Can I build a deck directly on the ground?
Now here are your two options for laying your decking. You can either build it directly on the ground or square the site and build it on top of risers as a floating deck. If you lay it directly on the ground, you may find that it's more susceptible to absorbing moisture and might need additional maintenance.
Can you build a deck without footings?
Go with a Smaller Size
The International Residential Code (IRC) R507. 3 states that a deck that doesn't exceed 200 square feet can be built without concrete footings. For these smaller decks, floating deck construction strategies can be used to build a deck without concrete footers.
Do you need a concrete base for decking?
We recommend adding concrete pads as they're not only great for stabilising your deck; they'll ensure your decking lasts longer.
What is the best foundation for a deck?
The first option is traditional poured concrete footings. Poured concrete footings have been used as deck foundations for decades, and when done correctly, are an excellent choice in many situations. Poured concrete deck foundations can last for many decades and most often outlive a pressure-treated deck built on them.
What do you put under decking?
Sand and soil are good options if you're creating a flat deck, like a decking path, as opposed to a raised deck area. They can be placed underneath the decking boards as a protective area, between the ground and the deck boards.
Do you need footings for a deck on the ground?
They are how your deck connects with the ground, so they're key to having a firm, secure deck. Only very small decks that are close to the ground can go without this kind of support. If you have a large surface that's going to be supporting a lot of people and furniture, you will need to build a footing.
Does a freestanding deck need footings?
If you are planning on installing a hot tub or porch on top of your deck, you will usually need more footings and posts to support the additional loads. Freestanding decks that are not attached to the house with a ledger board will require an additional beam and row of footings.
Can I build a deck without digging?
Whether you're building a new deck or adding to your current setup, you may wonder if you can create deck footings without digging. While most methods of anchoring a deck involve digging, you can use deck blocks, post anchors with base plates, or a helical pile system.
What can I use instead of deck footings?
How pier blocks are used in deck building. Deck pier blocks are used in deck building as an alternative foundation to traditional footings. They are placed directly on the ground, and do not require digging or pouring. They come pre-formed with holes for attaching the posts of a deck, making it easy to install.
Can I set deck posts without concrete?
Instead of digging, the flanges are driven into the ground by hammering on a bit inserted into the bracket with a sledge or a jackhammer. The post is then inserted into the bracket and held in place with screws. Post anchors make it easy to install a fence post without cement or other types of anchoring.
Do you need a gap under decking?
Not Allowing Sufficient Ventilation Underneath The Deck
A minimum gap of 35mm should be left between your base, concrete, slab or turf, and the underside of deck boards to ensure sufficient airflow so that composite timber joists and composite deck boards are able to drain and dry completely.
Can I lay decking on grass?
Yes, when installing composite decking, you will need to dig up the grass to create an even surface free of debris. Additionally, you will also need to dig holes that your posts will sit in. posts are essential in order to stabilise your decking. Therefore, you will require a shovel to complete this project.
What is the foundation of a deck?
Deck footings provide support for your deck so that it doesn't topple over in the wind. Oftentimes, footings involve concrete, wood, and metal all screwed together for support.
How do you lay a foundation for decking?
Yes, you can build a deck without digging holes. It's usually a bad idea, though. If the conditions where you're building are just right, you can safely build a long-lasting deck on precast concrete piers sitting on top of the ground, but it's rare to find a place with all the right conditions.
Can you build a deck without burying posts?
Cover the ground with landscaping or weed control fabric and weigh it down with gravel or pea shingle. If you're laying on soft soil place paving stones on top of the gravel – these will properly support the joists and preserve the timber. Use a spirit level to make sure the stones are all on the same level.
What do you put down before decking?
If you're planning to lay decking on soil, then preparation is really important. Just follow these steps: Completely clear all debris, turf and plants from the area. It is also a good idea to excavate turf down to roughly 5cm.
Can you lay decking over soil?
A high-quality under-deck drainage panel, like Polyflow® BD Sheet Molded Drainage Mat, will protect your deck's substructures from moisture and help maintain the deck's long-term integrity and attractiveness.
How do I stop moisture under my deck?
A floating deck is a deck that is not attached to a structure like a house and does not require posts in the traditional sense. Instead, it relies on a system of beams and joists that distribute the weight evenly. It is typically supported by concrete deck blocks or piers placed directly on the ground.
Can you lay decking without posts?
Each deck support post must be supported by concrete footings. The size of each footing is determined by the tributary load imposed on it. See the diagram below for an explanation of tributary load. Footing must be dug down into undisturbed soil and to a minimum depth of 12-in below the finished grade.
