[Music]
[Music]

hi i'm jay i'm a home contractor today
hi i'm jay i'm a home contractor today

we're going to be building a small
we're going to be building a small

floating deck around this tree
floating deck around this tree

to be a great place to entertain your
to be a great place to entertain your

friends and family this summer
friends and family this summer

it's a smaller deck so it's perfect for
it's a smaller deck so it's perfect for

do-it-yourselfers
do-it-yourselfers

i'm here
i'm here

to show you how to do it right
to show you how to do it right

now a floating deck means that it's not
now a floating deck means that it's not

attached to the house
attached to the house

our deck is going to be a low-lying deck
our deck is going to be a low-lying deck

it's going to be about 12 inches above
it's going to be about 12 inches above

the ground when we get done
the ground when we get done

now because our deck is less than 200
now because our deck is less than 200

square feet and it won't be attached to
square feet and it won't be attached to

the house
the house

we don't have to go below the frost line
we don't have to go below the frost line

for our foundation which is going to be
for our foundation which is going to be

good for us because we're definitely
good for us because we're definitely

going to run into a lot of tree roots
going to run into a lot of tree roots

you're going to want to check with your
you're going to want to check with your

local building department to see if a
local building department to see if a

permit is required for this type of deck
permit is required for this type of deck

they'll give you the size limitations
they'll give you the size limitations

and where you can cite it on your yard
and where you can cite it on your yard

our deck only needs to be 18 inches off
our deck only needs to be 18 inches off

the property line
the property line

all right we're going to have a little
all right we're going to have a little

bit of digging for this project whenever
bit of digging for this project whenever

you dig you want to call 811 so they can
you dig you want to call 811 so they can

mark any underground utilities before
mark any underground utilities before

you begin the plan for our deck is to
you begin the plan for our deck is to

use paver base and concrete deck blocks
use paver base and concrete deck blocks

as the foundation
as the foundation

then we'll install two by six joists
then we'll install two by six joists

right on top of the blocks
right on top of the blocks

we'll use paver base and cap blocks to
we'll use paver base and cap blocks to

support the step
support the step

then we'll add the decking and finish it
then we'll add the decking and finish it

off with fascia boards
off with fascia boards

on this type of project i like to lay it
on this type of project i like to lay it

out ahead of time to see how it's going
out ahead of time to see how it's going

to look
to look

our deck is going to be 14 foot by 14
our deck is going to be 14 foot by 14

foot so i've laid those out with the
foot so i've laid those out with the

tape measure i made up some batter
tape measure i made up some batter

boards i'm going to put these in just
boards i'm going to put these in just

outside where the
outside where the

deck is going to be
deck is going to be

i pound these in
i pound these in

pound it in make sure it's tight
pound it in make sure it's tight

then i take my string line
then i take my string line

tie it right around the batter board
tie it right around the batter board

then i'm going to run it out to my
then i'm going to run it out to my

batter board
batter board

down here
down here

[Applause]
[Applause]

i'm going to measure off the sidewalk
i'm going to measure off the sidewalk

the depth of our step and make a mark on
the depth of our step and make a mark on

the batter board
the batter board

continue setting up the strings
continue setting up the strings

now that i have my batter boards and my
now that i have my batter boards and my

strings in and have my layout and all my
strings in and have my layout and all my

dimensions i'm going to check and make
dimensions i'm going to check and make

sure that it's square this is easy to do
sure that it's square this is easy to do

by using the three four five method
by using the three four five method

measure three feet along one string and
measure three feet along one string and

make a mark then mark four feet along
make a mark then mark four feet along

the adjacent string
the adjacent string

adjust the strings until the diagonal
adjust the strings until the diagonal

equals five feet now your corner is
equals five feet now your corner is

square you can mark the corners with
square you can mark the corners with

small stakes i'm going to do one last
small stakes i'm going to do one last

check to make sure it's perfectly square
check to make sure it's perfectly square

