A forest service work center where my trail maintenance crew stays during work weekends has huts with the floor and porch/deck built as one flat unit. Like a lot of homeowners, they wanted more living space, but weren’t ready to build an addition. Place one deck block in the center of the area. To notch out the section of the post, I used a circular saw which I made multiple passes with on two sides. If the platform is longer than 8 feet, place two deck blocks equally spaced along the perimeter. When the hangers were attached and the posts carved out it was simply a matter of cutting the joists to size, and fitting them inside. Next up I secured a ledger board to the side of the house. This also applies if you need to prevent small animals from burrowing under the deck. Building a Small Deck: I'm turning a small shed into a workshop, and I wanted to extend the square footage and build a nice deck. No digging, no cement (and I am not affiliated, just impressed -- have a friend who used them). Place a spirit level on top of one rim joist and adjust the height using shims under the joists until the joist is level. Make sure to watch the video that goes over all the steps in more detail! How to Lay Deck Boards on a Deck That Isn't Square, How to Level an Existing Porch With Concrete Supports, Floating Foundation Deck System: Deck of the Year, The Home Depot: Building a Ground-Level Deck, Houzz: Build a Beautiful Platform Deck in a Weekend, How to Build Concrete Block Raised Planters, How to Build a Deck Without Digging Holes, How to Construct a Deck Gate Using Deck Railing. If you are slightly off with measurements, you may be running into the risk of somebody falling off or the whole thing coming off the platform. But you add strength back in when you add the joists and screw them into place.Given her attention to detail (and that the video in out there for everyone to see), my money is on her having checked every requirement twice and built to more than the minimum. To make sure my angles were square I used the 3, 4, 5 method. She has it right. Local codes set the depth the posts must go ("frost heave", note snow on the ground) as well as the method of supporting the posts. I hopped a plane to Florida to help them build it. Alexi blogs about DIY projects, design and entertaining at Seeking Alexi.She created this simple deck to help make her backyard the perfect place for outdoor entertaining.. Alexi had no specialized skills for building a deck, but she’s a fearless DIYer, and she produced this simple and sturdy deck without spending a lot of money. So I put a screw in the corner, and then measured 4 feet on one side, 3 feet on the other, and made sure the hypotenuse was 5 feet, and I did that all around at each corner, and spray painted the boundaries, and spray painted exactly where the posts will go. Repeat with the opposite rim joist. Also, you didn't cement the posts in to the ground.. Is gravel enough or do local codes dictate how they should be set in ground? The deck blocks or cinder blocks are very heavy and can strain your back. Then I used a chisel and a hammer and removed the carved out section. And with snow on the ground no less.My next deck is going to use the Titan Deck Foot. To complete the framing of the deck, each quadrant needs one more joist. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and social psychology from the University of Bombay. If the length is longer than 8 feet, place two blocks evenly spaced. This guide covers how to build a ground-level platform as well as a single-story raised deck. Once the ledger board was secured I marked out where I needed the joists, and then hammered in hangers at those locations. Measure from one corner diagonally across to the opposite corner. I secured some plumb boards to the house down to the ground so I could get a measurement from somewhere, and then I layed out 2x4 boards as temporary place holders. This is easier than trying to raise or lower the heavy deck blocks by either adding or removing soil. To build deck steps, you need a lot of precision and patience.You can complete the job in 1 to 2 days, but accuracy is the key before you are able to fit the steps. Fit side rim joists between the top and bottom rim joists along the left and right edges of the platform and resting on the deck blocks. Fit an inside joist from the middle of the lower rim joist to the top rim joist. Leave about an inch of the deck boards overhanging the frame on both sides for aesthetic purposes. I was a bit surprised to see only gravel (not cement) but her local codes must allow it. Down below is a detailed guide on how to build a portable deck for RV in 3 simple steps. Tip Fit inside joists in the joist hangers and nail or screw the inside joists to the rim joists. After that was fitted it was easy to place the boards side by side, mark out the joists locations and secure them all with exterior screws. I'm turning a small shed into a workshop, and I wanted to extend the square footage and build a nice deck. Some platform decks are attached to the house with a ledger board, but most small platform decks are floating decks. A small deck would typically be 8 to 10 feet long, which is the length of lumber found in home improvement stores, and can usually be built in a weekend.