Smart Cleaning Solutions is one of Australia’s best cleaning companies with branches all around Australia providing reliable cleaning services all over the country with top notch workers and cleaners around. Our Services vary from cleaning Hotels, Pubs, RSL Clubs, Gyms, Schools, Childcare, Aged Care, Medical Centres, & Hospitals.

Backyard Decks: Build an Island Deck

Low Deck Ideas: Floating deck

Simple design goes together fast

The simplicity of this ground level deck makes it fast to build. 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. 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. Most decks are attached to houses, but there’s no reason they have to be. Sometimes the best spot to set up a deck chair and relax is at the other end of the yard, tucked into a shady corner of the garden. And if you don’t attach the deck to the house, you don’t need deep frost footings—which can save hours of backbreaking labor, especially in wooded or rocky areas where footings are difficult to dig. All you need are simple ground level deck footings. Keep reading and you’ll learn why an island deck is one of our favorite low deck ideas.

We designed this deck with simple construction in mind. If you can cut boards and drive screws, you can build it. The only power tools you’ll need are a circular saw and a drill, though a miter saw also helps. We used a premium grade of low-maintenance composite decking with hidden fasteners, which brought the total cost to over $2,000, but using standard treated decking and screws would cut the cost by more than half. You may need to special-order composite decking and hidden fasteners if you use the same types we did, but everything else is stocked at home centers or lumberyards.

A few cautions before figuring out how to build a ground level deck: If all or part of the deck is higher than 30 in. off the ground, you’ll need a building permit and railings. If you intend to build any kind of structure on top of the deck or attach the deck to the house, you also need a permit. If you dig ground level deck footings, call 811 first to check for underground utilities. Also, keep the deck at least 4 ft. back from the property line.

Figure A: Island Deck

The dimensions of this deck are 11-ft. 8-in. square, not including the stairs.

A complete Materials List and Cutting List is available in pdf format in Additional Information below.

Place the footings and beams

Photo 1: Layout and leveling

Layout

Lay a quick foundation with minimal digging by setting concrete blocks on gravel. Level from high to low spots with a string level.

Line level

Stretch a mason’s string between stakes at the high and low point, then hang a line level on the string and move it up and down to establish level.

How to Install Joist Hangers

https://www.familyhandyman.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Common Home Improvement Fails and How Much They Cost

Image
As a DIYer, you’re motivated by the thrill of a job well done, the pride in knowing you did it yourself and the ultimate reward…the money you saved. A successful DIY home improvement project upgrades your home and saves you money. Survive a DIY remodel with this how-to guide. Porch, an online network that connects people with home improvement professionals, talked to homeowners who had completed a DIY home improvement project, and it turns out, the average cost of a home improvement fail came out to around $310. Here’s a look at some common home improvement fails, according to the study. Wood Flooring Porch found that the cost of messing up a flooring installation can cost about $829 extra. “Jobs like flooring have a high material cost, so errors add up very quickly,” said Amanda Woolley, Porch’s spokesperson. These are the 10 home projects you should always hire a pro for. Exterior Painting Fixing a sub-par DIY exterior paint job can add about $477 to the total cost of the
Read more

Breaking A Phone Addiction In 10 Simple Steps

Image
Did you know that the average person unlocks their phone 110 times every single day? If that doesn’t seem like a lot to you, maybe you need to have to think about just how reliant you are on that little piece of technology. Addiction seems like a strong word. But for many, it’s something that they’ve simply fallen into, a subconscious behaviour that’s difficult to break. If you think you’re addicted to your phone, we can help. Have a look at some simple tips below, all of which can help you break the habit. 1. A 30-Minute Start via wpxbox.com Using your phone in the first 30 minutes after you wake up is a pretty clear sign that you might be addicted. People tend to fall into this trap by using their phone as an alarm and then habitually (and often automatically) checking their emails or social media. The first step to breaking this addiction is to get a normal alarm clock and keep your phone in another room. Have a clear morning routine that doesn’t include your screens at all.
Read more

11 Driving Mistakes that Drive Other Drivers Nuts

Image
No Parallel Parking Skills Users on reddit noted that drivers who aren’t skilled at parallel parking can get on their nerves. Many noted watching unskilled parallel parkers even bump and scrape other cars while trying to get into a parking spot. Yikes! These are the 20 things car thieves don’t want you to know. https://www.familyhandyman.com
Read more