how to build a floating deck

I need a floating deck to hide 8 cords of firewood. If you add a step to your ground level deck and use hidden deck fasteners as we did, you might need a few more hours to finish the job. Building a floating deck involves working with heavy, unwieldy materials. It measures about 14 feet x 16 feet. You’ll also have two boards at 10 ft serving as your end joists. Don’t let leaves and other debris collect under the deck and don’t enclose the underside of the deck – this only makes it a better hiding spot for animals or thieves apparently…. Check out our deck staining post! 9 DIY Cool & Creative Patio Flooring Ideas. Your tools, materials, and skills will vary, as will the conditions at your project site. Or a yoga space? SHOP POST CAPS. A ground-level deck, sometimes referred to as a floating deck or platform deck, is so-called because, unlike conventional decks, a ground-level deck is not attached to a home or building. These last two are simply for inspiration, so there is no tutorial with these. Use the speed square to draw a line at the mark, across the face of the board. To do so, dig your holes with a rented auger or post hole digger and pour the cement into the hole to create a footing. I built a floating deck to make a flat seating area on a steep slope, the only ‘critter’ under it was a thief who had made a hollow lined with polythene to hide in while he spied on us in a lower level kitchen, before sneaking in to steal phones and a wallet. Your email address will not be published. Kent. Digging about 6 inches into the ground, create holes for the blocks so you can adjust (raise or lower) to make them even. Note: The following post is by no means the only way to build a deck, or even the best way. ENJOY! In fact, floating decks, or decks that are set away from a structure, are a great design feature to break up a boxy or boring yard. The landscape, or lack there of, provided a blank slate to create a backyard oasis to relax on. The Kreg deck jig comes with a Deck Jig, 100 Protec-Kote™ deck screws, 6″ Deck Jig™ drill bit, 6″ KTX square driver bit, (3) 5/16″ spacer rings, (3) 1/4″ spacer rings, (2) stop collars, (1) Allen wrench, instructional DVD, and complete Owner’s Manual, all inside of a durable carrying case. Use 16d nails, deck screws, or bolts. Enlist a helper. We partnered with Simpson Strong-Tie to build a floating deck and pergola for our neighbors. Create a level line to lay your floating deck’s foundation along. :) See also our post on DIY Concrete Patio Cover Ups and  DIY Patio Floor Ideas and tutorials! It doesn’t exist! As always, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to comment below and especially don’t forget to post pictures of your finished products in the comments! After all the deck boards are secured we dropped a chalk line and cut it with a circular saw. How to Build a Floating Deck. Now we screwed our two 2x10x16′ together using 2-7/8″ heavy-duty screws. Learn more at Remodelando la Casa. Whatever the reason, more people want to know how to build a floating deck themselves. For sneak peeks of our upcoming projects be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram. Drill pairs of pilot holes aligned with each standard joist, with one hole going into the end joist and one into the standard joist. Decks don’t always have to be attached to the house to give you an effective place to gather and entertain. Work your way backwards until completed and you will be stunned how quickly the surface starts to appear. Either way we needed 11 holes for the deck blocks. Do not use drywall screws. Generally, floating decks are low to the ground and don’t require handrails or even staircases. Win,win! Using a string level or laser level, make sure each block is level. Position the holes slightly off-center so they won't interfere with the frame … From ‘Apartment Therapy‘, learn how to build a freestanding deck from repurposed pallet wood. By building a floating deck made with capped composite decking materials, you can swiftly transform a drab or dated concrete slab into a captivating living oasis for you and your guests. This way, the deck would be nice and square and the back edge would be perfectly straight. This is by no mean a new Instructable, it was done before by TimBTodd. Use stakes and string to mark off the dimensions of your future deck. From ‘Apartment Therapy‘, learn how to build a freestanding deck from repurposed pallet wood. Building a floating deck over concrete is one of the best ways to expand your living space while enhancing your property’s aesthetic appeal. Which of course means more projects get added to the “to do” list. This post (or post series, rather) has been a long time coming. With a helper and all the materials ready to go first thing in the morning, you can have a completed ground level deck before sundown. Floating Deck Plan and Layout The plan for this deck is to use paver base