How deep should a deck foundation be?
Precast Cement Footings
Precast cement block footings are a popular choice for smaller decks. They are easy to install and do not require any digging. Precast deck footings are made out of cement and come in different shapes and sizes. The most common type of precast deck footing is the pier deck footing.
What is the easiest footing for a deck?
Not all decks are attached to a building. It's not uncommon to have a free standing deck that's used as a viewing platform or a hidden retreat to read a book or relax from a grueling day at work. You may not know how to build a freestanding deck, but it's really not much different from building a standard one.
Can you build a deck without attaching it to the house?
A deck block is in many ways just a simplified version of a “precast foundation,” a foundation type recognized by building codes. They're subject to all of the same requirements as a typical footing, regardless of not being cast-in-place.
Can I use concrete deck blocks instead of footings?
Footings support a deck's posts and beams and must be spaced and sized accordingly. To figure the deck footing spacing, factor in the size of the footing and beam, as well as the beam's span. In most cases, it's best to space the footings/posts no farther apart than 8 feet in the center.
How often do you need footings for a deck?
You can typically expect a deck to last 10-30 years for untreated wood and 50 or more years for treated wood and composite. However, the lifespan of a deck also depends heavily on its materials and how you maintain and seal it over the years.
How long will a deck last on the ground?
Direct contact with the ground accelerates the deterioration of natural wood. Standard pressure treated wood won't usually work in this situation, so you'll need to use wood that is especially designed to be in contact with the ground. Another option to using natural wood would be to use composite materials.
Can wood deck touch the ground?
A deck drain system will help increase the lifespan of your deck by preventing excess moisture from accumulating on it. Excess moisture can cause wood to rot or weaken, leading to costly repairs and replacements.
Does a deck need drainage?
Yes, it is possible to build deck footings without digging holes. One option is to use a ground screw or helical pile system. These systems involve screwing a metal shaft into the ground using a hydraulic motor or hand-held machine.
How do you foot a deck without digging?
Screw two support beams onto every second post along the length of the decking. To add further strength to the sub-frame, place a support beam just beneath the joists of the sub-frame. 8. Cut the inner joists to size and secure them to the frame with two countersunk coach screws at each end.
How do you support decking?
Due to their relatively small footprint and reliance on the ground's bearing capacity, deck blocks can be prone to instability. In areas with unstable soil conditions or frost heaves like the Upper Midwest, deck blocks may sink over time, leading to an uneven and potentially unsafe deck surface.
Will deck blocks sink?
Yes, you can lay decking on sand. The method is very similar to laying decking on grass or soil.
Can you put decking on sand?
Since gravel is less prone to these issues than grass, you can install decking on top of it. Having said that, we would advise that you take some precautionary measures, in order to reduce the likelihood that you will experience these complications later on.
Can you build a deck on gravel?
A deck needs a minimum of one square foot of ventilation for every 150 square feet of deck to allow moisture to escape from under the deck. Allowing for drying the underside of the decking and substructure, preventing rot, mould and decay from destroying the deck.
Do decks need airflow underneath?
Yes. Gravel helps support the weight of the deck and prevents shifting or sinking into the ground. It also allows for drainage, which can help prevent rot in wood decks caused by standing water.
Do you need gravel under decking?
Woven stabilization fabric is the best material to use. You want water to slowly seep through the fabric to the dirt underneath for the best drainage. If you place plastic landscaping material under the deck, the water cannot seep through it easily.
Do you put plastic under decking?
Choose your support joists
A concrete pad is laid on to the ground with the framework sitting on top of a pedestal system. If you're fixing your composite decking framework to posts, it's advisable to first cover the cleared ground with weed control fabric and then add a layer of gravel for additional protection.
What goes under decking?
We recommend adding concrete pads as they're not only great for stabilising your deck; they'll ensure your decking lasts longer.
Does decking need concrete?
While you can cloak these backyard blemishes with outdoor rugs, fresh coats of stain, or other temporary fixes, building a deck over the concrete is one of the best solutions. Adding a deck over a concrete slab is a permanent fix that can help refine your outdoor space whilst adding value to your house.
Can decking sit on concrete?
Go with a Smaller Size
The International Residential Code (IRC) R507. 3 states that a deck that doesn't exceed 200 square feet can be built without concrete footings. For these smaller decks, floating deck construction strategies can be used to build a deck without concrete footers.
Can you build a deck without footings?
