How Much Does It Cost to Build a Low Deck? It probably took us about 8-10 hours, including the trip(s) to the store. But for us, we built our low deck in a weekend. Our loot from Home Depot How Long Will It Take to Build a Low Deck?Įveryone’s DIY pace is different. Landscape Fabric and/or Gravel (optional).Seventeen 10ft long pressure-treated 5/4in x 6in deck boards.Two 10ft long pressure-treated lumber (2in x 6in).Seven 8ft long pressure-treated lumber (2in x 6in).Deck screws – 3 1/2-inch and 2 1/2-inch.Please modify based on your desired deck size. Note that quantities are for building a 8 ft by 10 ft low deck. Here’s of list of tools (aka what you probably already have in your toolbox or work area) and materials (aka what you will probably need to buy) we used to build our low deck. ![]() ![]() This is a free service that will come to your home and mark underground utilities so that you don’t have the uncomfortable experience of hitting something. Covers only a small portion of your yardīUT please check with your local building department to confirm! I’m NOT an expert in this area!Īlso – if you plan to dig more than a few inches of soil to build a low deck over grass, consider calling the Dig Safe hotline (8-1-1 or 1-800- DIG– SAFE).However, low decks usually don’t require a permit as long as they: Do You Need a Permit for Building a Low Deck?Ĭonstructing traditional decks attached to your home usually requires building permits. This keeps building a low deck not only easier for DIYers, but also keeps material costs down. The above measurements are a basic guide only, refer to the TuffBlock installation guide and your material supplier to ensure correct spacing is maintained for structural integrity.In addition, since it’s low to the ground, these decks don’t need handrails or stairs. As an example, a low level 3m x 3m deck would require bearers to be supported say every 1.5m, bearers would be spaced every 1.5m to support the joists, so 3 x TuffBlocks per bearer, 3 x bearers = 9 x TuffBlocks. it is recommended that some decking timber be spaced at 450mm centres, it is always best to check with your timber/material supplier for material specific recommendations).Īs an example, a low level deck 3m x 3m would require 21 TuffBlocks for the above configuration – that is 3 x TuffBlocks per 3m joist, 7 x joists spaced 450mm apart.If you intend on using bearers on top of TuffBlocks, joists on top of bearers, and then decking or finishing material/sheeting – less TuffBlocks will be required. Joists will need to be spaced at a distance appropriate to the finishing material (e.g. As a general rule if you are supporting joists directly on TuffBlocks, you will need to support joists with a TuffBlock at 1.5m intervals. This obviously depends on the type and size of the project you are building. ![]() Large decks would require caution not to exceed TB's load limits, but with appropriate design they can be the solution for decks up to about 16 x 16 and be incorporated in the design of larger, more traditionally supported decks, for example for changing levels. With TuffBlock the structure can be easily modified or even removed in the future without permanent footings to deal with. In retrospect the hardest part of this project was finding the PT lumber I needed. Using this method each joist had to be leveled from the fixed height of the porch deck, which is where the built in flexibility of TuffBlock to accommodate a 4x4 post came into play. Using span tables and TuffBlock's own recommendations I used a pair of blocks to provide ground support to each joist supporting the rim by short cantilevers. The structure would have been designed differently using traditional footings to minimize digging and leveling concrete piers. ![]() Last year my Covid project was to enlarge our outdoor living space, covering an existing patio and raising it with a 10' x 12' deck to match the height of an existing porch. The time and labor savings over alternative footing methods was very welcome. I had concerns about frost heaving causing movement and distortion but after three New England winters have detected none. I first used Tuff Blocks using them to build a small (6' square) deck to serve as a step up to an entry door.
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