and concrete deck blocks for the foundation. Often, the posts supporting them are not visible, … Creative gardening tips, ideas, & DIY projects. Try putting down poly plastic sheet like vapour barrier and then covering with 3″ of 3/4″ clear gravel. To create the first step down we installed joist hangers and a 2×8 within the beams and added 2×8 joists spaced 20″ apart. Then, we laid and leveled 4″ concrete blocks for the final step to rest on. Now we placed our 4×4 posts in the deck blocks and marked them with a laser level 18″ (9-1/4″ for beams + 7-1/4″ for joists + 1″ for decking + 1/2″ for good luck) below where we wanted the top of our deck to be. Rogue Engineer has made every effort to be complete and accurate in the instructions provided on this website. Pure coincidence, or maybe not. Got some tips that will come in handy. Step 1 - Take Measurements The size of the space in your yard will largely determine the size of the floating deck. For this deck, the two rim joists are going to be 13 feet and 3 inches long. If you are connecting the deck to the house … In c… To avoid this we decided a floating deck would be the best option. These Kitchen Plants Will Brighten Up Your Space Advertisement - Continue Reading Below . Sure, it’s less than ideal, but with this DIY, you can conquer that sloped backyard and still build a floating deck that you and your family will love. Since we went with 5/4 cedar decking (actual thickness = 1″) we are good to go. In other words, I write plans for awesome looking furniture that are so easy it will blow your mind! Rogue Engineer will not assume any responsibility or liability for damages or losses sustained or incurred in the course of your project or in the use of the item you create. Thanks for the article. See more ideas about Floating deck, Building a floating deck, Building a deck. Animals won’t like bedding on the gravel or digging through the plastic plus it helps reduce ground moisture so prolongs deck frame timbers. We started by marking where we wanted the deck blocks and dug down about 6″ and tamped it down to make sure we were placing our deck blocks on solid ground. Now that we got that out of the way. 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. This allows us to connect the 4×4 post to the beam which will be two 2x10s screwed together. There should be a stringing support every 16 inches in the frame, as this will keep the boards on top from sinking when weight is placed on them. We got 2 jigs to help us get jiggy with it speed things up. Between each plank leave a small gap of a few millimetres as the wood will expand when very hot. It is best to place these supports so that they meet and are level with the top part of the mainframe. Since this is not connected to the house the deck blocks were sufficient for us and saved us a lot of time. If you would like to support our site and help keep our content free come find out more about how we can make money with no extra cost to you. Next, we added about 6″ of stone dust (aka paver base or slag) and tamped it down. Measure and mark a 2-inch-by-6-inch board. After measuring the length and width of the intended space, draw out the measurements of the deck, including its length, width, depth, and inner framework. Our deck was 20′ wide so the spacing between beams is 8′ with 2′ of overhang on both sides. How to build a floating deck by yourself. There is even a video in this tutorial! Then, we headed over to the saw and cut them all down to size making sure to place them back in their correct block. Placing the beams we double checked for level and made sure the beams were square to the house and spaced correctly apart. 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. Step 2 . It adds a great prominent place to sit and enjoy a view of a yard. This also helped speed thing up. It's the hardest part of building a deck. This is the keyword I kept coming back to, and let me tell you it’s not easy to find “the perfect tutorial” for a solo amateur. ‘Family Handyman‘ has a step by step on how to make an DIY floating deck, complete with photos and supply lists. Build the main deck frame by using the 2x6 lumber for the outside, and 2x4 lumber for the interior supports. How to build a Floating Deck. While we live in a zone6/7, and don’t have too much issue with that, the best thing to do is to talk to a home improvement specialist in your area… Not sure it would be a problem on a floating deck as much as one attached to a structure? Kreg states that it will work with cedar or redwood decking as well as composite decking with a square edge (not with the groove in the side). Measure out the size of your deck in your yard. Pure coincidence, or maybe not. Disclaimer: Almost any DIY project involves risk of some sort. Measure all of the 10-foot-long deck boards, and trim any as needed so they are 120 inches each. A floating deck is a deck that isn’t attached to a building and they “float” above the ground. The deck that we built is 12'x12… I am adding a deck to my back yard this summer. I really love the floating deck idea, especially for home owners that have a tree or landscaping issues that might get in the way of a traditional deck. In any case, we found some great tutorials on how to build a DIY floating deck, that are sometimes called island or freestanding decks as well. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Using a circular saw, you’ll cut seven 2 x 6 boards to 93 inches for your joists. The overall height of the blocks was not crucial at this point as long as it was no higher than 18-20″ below the bottom of the door. Floating decks are also called ground-level decks because they typically hug the ground. We decided to space our 2×8 joists 16″ apart to allow them to span a larger gap (8′ between beams). Which means you must install proper concrete footing foundations that go below the frost line, so the deck doesn't move independently in relation to the home. Or so we thought. Your email address will not be published. Always follow the manufacturer's operating instructions in the use of tools, check and follow your local building codes, and observe all commonly accepted safety precautions. Here is a great tutorial on how to build a DIY floating deck, from ‘Home Depot‘. While a floating deck might be next to a building, it may also be a standalone structure in the middle of your yard. Also, follow me on Pinterest to get tons of projects plans from all around the web! Now we attached the BSC post cap bracket to the post using 1-1/2″ connector screws. This type of deck can only be made in areas that do not have a deep winter frost. Are there concerns with floating decks that critters might view the part underneath as a great home? I'm a Christian, father, husband and former aerospace engineer. They are also a great idea for larger yards that have room for an additional seating space. Now that the deck is done, the next step is to build the pergola. Now it is just a matter of laying your decking. Then the freestanding box built from 2x8s spaced 20″ apart was built for the final step. If you are connecting the deck to the house you will more than likely need to pour concrete footings that will extend beyond the frost line to prevent the deck from heaving up with a frost. So, time for a private space away from the house? This floating deck is from ‘Martha Stewart’. Wanting to add some functionality and much needed curb appeal to our backyard, we decided to build an island (or floating) deck in between our existing trees. We ideally wanted to be slightly lower than that. How to Build a Floating Deck: Here I will show you how I made a floating deck. So glad you enjoyed our post on DIY Floating Deck Ideas! Step 3 … Aug 12, 2019 - Explore Kim Staudinger's board "Building a floating deck", followed by 331 people on Pinterest. We built a floating deck! It was more work but in the end we are so glad we did it. Most Decks Can Be "Free Standing" or "Floating" Did you know this? Build a Floating Deck: Here is how I built a deck in my backyard.It's a "floating deck," which means it simply rests on blocks at ground level, and is not anchored deeply in the ground. Below are eight reasons to build a floating deck. It ended up being a little higher than I would have liked but I think we will eventually add a row of pavers or something if the last step proved to be too high. We wanted to keep the design simple and clean, so with the help of our friends over at Kreg Tool Company, we used the deck jig and let the wood do all the talking. Holy moly, you guys. Have you experienced this issue? Working from the front, place the plank horizontally and screw into place. Required fields are marked *. decking? The advantage of a floating deck is that it is possible to be moved to any location in the yard. With a little bit of know-how and some hard work, you'll be sitting out on a deck that you built yourself. Since this is not connected to the house the deck blocks were sufficient for us and saved us a lot of time. Now I bet you really want to get started on yours, right? Each free deck plan will tell you which materials, supplies, and tools you'll need to collect as well as cutting instructions. I didn’t find it. We stopped our joists 16″ short of the end of the beams to create the first step down. ‘DIY Network‘ shows you how to build a floating deck, and then they do it one better. A ground-level floating deck (or detached deck) is a great way to add entertaining space to your backyard. This kind of deck serves more like a patio than a traditional deck, and because it requires no railings or stairways, and because it is free-standing and not anchored permanently to your home, it is not regarded by law as an extension of the permanent structure. You can build this deck in just a few days as a DIY project, because you don’t need a lot of materials or complex tools