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
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.
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