How to Build a Tikki Hut on a Wooden Deck in My Back Yard

Measure your available deck space with a measuring tape to determine the width and depth of the tiki hut. Determine the height of the hut -- it should be at least 84 inches tall in the front to provide adequate headroom for guests. The roof should rise from front to back.

Cut two sections of 1-by-3-inch lumber 2 inches longer than the width of the tiki hut with a circular saw. Cut two additional sections to the depth of the hut and miter the ends at 20-degree angles with a miter saw. The front and back sections rest at 20-degree angles on the joists. Assemble the sections into a rectangular shape and drive 3-inch wood screws through the corners with an electric drill and a screwdriver bit to form the outer frame of the roof.

Cut additional sections of 1-by-3-inch lumber to the depth of the roof and miter the ends at 20-degree angles to form the roof joists. You need one joist for each 12 inches of roof width to support the thatch. Install the joists at 12-inch intervals by driving 3-inch wood screws through the outer frame into the ends of the joists.

Prop the front of the roof frame with scrap lumber so the frame sits on the floor at a 20-degree angle. Place one section of 2-inch-diameter bamboo at each corner inside the frame. Drill 3/8-inch holes through the frame and through the bamboo sections. Insert a 3/8-inch-diameter bolt through each hole, thread a nut on the end of each bolt and tighten the nuts with a wrench.

Measure and mark the height of the tiki hut on the bamboo poles. Check the marks with a level to make sure the tiki hut is level when you turn over the assembly. Cut the bamboo poles to length with a reciprocating saw.

Turn the assembly over. Trim the ends of the bamboo that extend above the roof frame with a reciprocating saw.

Unroll thatch roofing and cut it to the size of the roof with scissors, leaving 2 inches of overhang in the front. Apply construction glue to the top of the frame and place the thatch on top, stretching it out to ensure that is does not sag between the joists. Allow the glue to dry for at least 24 hours.