drill pilot holes, and fasten the pieces together with three 3 1/2-inch deck screws at each corner, using a drill. When your DIY floating deck is built on deck blocks, you create greater stability for your deck in addition to improving ventilation. You’ll also have two boards at 10 ft serving as your end joists. I am only planning a 12 x 6 deck though because I have a very small space in my back yard that wont grow anything and is full of rocks. Even a fall from a height of 12 inches, or so, can easily twist an ankle or cause more serious injury. Then add 40 mm to 50 mm of gravel on top. In other words, they're free-standing decks that aren't not attached to any structure, including your house. To finish your floating deck and make it last, you’ll want to stain or seal it for protection against the elements if you’ve chosen natural wood. Frame the steps for the floating deck next. If you have a lush, green backyard, you might be wondering how to build a floating deck over grass. Floating decks can be set directly on the ground or, preferably, a bed of gravel. How to Build a Floating Deck Hunker. In fact, they can be the most hassle-free construction type, and the simplest one can be made in even a day. A floating deck can add visual interest to an otherwise mundane yard and provide a smooth surface above grass-dwelling insects that's ideal for entertaining. Oct 27, 2009 A floating deck can add visual interest to an otherwise mundane yard and provide a smooth surface above grass-dwelling insects that's ideal for entertaining. Featuring full-width rollers, our Free Floating™ mower deck moves independently from the rest of the mower. In addition to one block at each of your deck’s four corners, you’ll want to space blocks at regular intervals in both a horizontal and vertical direction to evenly balance the weight of your decking material and ensure structural integrity. Instructions on building a floating deck are relatively simple. Use a level to ensure every deck block is at the same height as one another. With a few free weekends, the help of a friend or two and the right tools, hardware and lumber, you’ll be able to create your own custom backyard structure. In nearly all cases, you’ll require a permit to build a deck. If the decking is left unfinished, it will turn gray and begin to splinter in a matter of months. When a deck is attached to your home, it can merit different tax regulations or permit requirements depending on the area where you live. You typically do not need a building permit for a floating ground-level deck, but confirm this with your city's building department before starting your project. When building a floating deck on uneven ground, your biggest challenge will be to make the ground even so the deck is stable. The deck surface should be no more than 8 in. If it’s close, just build up the ground or add concrete pavers. Next, we sprayed the grass with weed-killer, unrolled weed-blocking landscape fabric over the expanse of the deck, and spread all-purpose gravel over that. Clear the ground where the deck will be installed, removing grass and all other organic material, as needed. You don't have to finish the frame (if you use pressure-treated wood), but any wood decking should be finished with a protective deck stain or similar sealer as soon as the wood is suitably dry. Simply use screws to secure the wood or composite boards to the rubber base and create amazing decks in your living spaces. So I like your idea of framing first, then leveling; that was really helpful. I read somewhere that “the act of taking a step up gives you the illusion of being in a different place.” I wanted to create a different place in our yard but because of our low fence walls and our HOA’s rules against having anything go above the fence walls, I knew that the different place would have to be low to the ground. Cedar and Redwood are also comparatively less rot-resistant than other natural wood options, but can also be more expensive. Square up the frame, as needed, by pushing diagonally from opposing corners (this takes two people). They look expensive and custom, but a two-person team could easily build a floating deck over the course of a few weekends – given the right tools, materials and plenty of patience. Is this really necessary? If desired, lay down landscape fabric over the soil and add a layer of gravel to prevent weed growth under the deck. For a modest upgrade, you can opt for Southern yellow pine (SYP) for the decking material, which typically has fewer knots and a better appearance than standard pressure-treated decking. Use a framing square to check the corners of the frame for squareness (90-degree angles). To ensure a stable structure, you’ll want to take into consideration the size of your floating deck. From ‘Apartment Therapy‘, learn how to build a freestanding deck from repurposed pallet wood. Measure all of the 10-foot-long deck boards, and trim any as needed so they are 120 inches each. Measure from the inside of one corner of the frame and make a mark every 19 1/2 inches along one of the 10-foot end joists. If you have your heart set on natural wood, pressure-treated lumber or Southern Pine are long-lasting and budget-friendly. Kelly Bacon is a licensed general contractor with almost 50 years experience in construction, home building and remodeling, and commercial building. Floating decks are standard decks that appear to levitate on top of the ground. Measure the two 10-foot 2x6s; if they're anything over 10 feet, trim them to exactly 120 inches (lumber often runs a fraction of an inch longer than the nominal dimension; in this case, 10 feet). Our original plan was to build the one-level, step-up deck in between the four trees, but after trying to maneuver around the exposed roots, we learned our best solution was to shift the deck over and have the deck encompass one of our existing trees. How to Build a Floating Deck. Do I need to do anything to the existing grass I will be building over top of, or will it eventually die due to lack of sunlight. Basic Deck Building. Choose these for looks only; they're not as rot-resistant as treated lumber, despite their reputation for being naturally decay-resistant. Clear the ground where the deck will be installed, removing grass and all other organic material, as needed. A floating deck may sound like something straight out of Aladdin’s magic carpet ride, but it’s actually a terrific way to describe this freestanding deck as a structure in your yard. The other method is to create concrete pads for the deck to sit on top of. Build your deck on soil, sod, gravel, grass, concrete or even crushed rock in a plethora of different shapes and sizes. In colder climates, you cannot build a "floating" deck, but must build it on anchor posts that are cemented deep enough in the ground to avoid any ground upheaval (surface swelling and adjusting that occurs as the ground goes through freeze and thaw cycles over time). In addition to confirming whether you may need to obtain the proper permits, if you’re thinking about building a floating deck, you’ll also want to consider its potential location, the terrain, lumber or material options, cost, and how long it will take to complete your project. By now you should have your plans, your wood and your tools. This made our original straight forward square deck a little more complicated, but not too much. A floating deck can add a simple, elegant design to any backyard while also creating useable space for things like outdoor furniture and grilling. In the steps outlined in this DIY floating deck example, we reference a deck situated on concrete blocks, which raises the deck for ventilation. The key design element to create a floating deck is to have it be just a few inches above the ground, rather than being flush with grass. Drill pilot holes, and fasten through the end joist and into the standard joist with three 3 1/2-inch screws at each end. Use a level and a straight 10-foot-long board to make sure all of the blocks are level with one another. Align one board along the edge of the deck frame and attach it with your screws. I plan to build a deck also, thanks to your smashing tutorial. Thanks for your help. We used these double post cap brackets to secure the beams to the 4x4s. 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