How To Build A Floating Deck Over Concrete Patio – Question: Hello! I am alone. I started sewing and repairing old sewing machines when I was a kid, and I’ve loved making and repairing things ever since. Thanks for checking out my projects! More about Tailor »
It’s a “floating deck,” meaning it simply rests on blocks at ground level and isn’t anchored deep into the ground.
How To Build A Floating Deck Over Concrete Patio
This type of deck can be made only in places where there are no deep winter freezes. In colder climates, soil goes through freeze-thaw cycles that cause the surface to shift and shift over time, destroying all of your hard work in no time.
How To Build A Floating Deck
Building a basement is a lot of work and not cheap. But it is possible, and you can save a lot of money by doing it yourself rather than hiring one. The total cost for this was almost $1,600. The base and frame were $600, and the floor itself was $1,000. The total time spent over several months exceeded 100 hours.
If you want to build a deck, this guide will give you some ideas for beginners, but I recommend spending a few weeks learning everything you can find before making a plan.
You don’t need a shop full of tools to build a deck. Here is a list of what I would say are important:
The main area of my deck is a little more than a 12 x 8 foot rectangle. This worked well for material utilization and produced very little waste.
Floating Deck Over Gravel
I started by laying the cement blocks into a 4 foot grid and spray painting around them to mark their placement. The blocks I used are the “Old Manor” landscaping blocks I got at Home Depot. Other solid cobblestone blocks will also work.
The location of each block is excavated to a depth of approximately 6 inches. I used a few inches at a time to remove the soil mostly horizontally. The goal is to extract as much soil as possible while leaving the soil as compacted and undisturbed as possible.
Just pick the spot that looks best and install that block first. As long as all the other blocks are set to this level or lower, things will work fine.
I tried to keep all the blocks within an inch, but I don’t need to worry about the exact height of the blocks. Any differences are leveled with shims after the subframe is installed.
Building A Deck Over Concrete With Tuffblocks
To place the blocks, I made sure to remove all the loose soil from each hole, leaving only the hard soil at the bottom of the hole.
I added a few inches of paver base (basically a mix of crushed stone, gravel, and sand) and compacted that layer by placing a block on top of it and hitting it with a larger rubber mallet.
The block was removed and a layer of leveling sand was added and compacted again as described. If the block needed to be raised or lowered, more leveling sand was added or removed. When I was happy with the height, the block was hammered down again and more sand was added around the block to set it in place.
This was repeated over and over until all the foundation blocks were installed. This step alone took several evenings.
How To Build A Deck Over A Concrete Patio (diy)
My yard has been well stocked and pretty much stocked for at least 15 years or so. Since I followed the same procedure for each block, the subsequent placement of the foundation blocks should be the same. Where I live, we don’t get deep freezes in the winter, so using blocks that mostly rest (“floating”) on the surface is acceptable.
In colder climates, you can’t build a “floating” deck, but you must build it on concrete anchor posts deep enough into the ground to prevent any ground shaking (the heaving and heaving that occurs when the ground freezes and thaws). cycles). time).
The location for my main deck frame was tight, so I built a frame in my backyard and moved it into place when finished.
The frame is made of pressure treated 2×6 lumber. The outer frame is bolted with 2 1/2-inch outer deck screws ( these ).
How To Build Beautiful Decks That Last
When the frame was built, it weighed several hundred kilograms and required a handful of strong men to move it into place.
With the frame in place, I used composite shims ( these ) on all the foundation blocks as needed to get the frame level.
If you want to add a slight slope to your deck frame, say to direct rainwater away from your home’s foundation, now is the time to do it.
To do this, add the same number of more pads at points along one side to raise it. Once this high side is at the desired height, add shims to the middle sections as needed to restore direct support in the blocks.
Floating Deck & Hot Tub Base
I went the extra step and added pieces of 4×4 to accommodate each foundation block. They are attached to the frame with screws and glued to the blocks below with landscape adhesive. Maybe I’m exaggerating, but I wanted this frame to be stone.
Along the back of the main deck next to the grill, I installed some extensions to fill the gap.
These small ailerons are attached to the lattice posts for support, so technically it could be argued that these parts don’t actually “float”. (But no one can do that; this is the internet, where people never interfere!)
The platform in front of the bed is attached to it using longitudinal screws. The shed itself is built on blocks and floats in the same way as the deck.
How To Build, Decorate And Enjoy A Floating Deck
After the frame was complete, I used an electric hand planer to remove any raised areas to ensure the floorboards would lay flat.
For the decking material, I decided to use the slightly inferior Trex composites. It’s still expensive, don’t get me wrong, but the price wasn’t too far off the current prices of redwood or cedar boards, and I wasn’t interested in the other alternatives.
Each option of patio material has its pros and cons. Make sure you do your research and decide which trade-in you prefer.
If you don’t have an impact driver, that’s fine. . . time to get one! Mine has been a great asset during this build.
Building A Wood Deck Vs. Building A Hardscaped Patio
I chose not to put landscape fabric on the ground under the deck and some people may wonder why I didn’t. Without saving a few soums and a day’s work, I got enough.
I sprayed with herbicide to kill the small amount of growing mass and like to spray the edges as needed in the future.
To keep the deck looking nice and tidy, I placed cover boards with cut corners around the perimeter.
I used full 12′ boards for the main deck area so it didn’t take much thought to fill that part.
Can Composite Decking Touch The Ground?
You will pay a high price for any flooring material you choose, so think carefully about all cuts and carefully decide what parts of the flooring to cut, when and in what order.
Otherwise, when you need two 48-inch boards to complete the project, you might end up with 9 linear feet of material left over in three-foot sections…
I learned that lesson years ago and I’m so glad I didn’t make the same mistake when building this floor.
I used it to build a removable ramp so our bikes, mower, and strollers could go in and out of the shed without biting the edge of the deck in front of the door.
Can I Build A Deck Over Concrete Patio, Pool Or Septic Tank?
It is covered with pressure treated boards. It’s not attached to the deck at all, so I can drag it if I need to. The rest of the time it just leans against the back of the shed. Using TuffBlocks to build a deck over a concrete slab is one of the easiest ways to transform your outdoor space. Even if you’re building on uneven concrete, TuffBlocks are a simple foundation solution whether you’re a do-it-yourselfer or a seasoned construction professional.
A weekend or two is usually enough to complete such a deck construction. However, the construction time for each project will vary depending on your skills, construction location, weather and other factors.
This will vary depending on the size of the deck and the cost of your wood. Roughly, most floors cost between $300 and $400 per square foot.
When using TuffBlocks, the steps for building a floating deck over concrete, whether concrete slab or slab, are the same as building a traditional low-profile deck.
Building An
Determining the dimensions of your deck before you begin construction will give you a point of reference throughout the build and ensure that your deck is flat, level, and stable.
Place TuffBlocks in each corner
Build deck over patio, how to build a deck over concrete, how to build deck over concrete patio, floating deck over concrete, how to build deck over concrete, build floating deck over concrete patio, floating deck over concrete patio, deck over concrete patio, how to build a floating deck over concrete patio, build deck over concrete, build deck over concrete patio, build wooden deck over concrete patio