DIY Wood Decking

Determine the size of the deck you wish to build, in terms of length and width. Clear the area where the deck is to be built of any furniture or other items. Clear the topsoil where the deck is to be built down to a depth of 6 inches, using a shovel. If the deck is being built on to the side of a house, dig down 8 inches at the edge farthest from the house.

Compact the ground using a plate compactor, taking care to retain the tapered ground from 8 to 6 inches in depth if the deck is by a building. Dig a 1-foot-deep hole every two feet around the perimeter of the deck area. Cover the ground in the deck area with plastic sheets. Cut holes in the sheets where holes you dug are.

Cut enough 2-by-4 timbers to 18 inches long to put one piece in each 1-foot hole, using a circular saw. Place the timbers in the holes. Prepare a batch of concrete from 1 part cement, 3 parts sand and 1 part water. Fill the holes with cement around each timber. Wait 48 hours for the cement to set. Fill the cleared area with gravel up to ground level. Rake the gravel flat.

Cut two pieces of 2-by-4 to the width of the deck. Cut two pieces of 2-by-4 to the length of the deck. Measure and draw a 1-by-1-inch square on each end of the 2-inch-wide faces of the four 2-by-4 pieces using a pencil and ruler. Cut the squares out of the pieces using a hacksaw to leave 1-by-1-by-4-inch notches in each end of each 2-by-4 piece.

Connect the notched pieces to form a rectangle. Screw the corners of the rectangle together using L-brackets and countersunk long screws to reinforce the notched joints. Place the rectangle on top of the posts concreted into the ground. Screw the rectangle to the corner posts using L-brackets and countersunk long screws.

Cut enough 2-by-4 pieces to the width of the deck less 4 inches to connect a 2-by-4 piece across the deck at every point where there is a support post. Screw the 2-by-4 pieces to the rectangular frame at each of these points using countersunk long screws. Screw the 2-by-4 pieces to the support posts using L-brackets. Screw the remaining unconnected support posts to the frame using flat mounting brackets.

Lay the first piece of decking in the front-left corner of the deck. Screw the decking to the frame and the first of the support joists running the width of the deck. Screw the next piece of decking to the deck and support joists so the two pieces are flush with each other in a line across the deck.

Continue screwing decking to the deck frame until the frame is fully covered. Varnish the deck with exterior-grade varnish and a paintbrush. Varnish the support posts as well as the decking and the frame. Allow 24 hours for the varnish to dry before using the deck.