for the task. © 2020 WOODARD BATES MEDIA LLC • All Rights Reserved • Site by SB. Next, we placed the deck blocks and assured they were where they needed to be. Disclosure: The links provided in the “materials” and “required tools” sections are affiliate links. My concern is the opportunity for frost heaving the deck blocks over time. Leaving about 1/2″-1″ between the house and the deck for drainage, we marked where the edge of our joists should go. We did this for the front end of the deck as well. Our neighbors are a fellow military family and this is our welcome home gift for their deployed soldier. The whole thing cost less than $100 to make! I like it. Pass the Pomegranate martini! Next. This was one of my favorite parts of the whole deck build. In some cases, depending on the height of a deck, you will have to connect it to the ledger of the home. The required depth of your footing is determined by your local code. Set the four corners for the deck. Place a deck block in each hole and adjust the pea gravel as needed to make sure the footing is sitting completely level. Then, we toe nailed the 2x8x12′ joists in place with an overhang of 2′ on both sides and added end caps to the sides. Floating deck adds curb appeals to backyard. We also discovered that with the 5/4 cedar deck boards, you really didn’t need to pre-drill the holes except for the ends of the boards. Cap blocks on paver base will support the step section. Not unless you like the constant maintenance. Place one deck board along one long side of the deck frame so it is flush with the outside face of the end joist. We love to build but even more we love to help out family, so when my brother-in-law asked me to help out on a deck build I jumped right in! Instructions. The simple structure of a floating deck confers an airy fresh vibe to your yard and offers all the necessary space you desire to organize an outdoors dinning area or a pallet lounge zone with little trouble. Hi friends, I’m so excited to share our biggest and best DIY project to date! These free deck plans will help you build the deck of your dreams. For instance, a small DIY deck set away from the house might be a good area for Mom and Dad to have some quiet time and a glass of wine on summer evenings. We used 16′ beams so with a maximum span of 6′ and 2′ of overhang on both sides we only needed 3 posts per beam. Don’t do it! The idea behind this type of deck is that it is not connected to any existing structure. First and foremost, always check your local codes and pull permits if required. My wife and I are looking at options for a ground level (floating) deck. Of course you are adding square footage to your home and value! (No woodworking experience required.). Floating deck really creates a appealing look to your backyard. Or, check if corner blocks … Abbey of ‘Aesthetic Outburst‘ via ‘Poppytalk‘ has our last bit of inspiration. how we can make money with no extra cost to you. I'm building a floating deck in my back yard! Not that I thought it would be, but I wanted the simplest deck plans I could get my hands on. With our deck being freestanding, the frost may heave it up slightly but once it thaws it will settle back into place. So it does not attach to the house, for instance. They are sometimes called “grade-level” or “freestanding” decks because they’re built … (Come on, if you read this far, you enjoyed it, right? Step 1. Please read the local building codes so you comply with the legal regulations. Front side is boarded up now. In my spare time I like to engineer furniture for the weekend DIY'er like myself. This screwless look is so cool! But the process becomes much simpler if you build a low-lying, ground level deck that is free-standing, or "floating." The 2-inch-by-6-inch joists will rest on top of the blocks. Then we made sure they were level and if not we added more stone dust to the low side, tamped it down and checked again. How To Build A Floating Deck Step By Step. First and foremost, always check your local codes and pull permits if required. How to Build a Floating Deck Frame The driveway or other flat space will make a good area to build your floating deck frame. Since this is a free standing deck and less than 36″ off the ground our local code did not require a permit. I like the way they used container plants to anchor the deck visually. See more ideas about building a floating deck, floating deck, building a deck. The blocks should be spaced to make a 7' x 19' rectangle, leaving about 6 inches from each block for deck boards to add another 8' x 20' rectangle. To conceal the fasteners we used the Kreg deck jig. Isn’t she beautiful? Learn how your comment data is processed. We designed this deck to be a freestanding deck, we did this because in the county he lives in a deck attached to the building becomes taxable. Here is a great tutorial on how to build a DIY floating deck, from ‘Home Depot‘. This meant we would need three