DIY Floating Deck Networks

Place two corner blocks on the soil next to the house. Space the blocks according to the size of your deck and what the plans recommend.

Eyeball the blocks to check for level. Remove soil from under the blocks with a shovel, if necessary to make them level.

Determine the top of your deck's surface, typically the bottom of a door. Make a mark with a pencil about 1/2 inch to 1 inch below this point. Take a tape measure and obtain the distance from this mark to the slot in the block.

Cut two 4-by-4 posts to the measured length and place them in the slots in the blocks. Place a 2-by-6 support board, or joist, on top of the 4-by-4s and check for alignment with a carpenter's level. Remove the joist once it is level.

Make two marks on the house next to two blocks. Measure straight out to the length of the deck based on the plans. Position the remaining two corner blocks at these two points. Ensure that the outside edge of the slot in each block is exactly the desired length of the deck as measured from the marks on the house.

Set an end board, the outside boards that run parallel to the house, in a corner block next to the house and hold the board over the block further away from the house. Have a helper check for level with the carpenter's level as you hold joist over the block. Measure the distance between the joist and the block when you find level. Cut a 4-by-4 post to that length and set the post in the block's slot. Repeat for the other side of the layout.

Place two joists, parallel to the house, between the two blocks next to the house and repeat for the blocks further out. Attach two end boards to the joists with a screwdriver or drill using two 2 1/2-inch screws where they intersect the joists. Check the rectangle made by the joists and end boards for square by measuring the corner diagonals with a tape measure. The two distances should be equal.

Fasten the remaining number of joists your plans call for to the interior of the framed rectangle with 2 1/2-inch screws on each end board.

Fill in the remaining blocks under the joists using the spacing provided by your plan. Set the blocks in straight rows. Avoid setting blocks more than 5 feet apart.

Measure the distance between each joist and the bottom of the slot in each block. Cut a 4-by-4 post to length for each block and place it in position under the joist. Have your helper lift the frame slightly as you work the post under the joist.

Place a 2-by-6 deck board against the edge of the deck. Ensure that you leave a gap of 1/8 to 1/4 inch between the end of the board and the house. Fasten the deck board to each joist where they intersect with two 2 1/2-inch screws. Repeat for the rest of the deck.