with the help of mark
with the help of mark

i'm going to measure the diagonals
i'm going to measure the diagonals

the diagonals should be equal for a
the diagonals should be equal for a

square layout
square layout

i'll also mark the lines for the deck
i'll also mark the lines for the deck

blocks they'll be in three rows the
blocks they'll be in three rows the

first row will be about a foot from the
first row will be about a foot from the

front edge there'll be a row in the
front edge there'll be a row in the

middle and a row near the back edge now
middle and a row near the back edge now

that the deck is laid out
that the deck is laid out

we can start to remove the sod now this
we can start to remove the sod now this

is an optional step but it's a good idea
is an optional step but it's a good idea

to keep weeds from growing up through
to keep weeds from growing up through

the deck
the deck

one way to do it is with the shovel but
one way to do it is with the shovel but

it's going to take us quite a while or
it's going to take us quite a while or

you can use a rented side cutter to use
you can use a rented side cutter to use

it adjust the blade
it adjust the blade

engage it
engage it

engage the wheels and squeeze the
engage the wheels and squeeze the

throttle
throttle

[Applause]
[Applause]

now that we have our sod removed we're
now that we have our sod removed we're

going to start setting our concrete deck
going to start setting our concrete deck

blocks these are a great alternative to
blocks these are a great alternative to

concrete foundations they still hold
concrete foundations they still hold

your deck up off the ground
your deck up off the ground

they can hold your framing members
they can hold your framing members

horizontally
horizontally

or if you have a post for a higher deck
or if you have a post for a higher deck

you can hold it vertically like this but
you can hold it vertically like this but

always check your local building codes
always check your local building codes

before you start
before you start

for our deck we'll use blocks near the
for our deck we'll use blocks near the

end of each joist and a few to hold up
end of each joist and a few to hold up

our center beam
our center beam

you can also go without the center beam
you can also go without the center beam

and use more blocks under each joist for
and use more blocks under each joist for

more support
more support

our deck's going to be about 12 inches
our deck's going to be about 12 inches

above the ground
above the ground

we're going to reference that off this
we're going to reference that off this

patio we're going to have one step here
patio we're going to have one step here

so i'm going to measure level
so i'm going to measure level

measure the height off my patio
measure the height off my patio

and then i'll know what height i need to
and then i'll know what height i need to

set these blocks
set these blocks

so my framing will be at the correct
so my framing will be at the correct

height i can tell i need to raise the
height i can tell i need to raise the

block just a bit with paver base now i'm
block just a bit with paver base now i'm

going to start digging a trench so i can
going to start digging a trench so i can

put my paver base in so i can set my
put my paver base in so i can set my

blocks
blocks

you don't need to go too deep i'll use
you don't need to go too deep i'll use

some of the leftover soil to fill in the
some of the leftover soil to fill in the

low spots
low spots

next i'll install some landscape fabric
next i'll install some landscape fabric

with spikes the roots will still be able
with spikes the roots will still be able

to get water and air i'll use a few
to get water and air i'll use a few

inches of paver base in the bottom of
inches of paver base in the bottom of

the trenches and tamp it down with a
the trenches and tamp it down with a

tamper
tamper

lay paver base for each row of blocks
lay paver base for each row of blocks

now that i have my paver base in place i
now that i have my paver base in place i

want to check make sure that all three
want to check make sure that all three

rows are level to each other so i use
rows are level to each other so i use

this long two by six and my level to
this long two by six and my level to

check them and they are level all the
check them and they are level all the

way down and this is level okay we're
way down and this is level okay we're

good to go and i can start setting my
good to go and i can start setting my

concrete deck blocks put them down in
concrete deck blocks put them down in

place
place

we're going to take this two by six
we're going to take this two by six

set it in place
set it in place

and we're going to check it for level
and we're going to check it for level

that looks pretty good if one block is
that looks pretty good if one block is

too low we can put a little paver base
too low we can put a little paver base

underneath it if it's too high you can
underneath it if it's too high you can

take a little bit out we'll do the same
take a little bit out we'll do the same

in the back
in the back

now that we have our four outside corner
now that we have our four outside corner