The first option is traditional poured concrete footings. Poured concrete footings have been used as deck foundations for decades, and when done correctly, are an excellent choice in many situations. Poured concrete deck foundations can last for many decades and most often outlive a pressure-treated deck built on them.
What is the best foundation for a deck?
The fasteners must be approved for a wet-use, exterior environment and must provide appropriate corrosion protection. Most builders prefer to build a freestanding deck rather than attach to a hollow concrete block house foundation wall.
Can you attach a deck to a foundation?
Footings provide the foundation of a solid deck. Ensuring that the deck doesn't quickly rot, fall, or tip, and blow away in strong winds. You need one footing and/or support block for every angle of the deck. 12 inches below ground is the recommended and required depth of the footings for ground-level decks.
Do you need footings for a deck on the ground?
Install the First Deck Board Row
Lay the first deck board at the end of the deck that is opposite of the house. It's best to start at the far end because this end must have a full-width board due to the overhang. The board adjacent to the house has no overhang, so it can be ripped down if necessary.
Where do you start decking?
Freestanding decks with a ledger board will need an additional beam and row of footings. Decks with many angles also need additional footings. A basic attached deck foundation of 12 feet by 12 feet requires three 12-inch diameter deck footings. It will need at least two more if you build attached stairs.
Does a freestanding deck need footings?
Buried post footings are most often used for decks that will have a low profile or be close to the ground. With this type of footing, concrete is poured around a buried post that extends above ground level. The posts are typically made from wood but can also be made from steel or composite materials.
What is a footing for a deck?
Sand, and especially soil, will encourage plant growth. As with mulch, placing a fabric layer beneath these materials can lower the chance of plants, such as weeds, getting through the material and near your decking.
Do you need to put anything under decking?
You can install decking using nails or screws, and in most cases, screws are the better option. Nails are more likely to pop out of the deck frame, especially if they're made from a softer material like pine.
Should decking be nailed or screwed down?
If you're building upon soil or grass instead of concrete, then it's a good idea to install a membrane underneath your deck first. This helps to prevent weeds from springing but still allows water to permeate back into the ground. Give any existing weeds a spray with weed killer before you put down the membrane.
What to do before building a deck?
One of the biggest issue with wood over time is moisture. Wooden materials will shrink and swell due to moisture and over time it can deteriorate the quality of the wood, so laying decking tiles in direct contact with grass and moisture, even with excellent drainage isn't advisable.
Do you need membrane under decking?
A waterproofing system allows you to use the space below your deck without worrying about water damage or getting your feet wet. Under deck waterproofing involves installing panels on the underside of your deck to collect and channel water away. This prevents water from seeping through the decking.
Can you lay decking directly on grass?
Waterproofing under your deck helps protect against runoff, which only waterproofing the top side won't do. If you're looking to waterproof under a deck, there are several ways to successfully protect the underside of your outdoor space.
Should I waterproof under my deck?
Option #2: Build a Deck Without Digging Holes Using Post Anchors. A post anchor is a bracket designed to hold a post with flanges underneath. Instead of digging, the flanges are driven into the ground by hammering on a bit inserted into the bracket with a sledge or a jackhammer.
Do you need to waterproof the underside of a deck?
Yes. It's possible to build a deck without digging holes. This type of deck is called a floating deck, and it sits right on top of the ground without any posts or support areas that you'd dig down into the ground [to secure].
Can you build a deck without burying posts?
How do you lay a foundation for decking?
Can you build a deck without stumps?
Should you put concrete around deck posts?
Can I put wood directly on the ground?
Direct contact with the ground accelerates the deterioration of natural wood. Standard pressure treated wood won't usually work in this situation, so you'll need to use wood that is especially designed to be in contact with the ground. Another option to using natural wood would be to use composite materials.
Can you build a deck without putting posts in the ground?
If it's 6 feet or less with a proper post-to-beam and joist bracing, then you can install a floating deck without the hassle of having to install concrete footings. One of the cheapest options out there is deck blocks, which are blocks that literally sit on the ground and provide the foundation for your deck.
How long will a deck last on the ground?
You can typically expect a deck to last 10-30 years for untreated wood and 50 or more years for treated wood and composite. However, the lifespan of a deck also depends heavily on its materials and how you maintain and seal it over the years.
Can you build a deck without burying posts?
Option #2: Build a Deck Without Digging Holes Using Post Anchors. A post anchor is a bracket designed to hold a post with flanges underneath. Instead of digging, the flanges are driven into the ground by hammering on a bit inserted into the bracket with a sledge or a jackhammer.