Quck answer
To make a ground level wooden deck, follow these steps:
1. Choose a suitable location for your deck, ensuring it is level and clear of any obstructions.
2. Measure and mark the dimensions of the deck using stakes and string.
3. Dig holes for the support posts, ensuring they are deep enough to provide stability.
4. Install the support posts and secure them with concrete.
5. Attach beams to the support posts, ensuring they are level and properly spaced.
6. Install the joists across the beams, ensuring they are evenly spaced.
7. Lay the deck boards perpendicular to the joists, leaving a small gap between each board for expansion.
8. Secure the deck boards to the joists using screws or nails.
9. Apply a protective finish to the deck to enhance its durability and appearance.
10. Enjoy your new ground level wooden deck for years to come.
A ground-level deck offers a perfect outdoor space for relaxation, free from concerns about uneven ground. Such decks can be used for dining, grilling, and other recreational activities. However, building a deck still requires thorough planning and may necessitate obtaining permission from local town governments or zoning boards, depending on the jurisdiction.
Plan Your Deck
A ground-level deck is usually positioned outside a first-floor door. Consequently, it is important to ensure that the deck’s height is just enough to allow the door to open freely. The deck can be built one step below the door level or flush with the door threshold.
Consider the following tips to aid in planning your deck:
- To determine the necessary supplies and quantities for your deck, calculate its length and width. Multiply these dimensions to find the area in square feet. These measurements will inform your purchase of lumber or other decking materials.
- When planning and purchasing the deck materials, you can opt for pressure-treated lumber for the supporting members and deck, or choose cedar, redwood, or composite decking material to ensure the deck’s durability against the elements.
Lay the Foundation
Even though your deck is at ground level, it is advisable to use footings to maintain its levelness over time. Placing a deck directly on the ground would cause it to sink into the soil and be susceptible to rot from constant moisture exposure. It would also be at risk of termite infestation.
Follow these steps to lay the foundation:
- Prepare the footing holes using a post hole digger. Make them at least 8 inches in diameter and 12 inches deep.
- Use tube forms to level the footings about 1 inch above the ground.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to mix concrete and pour it into the footings.
- Before the concrete hardens, place a post anchor in the center of each footing.
- Use a straight edge, such as a piece of lumber, and a spirit level to ensure that the anchors are perfectly aligned.
Construct the Deck
Once the footings are in place, you will need to attach beams to the post anchors.
- To ensure strong support, use the appropriate size lumber for the supporting members, such as 4-by-4-inch or 2-by-6-inch, and make sure the beams are properly aligned.
- Next, connect the rim joists to the support beams to enclose the deck’s perimeter.
- Use construction-grade screws and a drill to attach the beams together.
- Then, use joist hangers to attach the inner joists to the faces of the beams.
- Finally, place the surface boards on top of the deck structure and secure them to the joists below using screws. Trim any misaligned edges of the deck with a circular saw.
- Apply paint or stain to the deck according to your preference.
Completing the Deck
You may choose to install railings on your deck, especially if it is raised to a certain height from the ground. This may be a requirement in some areas for safety purposes. You might also need steps leading down to your garden depending on the overall height of the deck.
For added stability, you can attach the deck to your house. To do this, use a ledger and secure it to the outer deck joist. Additionally, installing flashing where the house and deck meet will help prevent water damage and maintain the connection between the two structures.
