How to Make a Deck With Uneven Surfaces

Plan your work and gather your supplies. The size of your deck will determine how much lumber and other materials you'll need. Stake out the outline of your deck on the ground, driving one wooden stake at each corner. Determine how high you want your deck to be. Attach string to one stake at that height. Run the string between each stake, using a carpenter's level to keep the string at the appropriate height for your deck. Tie the string off at each corner. Measure the height of each post from the ground to the string. With an uneven landscape surface it's likely that the measurement for each post will vary.

Remove the wooden stakes and set concrete footings securely in their place. Cut the 4-by-4-inch posts to the appropriate lengths according to the measurements you took. Insert the posts into the footings. Secure the posts to the footings by toenailing through the wood nailing block on the footings, then into the posts.

Measure your 2-by-10-inch boards for skirtboards and cut them to the appropriate lengths with the circular saw. Position the long-side skirtboards against the corner posts on the long sides of the deck. The top edge of the boards should extend 1 1/2 inches above the corner posts. Drill two 3/8-inch holes through the boards and posts. Slide a carriage bolt through each hole and secure the boards to the posts with the washers and nuts.

Measure your 2-by-4-inch boards for ledger boards and cut them to length with the circular saw. Lay the ledger boards on top of the short-side skirtboards, 1 1/2 inches below the skirtboards' edges. Screw the boards together with 2 1⁄2-inch lag screws. Position the short-side skirtboards with the ledger boards facing inward, and with top edge level with the top edge of the long-side skirtboards. Drill two holes through the short-side skirtboards and corner posts. Be sure to stagger the holes so you don't interfere with the bolts from the long side. Secure the short-side skirtboards to the corner posts with carriage bolts, washers and nuts.

Measure and mark 24-inch centers along the inside of both long side skirtboards. Attach joist hangers on center at each mark, low enough on the skirtboard to allow the joist to hang 1 1/2 inches below the top edge of the skirtboard. Nail the hangers in place with joist nails. Cut the 2-by-8-inch boards to the appropriate length for joists and settle them into the joist hangers.

Lay your 2-by-6-inch deck boards on top of the joists. Arrange the deck boards in a pattern that pleases you, making sure to leave 1/8 inch between each board. Cut any boards to length to make your pattern fit. Pre-drill holes in the boards to prevent splitting, then secure the boards into place with 3-inch deck screws.