How to Build a Raised Deck on the Ground?

A raised deck not only gives you a place to hang out with friends and family outside, but it can also “elevate” the style of your home and backyard. Raised decks are sometimes referred to as raised decks. The raised deck is great for outdoor entertaining, and they bring the fun outside. This way you can enjoy the fresh air and beautiful views.

In addition to giving you a nice outdoor space and increasing the value of your home. Raised decks also require you to consider the topography, location, type of wood available, and of course the cost and estimated time of completion. Above-ground decks are great for people who live in elevated homes near sea levels or in flood zones. It also works well for homes with sloping backyards.

Depending on the size and shape of your outdoor deck and how good you are at DIY projects, you can build your own raised deck in a few weekends. If you want to build your own raised deck, it’s a good idea to do some research and come up with a plan. That way you can build it better and enjoy it longer at the same time.

How to build an elevated deck

Step 1, Planning an elevated deck

You can look through websites to find the right style and layout for your backyard. And look at pictures online to decide on a design, or you can talk to an expert at a building supply store. After that, you can even talk to neighbors who have built similar structures to learn about things you can’t do because of the topography or geography of your neighborhood.

Step 2, Determine, budget

Your budget will also affect which materials you choose, how big your deck will be, and what extras you might want to add. Steps and railings are necessary for a functional and safe raised deck. But built-in lighting or electrical work are good extras that can be included in your deck building budget.

Step 3, Get a permit to build

In most cities, towns, and communities, building permits are required to construct outdoor decks. They will need details such as size, height, and type of wood to figure out if it meets safety standards. If you’re working with a contractor, you’ll need to be able to give them plans for the deck so they can make sure it meets safety standards and local building codes. If you want to do it yourself, you’ll also need to create blueprints and then take those blueprints to the building office to get a permit.

Step 4, Purchase Materials

Once you have your permit, you can purchase the things you need. You can buy the materials you need at your local building supply store. Such as the correct size deck material, concrete for the foundation, and other things.

Step 5, Attach the ledger board

Once you have all the materials, you can start building. The first thing you need to do is to attach the ledger board. This is a horizontal piece of wood that you can attach to a wall in your house to make your deck more stable. What size you need depends on how big your deck is. For example, a 24 ft. x 14 ft. deck will need a 2 ft. x 12 ft. ledge. Make sure the sill plates are attached properly. Bolts, not screws, should be used. Your addition should also meet code requirements by bolting the details into a solid part of the house. If you don’t attach the ledge boards properly, the structure of your deck could crumble.

Step 6, Digging the Foundation for the Deck

Use string to outline the foundation for your raised deck. A typical deck usually has four foundations. Plan for each foundation to be 12 inches wide and 48 inches deep to be below the frost line. This is important for stability, but even more important in colder places where you need to know how deep your soil will freeze in the winter. You can dig your foundation by hand, or you can rent a power auger to help.

Step 7, setting up your post

After you have dug your footing hole, put your posts in, making sure they are straight (perfectly vertical). Before you pour the concrete, you should double-check them in case you need to move them.

Step 8, mix the concrete and pour it.

You can either mix the concrete with a wheelbarrow or use a small cement mixer, which you can rent, to mix the bag of concrete you bought when you bought the other materials. Put it in the hole to hold the post in place. Let the concrete harden. It will take about 48 hours to do this.

Step 9, Prepare the temporary post and support it.

Once the cement has hardened, add crossbeams or rim joists to the post to make it more stable. Once your crossbeams or rim joists are in place, hang the crossbeams with brackets. Use a level to measure and cut the tops of the posts so that they are all the same height. This will give your deck a nice, symmetrical look.

Step 10, put in the joists that will stay there.

With joist hangers, your deck will be able to hold more weight. Different sizes of lumber are available in different sizes. They will allow you to attach the joists to the ledge. Between the joists, put blocks of wood that are the same size as the joists. This is called a baffle, and it prevents the joists from twisting.