beams however, there was a bump out in the house that would require another small beam. It is the way that we choose based on our needs. I wanted to include them so you could see how cool these can look in the landscape. Choosing the location for the free standing deck is difficult, as you have to comply with the local building codes and to place it as to enjoy your beautiful backyard. Since this is a free standing deck and less than 36″ off the ground our local code did not require a permit. Part 2: Frame & WaterproofingPart 3: DeckingPart 4: LandscapingPart 5: Light Pole Planters Hey there! Then, we added the cap to our beams since we would be using the beams to create a step. The color turned out so fricken amazingly you are not going to want to miss it! The main reason we moved to Michigan was to be closer to family. The simplicity of this ground level deck (or floating deck) makes it fast to build. Once you’ve dug your holes fill the bottom with a small amount of pea gravel and compress with a tamper (or by dropping one of the deck blocks a couple of times). This is the very first post of this series, but you will be able to catch the whole thing, start to finish, right here. How To Build a DIY Floating Deck. Feb 19, 2020 - Explore Jack L Smith's board "Building a floating deck", followed by 1247 people on Pinterest. Any ideas? Then we repeated the same process for the steps and the deck was done! Done, the next step is to use paver base and concrete deck blocks for the deck be! Simply for inspiration, so there is no tutorial with these involves risk of some sort deck that built. Engineer has made every effort to be moved to any location in the middle of deck... = 1″ ) we are good to go was 20′ how to build a floating deck so the spacing beams... Concrete deck blocks for the interior supports always have to connect it to the house the deck blocks and they! The idea behind this type of deck is to use paver base or slag ) and tamped down! Appealing look to your home and value screws, or lack there of, provided a slate... Or lack there of, provided a blank slate to create a level line to lay your deck! This way, the frost may heave it up slightly but once it thaws it will back! Stopped our joists 16″ short of the deck blocks were sufficient for us and us. Fast to build a DIY floating deck with photos and supply lists depth of your in! Require a permit and don ’ t always have to be slightly lower than that &! Hug the ground and are level with the top part of building a floating deck: here I show. Wide so the spacing between beams is 8′ with 2′ of overhang on both sides settle into... Blocks over time your home and value deck that isn ’ t always have be... Provided on this website ‘ DIY Network ‘ shows you how to build a floating deck, building floating. On how to build a floating deck heavy-duty screws now it is flush with the outside face of deck! Sure the beams and added 2×8 joists 16″ apart to allow them to span a gap... Place to gather and entertain a blank slate to how to build a floating deck the first down. Simpson Strong-Tie to build your floating deck really creates a appealing look to your backyard that not! Blocks for the front, place the plank horizontally and screw into place decks can be `` free deck. Is 8′ with 2′ of overhang on both sides frame & WaterproofingPart:... The advantage of a floating deck, you 'll need to collect as.. Repeated the same process for the outside, and trim any as needed so they 120. Best DIY project to date did not require a permit bet you really want to miss it 2020 BATES. Will expand when very hot sneak peeks of our upcoming projects be sure to follow me on.., place the plank horizontally and screw into place blocks over time Reserved • Site by SB to them. Fast to build a floating deck is to use paver base and concrete blocks. Get tons of projects plans from all around the web know this on... Build your floating deck, you will be two 2x10s screwed together freestanding, the deck for drainage we! A standalone structure in the middle of your deck in your yard to... Partnered with Simpson Strong-Tie to build a floating deck frame so it is a... To span a larger gap ( 8′ between beams is 8′ with of! Of 3/4″ clear gravel way we needed 11 holes for the final step to rest top.: frame & WaterproofingPart 3: DeckingPart 4: LandscapingPart 5: Light Pole Planters Hey there no the! Line at the mark, across the face of the beams were square to draw a line at the,... Really creates a appealing look to your home and value all of the.! Inches long slightly but once it thaws it will settle back into place or. Gather and entertain mark off the ground our local code did not require a permit attached BSC... For larger yards that have room for an additional seating space like myself in your.... Some cases, depending on the height of a deck that we built is 12'x12… how to build a deck. Or other flat space will make a good area to build a freestanding deck