Floating Backyard Deck with Planter Box - DIY

We built a floating redwood deck in our backyard this summer using a Dek-Block system. They are precast concrete piers that allow you to build a low platform almost touching the house. This system appeared to be much cheaper than a traditional beam and joist system and easier. Well, I don't know about the last part, since we haven't tried the trad system, but it was at the very least doable for almost complete newbies.

For more info, you can check my blog:
http://thisifound.com/2009/10/27/floating-backyard-deck-with-planter-box-diy

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• block
• concrete
• deck
• deck blocks
• deck plan
• Dek-block
• DIY
• floating deck
• pier
• planter box
• redwood
• stairs

[99cachorro]

you saved money with no beam system but digging labor and all those blocks almost evened out things. I look for recycled materials to save money, nice looking deck, but in a years time redwood blackens in the sun.

[thelindyhopper]

@99cachorro You are right. Digging wasn't easy. However, the alternative would have been to dig at least 4, possibly more deep holes to pour concrete (and also carry all the bags before mixing). I still think it would have been equally difficult to dig these without renting special equipment in our clay soil. We tried doing this for another project and couldn't go beyond 2.5' by hand. So, considering the situation, this solution worked out well for us.

[thelindyhopper]

@xxnoangelxx we burrows a whole summer of weekends under there. Not to be attempted for one-weekend warriors.

[thelindyhopper]

Uhm, I believe we used it to anchor the stair prototype. It was also further useful to motivate the hubby.

[armanflint]

Nice deck.

Awesome job!

It looks really good.

[RVCAMMARATA]

Nice work! It reminds me of myself 35 years ago when I did the same thing.

[BackyardDiscoveryCo]

Love it!

[gregpasha]

I forget what kind of ties we used, hurricane? As for the look of the deck - it's still looking great. We haven't stained it, it's just a great looking grey. Also - we aren't professionals or even particularly handy and so didn't really know how to attach the deck to our house, so we didn't go with a beam system.

[cjchrisk]

What brackets did you use?

[gregpasha]

thanks for all the comments, we don't have much seasonal variability here, so we haven't had any movement on the deck so far. it's still looking fantastic.

[TheNaturesFriends]

cool vid