How To Build a Floating Deck



Create a comfortable retreat anywhere in your yard with a ground-level deck.

Next Project
Time

Multiple Days

Complexity

Intermediate

Cost

$501-1000

Introduction

Built with composite decking and hidden fasteners, this maintenance-free backyard deck is designed to go together fast and to fit in anywhere in the yard, without footings or ledger boards.

Tools Required

  • Circular saw
  • Clamps
  • Cordless drill
  • Drill bit set
  • Framing square
  • Hammer
  • Level
  • Line level
  • Miter saw
  • Safety glasses
  • Spade
  • Speed square

The Floating Deck

The simplicity of this ground-level deck (or floating 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.

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.

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Figure A: Floating Deck

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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.

Project step-by-step (11)

Step 1

Place the Footings and Beams: 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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Step 2

Square the Beams

  • Take diagonal measurements and tap one beam forward or back to square the beams.
  • Temporary stretchers hold the beams for this floating deck parallel.

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Step 3

Lay Out the Beams

  • Lay down the two beams parallel to each other, 9-ft. apart.
  • Screw on temporary 1×4 stretchers across the ends of the beams, overhanging them each the same distance, then measure diagonally to make sure the beams are square to each other.
  • Mark the location of the gravel pads by cutting the grass with a shovel, then move the beams out of the way and cut out the sod where the gravel will go.
  • Establish the highest and lowest points with a string and string level to get a rough idea of how deep to dig and how much gravel to put in to make the ground-level deck footings block level.
  • Tamp the dirt with a block to make a firm base, then spread the gravel. Place the blocks and level them against each other and in both directions, adding or scraping out gravel as needed.
  • Use construction adhesive between the 4-in. thick blocks if you stack them, or use 8-in. blocks. If your site slopes so much that one side will be more than 2-ft. off the ground, support it on a 4×4 post on a frost footing instead—it’ll look better and be safer.
Step 4

Attach Angles

  • Set the beams across the floating deck blocks and square them to each other, using the same 1×4 stretchers to hold them parallel and square. If the beams are not perfectly level, shim them with plastic shims.
  • Mark the joist locations on the beams, starting with a joist on the end of each beam. We used 11 joists spaced 12-in. on center to keep the composite decking we used from sagging over time, but wood decking can be spaced 16-in. on center.
  • Instead of toenailing, which often splits the wood, use metal angles to hold down the joists. This also makes it easy to place the joists. Attach one alongside each joist location.

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Step 5

Cantilever the Joists On All Sides

  • Install the middle and end joists, then screw on the rim joists, using clamps (or a helper) to hold them in place.

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Step 6

Add Corner Blocking

  • For strong connections at the corners, set corner blocking between the last two joists, then nail the rim joist from both directions. Set the two outer joists and the center joist on the beams against the metal angles.
  • Extend the joists over the beam on one side by 10-1/2-in., but let them run long over the opposite beam. Trim them to the exact length when the deck is almost done so you can avoid ripping the last deck board.
  • Fasten the joists to the angles with deck screws. Screw on both rim joists—you’ll have to take the second rim joist back off when the joists are trimmed and then reattach it, but it’s needed to hold the joists straight and to hold the outside joists up. The decking will hold the outside joists up when the rim joist is removed later.
  • Set the other joists on the beams and fasten them to the beams and rim joists. Reinforce the outside corners with additional blocking.
  • Mark the center of the joists and run blocking between each pair of joists. Set the blocking 1/2-in. to the side of the center mark, alternating from side to side, so that the blocking doesn’t end up in the gap between the deck boards.

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Step 7

Add Steps

  • Frame the steps for the floating deck next. You can avoid additional footings by hanging stringers from the deck joists with metal angles or 2x4s.
    • Pro tip: The deck surface should be no more than 8-in. above the ground where you step up on it. If it’s close, just build up the ground or add concrete pavers. Otherwise, add a step.
  • To cantilever the stairs, extend the stair stringers underneath four deck joists, then join the floor joists and stair stringers with reinforcing angles (as we did) or wood 2x4s, which are less expensive.
  • Use a screw first to hold the angles or 2×4 blocks in place, then finish fastening them with nails, which have greater shear strength.
  • The 5/4 (nominal) decking we used called for a maximum spacing between stair stringers of 9-in. on center, but you can space stringers 16-in. on center if you use solid wood.

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Step 8

Video: How to Install Hidden Deck Fasteners

Step 9

Hidden Fasteners Create a Clean Look On a Floating Deck

  • Attach the deck boards. Floating decks look best when you use hidden fasteners, but they make installation slower.
  • Remember to trim the deck boards flush with the rim joist when you’re done.

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Step 10

Screw-On the Skirt Board

  • Wrap the deck with skirt boards that match the decking, driving trim head screws just below the surface at the spacer locations.

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Step 11

Finish the Steps

  • Screw skirt boards to the sides of the steps for a finished look for your floating deck, then measure, cut and attach a riser board to the face of the steps.
    • Pro tip: We attached the deck boards with hidden fasteners (see Materials List in Additional Information below). Other types of hidden fasteners are available—or you can use deck screws, which create lots of holes but save time and money.
  • Start with a full board at one side, aligning it with the edge of the rim joist. Leave the boards long at both ends, then cut them back later all at once so the edges are straight.
  • Use four 1/4-in. spacers between each pair of boards as you fasten them, but check the distance to the rim joist after every four boards and adjust spacing if necessary.
  • At the next to the last board, remove the rim joist and mark and cut the ends off the joists so the last deck board lines up with the edge of the rim joist. Reinstall the rim joist and attach the last boards.
  • Nail 1/4-in. spacers ripped from treated wood to the rim joist every 16-in. so water won’t get trapped against the rim joist. Screw on skirt boards with two screws at each spacer. Attach the decking to the steps after the skirt boards are fastened.
  • Finally, finish the steps.

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Project PDF Files

Click the links below to download the construction drawings, materials list and cutting list for this project.

Floating Deck construction drawings

Floating Deck materials list

Floating Deck cutting list