blocks set and level we're going to set
blocks set and level we're going to set

the inside ones
the inside ones

and we're going to check them i cut a
and we're going to check them i cut a

board here that fits in between
board here that fits in between

we're going to set it on top
we're going to set it on top

there we go
there we go

okay now i can see right away the center
okay now i can see right away the center

one's a little high
one's a little high

so i'm going to take this out mark's
so i'm going to take this out mark's

gonna hold that for me
gonna hold that for me

i'm gonna wiggle that
i'm gonna wiggle that

we're gonna test it
we're gonna test it

i'm gonna check with my level
i'm gonna check with my level

right on now we're gonna check the other
right on now we're gonna check the other

side
side

all right that looks good we got our
all right that looks good we got our

perimeter blocks
perimeter blocks

set and level tomorrow we're gonna come
set and level tomorrow we're gonna come

back and start framing
back and start framing

we're gonna start working on our framing
we're gonna start working on our framing

today
today

i'm gonna use pressure treated lumber
i'm gonna use pressure treated lumber

zinc coated hardware and galvanized
zinc coated hardware and galvanized

nails the pressure treated lumber is
nails the pressure treated lumber is

going to resist decay
going to resist decay

and the coated hardware is going to
and the coated hardware is going to

resist rusting for our framing we'll
resist rusting for our framing we'll

have one long joist at each side sitting
have one long joist at each side sitting

on blocks the rim joists will attach to
on blocks the rim joists will attach to

these boards we'll also have a center
these boards we'll also have a center

beam supported by a few deck blocks our
beam supported by a few deck blocks our

floor joists will sit on blocks near the
floor joists will sit on blocks near the

rim and attach to the center with joist
rim and attach to the center with joist

hangers on the outside we'll secure
hangers on the outside we'll secure

double end joists to the rims and use
double end joists to the rims and use

sleepers along each side now i'm going
sleepers along each side now i'm going

to start laying out my rim joists it's
to start laying out my rim joists it's

going to be 13 foot 3 inches
going to be 13 foot 3 inches

come down here i'm going to make a mark
come down here i'm going to make a mark

take my handy speed square
take my handy speed square

the light line there i always check my
the light line there i always check my

factory end to make sure it's square
factory end to make sure it's square

before i start
before i start

take my
take my

circular saw
circular saw

and i measure from the edge here
and i measure from the edge here

to the edge
to the edge

of the shoe and i see it's five inches
of the shoe and i see it's five inches

take the line that i've already drawn
take the line that i've already drawn

come back five inches
come back five inches

put my speed square
put my speed square

on that mark there
on that mark there

i'm gonna use my speed square to hold my
i'm gonna use my speed square to hold my

saw straight while i make the cut
saw straight while i make the cut

now that we have our framing cut to
now that we have our framing cut to

length i'm going to start to lay out for
length i'm going to start to lay out for

the joists first thing i do is clamp
the joists first thing i do is clamp

them together
them together

so they don't move
so they don't move

while we're doing our layout make sure
while we're doing our layout make sure

everything's accurate
everything's accurate

our first joist will be on the center so
our first joist will be on the center so

i'm going to measure
i'm going to measure

i know i have 159 inches
i know i have 159 inches

i'm going to measure here
i'm going to measure here

79 and a half
79 and a half

measure this way
measure this way

check my dimension
check my dimension

take my speed square
take my speed square

layout for the first
layout for the first

joist that's right on center
joist that's right on center

i'm going to measure
i'm going to measure

16s
16s

both ways
both ways

once i have my joist locations marked
once i have my joist locations marked

take my speed square
take my speed square

transfer those lines
transfer those lines

across all three
across all three

framing members
framing members

now that i have that laid out ready to
now that i have that laid out ready to

start putting it together
start putting it together

take our center beam
take our center beam

slide it into place
slide it into place

okay
okay

got that set in ready to start screwing
got that set in ready to start screwing

it together but first i want to check
it together but first i want to check

make sure we're proper distance off of
make sure we're proper distance off of

our property line
our property line

there we go
there we go

20 inches
20 inches

perfect
perfect

okay now we're ready to start putting it
okay now we're ready to start putting it

