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.

Step 2: Placement

I used flat garden stones under each corner to make it level.
That's about it, it works well, and is quick and fairly inexpensive.
Thanks for reading.

Comments

[traversml]

Why would you use one size over the other? Did you use a nail gun?
Thanks

[_ItzJess]

When making the frame does any wood need to be in the center or just the four corners ?

[KallieJ]

I built this today-after working all day and making dinner! My husband brought the supplies home (I preordered from Home Depot, he just had to pick up my order) and I used corner braces and 2x4s for the frame as it is right up against the patio doors so 2x6s would have made it higher than the door frame. Super proud of myself, it went together very easily. Thanks for the tutorial, I will take photos tomorrow, it's too dark now.

[JillC75]

I want to try this today! is it still holding up?

[JordanLBrews]

Did you ever post a picture of this? Curious how it turned out!

[KentH8]

Will this deck hold a 2,500 pound Hot Tub? This is exactly the deck I want to build. I'm going to make it 8 foot x 8 foot like the specs. The Hot Tub is 34"H x 78" W x 78" D. The Hot Tub weighs 425 pounds empty and with 242 Gallons of water it will weight 2,500 pounds.

[TravisC89]

It should just make sure you use treated lumber and that it is rated for ground touch. Also you can add braces between the runners that will add support

[JordanLBrews]

I just bought a house within the past year and wanting to do a 12x12 foot "ground level" deck in the back yard away from the house. Everything other thing I've read seems to make it super complicated by digging to level, etc. For just a simple square 12x12 foot deck, would it be okay to build it the way you do? Seems very efficient on time and money..

[valryhart]

This looks doable thanks!

[OrlandoP15]

Does instructables only allow a few steps? Both tutorials on floating decks are quite short and uninformative for the first timer. These were good starters, but hardly instructable to be honest.

[KentH8]

I am a first timer making decks. The plans seemed straight forward to me. Built it to my specifications and a lot stronger then TimBTodd did since a hot tub is going on top.

[TimBTodd]

There just isn't much to it.

[KentH8]

Looks easy to build to me. How much space do you give between each board on top? I will probably use more bricks and boards for the inside frame to support a 2,500 pound hot tub.

[ScottC281]

My wife and I are looking at options for a ground level (floating) deck. My concern is the opportunity for frost heaving the deck blocks over time. Has anyone experienced this issue?

[CharlotteM3]

Could something like this be built to place an above ground pool on? our backyard has a slope and this seems easier than trying to level the ground where we do not plan to permanently reside. the size of the pool is 16x48

[LydiaT2]

Absolutely.

[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.