Step 11, Install the trim boards

Now that you’ve laid your foundation, your above-ground deck is starting to look like the outdoor deck you’ve always wanted. Gather your trim boards and place them temporarily in the middle of the deck. Install the first row with deck screws perpendicular to the joists, at the ledge beam or along the side of the house. If this is your first DIY project, you probably shouldn’t try something as hard as patterned inlay. However, if you stagger the deck boards in adjacent rows, even if you’re new to DIY, you can make the most pleasing pattern for your deck and give it a polished look.

Step 12, Prepare the raised deck stairs

Most home improvement stores sell stair kits for raised decks, or you can follow the tutorial to build your own deck stairs. Whichever option you choose, you will need to pour a concrete pad for the stairs. In most cases, this pad is 4 inches thick.

Step 13, Stair Foundation

Depending on the size of your deck, make a foundation for the posts that will support the upper level of the stairs and four foundations for the stairs themselves. You can choose a stair design that goes straight to the ground or turns 90 degrees, depending on what works best for your backyard and home.

Step 14, Install the stringer anchors

Use a heavy-duty workhorse drill to attach the post anchors to the deck’s foundation. Placing these anchors on the stairs will keep them stable and secure.

Step 15, Framing and Attachments

With most of the pieces in place, it’s time to start attaching them each. Lead down your posts so they stay straight, and then install the landing frame. Once your posts are straight and the floor framing is installed, secure your flooring to the joists.

Step 16, Make the stairs.

The part of the stairs that you step on is called the runner or tread. Stringers are wide boards that run at an angle and support the stair treads on both sides. Calculations must be made in order for the stairs and stringers to meet code requirements.

Step 17, Install the stair railings

In order to comply with building codes and safety rules, stairs require guardrails with handrails. Deck railings must be at least 34 inches high. You can bolt the posts to the stair risers or stanchions at the top and bottom, then make sure they are level before doing the same for the next post.

Step 18, Install the deck railing

Measure the location of your railing posts and the height of your balusters to make sure they meet building codes and your approved plans. Depending on the size of your deck, posts can be spaced 4 to 8 feet apart and railings can be 36 to 42 inches tall. If you want to add to your posts, make sure to leave extra space. Making sure your posts are spaced correctly is important for safety, but making sure you have room for your cover is just a matter of taste. You’ve put a lot of work into your deck, so you need to make sure it looks its best to get your money’s worth.

Other considerations when building a raised deck

Building a raised deck can take some time, but it’s worth it. Before you break ground and start laying the foundation for a deck that you will enjoy for years to come, you should think about the different parts of building a deck and how they will affect your choices. When planning an elevated deck, you must consider the topography, the location of the deck, your budget, materials, and the amount of time it will take to complete the project.

• Topography. Does the land slope or have a lot of rocks? The slope of the house or ground will affect the depth of the posts, and the slope of the ground will affect the difficulty of digging deck posts. Be sure to take this into consideration to make sure everything goes smoothly and the deck is safe.
• Location. Your deck may get a lot of sunlight, depending on how it relates to your house, any trees on your property, and your backyard. If your deck gets a lot of sunlight when you want to use it the most, you may want to build a roof over it or add a roof.
• Materials. There are many different kinds of materials that can be used to build a raised deck today. These materials include natural wood (such as cedar), pressure-treated wood, and composite decking materials. Composite decking materials look like wood but are made of wood and recyclable plastic. This makes them easier to maintain than traditional wood trim boards. Do your research and figure out which option is best for you. Your choice will depend on how you want your deck to look, how much money you have, and how much maintenance you want to do each year.
• Timing. Give yourself enough time to build your raised deck. This is a difficult project to do at home. Even if you’re an experienced DIYer, building a deck the right way will take several weekends if you take the time or work with a partner. You will also need to plan for things like snow or heavy rain that may change your schedule.