Building a floating deck (sans magic powers?)

[IliketoPuck]

Star Building Materials has good stock as well. They are down on blackfoot and alyth road SW.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Ducay

What do you mean? I had a blast last week working with the wet + warped lumber I got there.

Its not a challenge if everything is straight.

LOL yeah, I've bought wood there once, never again.

[Madman]

I built a floating deck several years ago and dug down a foot or so and tamped gravel for the base of the concrete bases - had no problems with it and when I have driven past the old house, it is still standing.

I looked at the engineered boards when I built my latest deck and could not justify the outrageous cost...but I was tired of regular ol' deck boards. I ended up "dura-decking" it using the vinyl product from Home Depot and it's the greatest thing I've ever had for a deck. It was easy to install and not having to worry about the kids running out onto it and getting a sliver or whatever is the best.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Madman

I built a floating deck several years ago and dug down a foot or so and tamped gravel for the base of the concrete bases - had no problems with it and when I have driven past the old house, it is still standing.

Did you make your tamped base out of just gravel? Or sand/gravel? Soil?

[Barnes]

I have a dekblox (or whatever they are called) ground level deck. It's about 10x16 and it was built on soil that is still settling. The part closest to my house dropped about 2 inches over the winter and about a month ago, I popped off a couple of deck boards, threw the car jack underneath it and shimmed it up a bit.

The dekblox work really well. The materials calculator on their site is a little to pro using more of their material. For my 10x16 deck, I used 12 piers.

[stampsx2]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Alberta One-Call:

Call before you dig and don't build over the utility boxes at the back/side of your house. It can cause a huge headache later.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Barnes

I have a dekblox (or whatever they are called) ground level deck. It's about 10x16 and it was built on soil that is still settling. The part closest to my house dropped about 2 inches over the winter and about a month ago, I popped off a couple of deck boards, threw the car jack underneath it and shimmed it up a bit.

The dekblox work really well. The materials calculator on their site is a little to pro using more of their material. For my 10x16 deck, I used 12 piers.

Glad to hear it worked and only settled a bit. Our planned area is settled, so there shouldnt be too much frost heave, but the beauty of a floating deck is being able to just jack it up a bit if there are any issues

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Glad to hear they worked for you, so where did you get your blocks?

Home Depot. I supposed you can get them cheaper elsewhere, but they are dirt cheap to begin with, and given how expensive wood is, I didn’t quibble over it.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Did you make your tamped base out of just gravel? Or sand/gravel? Soil?

Tamped the soil first and then tamped gravel on top of that.

[Ducay]

FYI they carry the blocks at HD and Windsor plywood ($6.22 and $7.89 respectivly). Still have to check to see if Rona carries them as well.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Ducay

FYI they carry the blocks at HD and Windsor plywood ($6.22 and $7.89 respectivly). Still have to check to see if Rona carries them as well.

I have bought them at Home Hardware as well. They are everywhere.

I plan on extending my deck in a few days and I have 3 left over. They are really easy to work with.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Barnes

I have bought them at Home Hardware as well. They are everywhere.

I plan on extending my deck in a few days and I have 3 left over. They are really easy to work with.

Good to know, the blocks they had at HD looked like they had suffered a bad winter outside and were starting to crumble at the top. Ideally, Windsor plywood will match HD's price and I can avoid giving more money to HD.

[Barnes]

I hear ya. I built my deck with $hitty HD wood last year and will have to build the extension with some more $hitty HD wood for that consistent $hitty HD look.

Next deck will be better.

[Northendzone]

there are some nice looking decks in this thread.

if i had a big project i'd buy my lumber from totem