How to Make a Small Deck Platform
Building a freestanding small platform deck is an option for creating an outdoor space. Platform decks can be constructed nearly anywhere and built to any size on nearly any landscape. The wood used to construct a platform deck can be stained, left natural or painted to match the exterior of your home. Allow yourself a weekend to build a platform deck. A small deck form uses standard length lumber, preventing you from having to do a lot of cutting. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Stakes
- Hammer
- Pre-cast concrete footings
- 2-by-4 boards
- Carpenter's level
- Soil
- Shovel
- 2-by-6 boards
- Wood sealer
- Galvanized decking screws
- Drill
- Circular saw
- Framing square
Instructions
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1
Measure a 10-by-10 foot area with a tape measure for the deck foundation. Mark each corner of the measurements for the deck with stakes and a hammer. Pound the stakes into the ground using the hammer.
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2
Place a footing at each corner. Measure from corner to corner, from the center of each footing, using a tape measure. Adjust the footings until the diagonal measurements are equal, making the footings square.
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3
Set a 2-by-4 board across the corner of the footings in the back row, placing the board in the center slots. Check the board with a carpenter's level to verify the footings are level; adjust by removing or adding soil if necessary using a shovel.
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Center a footing between the corner footings. Recheck the 2-by-4 board with a carpenter's level. Add or remove soil beneath the center footing if necessary. Remove the 2-by-4 board. Repeat this process to set all footings for the front row.
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Place the remaining footings at equal intervals, aligning them in three rows. Place a 2-by-6 board from the front row of the footings to the back row. Adjust the soil if necessary until the interior footing is aligned with the front and back rows.
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6
Seal the ends of all 2-by-6 boards with wood sealer according to the manufacturer's directions, and allow them to dry thoroughly.
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7
Place a 12-foot 2-by-4 board across each row. Verify for levelness using a carpenter's level, and adjust if necessary by removing or adding soil.
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Place a 2-by-6 board flush against the ends of the 2-by-4 boards along the left side of the deck. Extend the boards equally past the front and back 2-by-4 boards.
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9
Attach all side boards by driving a pair of decking screws into them using a drill. Repeat this process to install the right side.
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10
Place a 2-by-6 board at the front of the deck flush between the ends of the sides creating a butt joint on each end. Attach the 2-by-6 board to the deck by driving a pair of decking screws into the 2-by-4 boards using a drill. Repeat to install all the remaining 2-by-6 boards.
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11
Measure and cut six 2-by-6 boards to fit between the front and back boards using a circular saw. Seal the cut ends using wood sealer according to the manufacturer's directions and allow them to dry.
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12
Place one of the six cut boards in each row of the footings, between the first board and the last board. Attach each of the six boards by driving a pair of decking screws through them and the boards they are touching, using a drill.
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13
Measure the diagonals from corner to corner once the framing is complete, using a tape measure. Verify that the measurements are equal.
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14
Seal all 2-by-6 decking boards with wood sealer and allow them to dry. Seal all exposed framing boards as well with the wood sealer.
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15
Place a 2-by-6 board over the deck, perpendicular with the 2-by-4 boards and the other 2-by-6 boards. Secure the 2-by-6 board using decking screws and a drill. Repeat to install the rest of the decking boards. Use a framing square to set a 1/8-inch space between the boards.
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Tips & Warnings
A platform deck is also referred to as a floating deck.
