How to Use on the Ground Concrete Deck Post Footings

Mark the corners of an 8-by-10 foot square with wood stakes. Tie string between the stakes. Use a carpenter's square to ensure that the corners of this perimeter are perfect 90-degree angles. Adjust the stakes as necessary.

Place concrete deck post footings at the corners of the rectangle you just marked with the stakes and string. Place a footing in the middle of each 10-foot span.

Drill holes into the concrete with a drill and masonry bit that is slightly thinner than the masonry screws. Drill holes into the footings in areas that match the pre-drilled holes in the post anchors. Fasten the post anchors to the footings by driving masonry screws through the pre-drilled holes in the post anchors and into the concrete footings.

Cut four pieces of 2-by-6 pine wood to 10-foot lengths and four pieces to 8-foot lengths. Nail the wood together in layers. You should end up with two 10-foot double pieces and two 8-foot double pieces. Lay these pieces into the corresponding spaces along the post anchors. The 4-inch sides should face up. The 10-foot beams should be in the 10-foot span and the 8-foot beams in the 8-foot span. Secure the boards by driving nails through the post anchors and into the wood through the pre-drilled holes in the post anchors.

Measure then cut 2-by-6 boards to 7-foot, 8-inches in length. Mount the joists onto the frame by adding a mounting bracket over each end of the joists then driving nails through the pre-drilled holes in the mounting brackets, into the beams and into the frame. Attach a joist to the frame every 16 inches on center.

Cut several 5 1/2-by-2 inch decking boards to 8 feet in length. Attach these boards to the top of the joists by driving three nails through the decking board and into the joist at each point the board crosses the joist. Start from one side of the deck and work across the frame while keeping the boards fitted tightly together. Use enough boards to cover the top of the frame.

Use the circular saw to cut along the edges of the deck where the decking boards end to ensure the sides of the deck are even.

Sand the deck with a power sander equipped with coarse-grit sandpaper then work up to a finer grit. Coat the deck with a waterproofing sealant.