Simple Floating Deck

My stepfather needed a deck at his duplex that wasn't permanent, and was relatively cheap.
I put this together in a couple of hours for about a hundred dollars.

Step 1: Design

Pretty basic, a square frame with 2x6s, this one is 8x8. We used 2x4s to cover it just because they were cheaper, but generally one would use 5/4 x 6s. Use something to space the boards evenly, I used the flat end of a carpenters pencil.

Comments

[digimancer]

 Hey Tim, so now that its been about a year, how is this thing holding up? I am likely going to do something similar, not sure if i'm going to stick with 2x4's tho unless they are really cheap. 

[TimBTodd]

It's held up just fine. Wood's not rotten. If the deck boards are close to the same price, I'd go with those.

[cogni]

Wow! I can't build stuff but I could get some lawn guy types around here, who come cheaper than real carpenters, to build one. Question: Is the wood treated for rot-proofing? (I forgot what they call that kind of wood. Treated vs. untreated, or something.) and how will it withstand rain generally--would you use deck-stain on it? I live on the 3rd coast (i.e. near Gulf of Mexico) and there's a lot of rainfall. We can't keep any wooden patio furniture outside.

[TimBTodd]

Deck wood is pressure treated, but you'd likely need to buy some water-proofer or deck stain or something.

[digimancer]

 How did you bolt the frame together?
What supports the weight at the center?

[TimBTodd]

 Somehow I forgot to add that there are cross braces, three of them I believe. The same wood used for the outer frame. The frame is just connected with deck bolts.