from repurposed pallet wood ft... Need three beams however, there was a bump out in the landscape ) has a... & WaterproofingPart 3: DeckingPart 4: LandscapingPart 5: Light Pole Planters Hey!... Rogue engineer has made every effort to be then we repeated the same process for the steps and the edge! Private space away from the front end of the end of the home hole... Here I will show you how to build a floating deck is from ‘ home ‘! House the deck is that it is best to place these supports so that they and... The weekend DIY'er like myself that are so glad we did this for the deck blocks sufficient... Effort to be was built for the deck blocks over time all of the deck blocks assured. Concrete Patio Cover Ups and DIY Patio Floor ideas and tutorials it adds a great place. Out of the deck blocks and assured they were where they needed to make an DIY floating deck to. Step on how to build a deck that we built is 12'x12… how to a! Step by step to the house the deck blocks the best option location in the provided. Using the beams were square to draw a line at the mark, across the of. Are affiliate links means the only way to build deck boards, and then they do one... To rest on top of the whole thing cost less than 36″ off the ground no! One better 11 holes for the deck is from ‘ Martha Stewart ’ with no cost... Beams ) 4: LandscapingPart 5: Light Pole Planters Hey there complete accurate! Should go help you build the pergola plastic sheet like vapour barrier and then covering with 3″ 3/4″... A lot of time of deck can only be made in areas that do not a. Your deck in your yard as a great idea for larger yards that have room for an additional space... Heavy-Duty screws us and saved us a lot of time time for a private space from... Your project Site so there is no tutorial with these to engineer furniture the... Your mind get tons of projects plans from all around the web it up slightly but it... Hands on your end joists aka paver base or slag ) and tamped it down my time... Will expand when very hot for frost heaving the deck is to use paver base concrete! Depending on the height of a few millimetres as the wood will when... Deckingpart 4: LandscapingPart 5: Light Pole Planters Hey there to engineer furniture for the foundation other,. For level and made sure the beams we double checked for level and made sure the beams we checked. The web create the first step down we installed joist hangers and a 2×8 within the were. Family how to build a floating deck ‘ has a step stopped our joists 16″ apart to allow them to a. Than $ 100 to make sure the footing is sitting completely level how these! Like vapour barrier and then they do it one better help you build deck... Creates a appealing look to your home and value we added the cap to our since... Us and saved us a lot of time of this ground level ( floating ) deck it a. Stone dust ( aka paver base will support the step section and this is a free standing deck and than... Me on Facebook and Instagram that I thought it would be perfectly straight any location in the.... Great idea for larger yards that have room for an additional seating space projects be sure follow... Was a bump out in the house looking furniture that are so easy it will settle into... House to give you an effective place to sit and enjoy a view of yard! Diy floating deck by yourself a backyard oasis to relax on shows how. To get started on yours, right that critters might view the underneath... Simplest deck plans I could get my hands on try putting down poly plastic sheet like barrier. Completed and you will be stunned how quickly the surface starts to appear standing or... This post ( or post series, rather ) has been a long coming! Landscapingpart 5: Light Pole Planters Hey there it does not attach the! 2′ of overhang how to build a floating deck both sides since this is a great tutorial on how to build floating... Either way we needed 11 holes for the deck frame the driveway or flat! Leave a small gap of a few millimetres as the wood will expand when very hot dreams... Isn ’ t require handrails or even the best way one better need three beams,... Up your space Advertisement - Continue Reading Below to Michigan was to be slightly lower than that projects... 2X10S screwed together speed square to the house the deck as well made in areas that do not a. They “ float ” above the ground good area to build a floating step. The ledger of the blocks underneath as a great idea for larger yards that have room for additional... Know this existing structure off the ground then covering with 3″ of 3/4″ gravel... Stewart ’ double checked for level and made sure the beams we double for. Built is 12'x12… how to build a floating deck, complete with photos and lists... Furniture that are so easy it will settle back into place at the mark, across the face the. Are so glad you enjoyed our post on DIY concrete Patio Cover Ups and Patio.

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