together i'm going to transfer my line
together i'm going to transfer my line

from the top of the board down the face
from the top of the board down the face

of the board
of the board

this is going to be the center of my
this is going to be the center of my

joists
joists

now these screws are weather resistant
now these screws are weather resistant

very good they're self drillers but what
very good they're self drillers but what

i like to do is pre-drill it to make it
i like to do is pre-drill it to make it

easier for you down the road
easier for you down the road

i like to stay about an inch down
i like to stay about an inch down

from either edge okay now mark's going
from either edge okay now mark's going

to help me hold this up in place
to help me hold this up in place

i put this line right on the center of
i put this line right on the center of

my joist
my joist

take my coated deck screw
take my coated deck screw

make sure the top is flush
make sure the top is flush

run my screws in now i'm ready to go the
run my screws in now i'm ready to go the

other side
other side

now i want to mark the location for my
now i want to mark the location for my

center beam
center beam

off the front rim joists and come back
off the front rim joists and come back

83 and a half inches
83 and a half inches

i can see my
i can see my

blocks a little bit off
blocks a little bit off

slide it back
slide it back

until it lines up
until it lines up

then we'll set the other blocks under
then we'll set the other blocks under

the center beam
the center beam

make sure everything is level
make sure everything is level

and secure with screws
and secure with screws

now that we have all our perimeter
now that we have all our perimeter

framing in place we're going to make
framing in place we're going to make

sure it's square by using the diagonal
sure it's square by using the diagonal

method
method

remember the diagonals should be equal
remember the diagonals should be equal

206 and one-half inches
206 and one-half inches

206 and one-half inches we know our
206 and one-half inches we know our

frame is square now we're gonna lock it
frame is square now we're gonna lock it

together with two by four braces and
together with two by four braces and

some screws
some screws

and check the frame for level
and check the frame for level

now that we have our framing in place
now that we have our framing in place

we're gonna start to lay out the hanger
we're gonna start to lay out the hanger

joists i'm going to take my center line
joists i'm going to take my center line

that i marked earlier
that i marked earlier

and move over three quarters of an inch
and move over three quarters of an inch

both ways
both ways

this is going to make it easier for me
this is going to make it easier for me

to line up the joist hangers later on
to line up the joist hangers later on

take my speed square
take my speed square

extend these lines down
extend these lines down

we can start to install our joist
we can start to install our joist

hangers
hangers

these are joist screws
these are joist screws

make sure your hangers flush with the
make sure your hangers flush with the

bottom now per your local codes every
bottom now per your local codes every

hole in the joist hanger needs to have a
hole in the joist hanger needs to have a

fastener another convenient thing is a
fastener another convenient thing is a

little block i've made to help line up
little block i've made to help line up

the joist hanger
the joist hanger

as you work along
as you work along

it'll make sure you line up the bottom
it'll make sure you line up the bottom

every time
every time

you can also use nails
you can also use nails

another great tool that'll speed up the
another great tool that'll speed up the

process is this pneumatic palm nailer
process is this pneumatic palm nailer

just set the nail on the magnetic tip
just set the nail on the magnetic tip

press into the hole and the tool drives
press into the hole and the tool drives

the nail into the wood we've removed the
the nail into the wood we've removed the

corner braces
corner braces

we're going to set the concrete block
we're going to set the concrete block

down i've got all the intermediate
down i've got all the intermediate

joists cut to length
joists cut to length

we're going to test fit here
we're going to test fit here

let's see the blocks a little bit high
let's see the blocks a little bit high

so we're going to adjust it down a
so we're going to adjust it down a

little bit
little bit

i'm gonna wiggle that
i'm gonna wiggle that

this joist is flush we're gonna go down
this joist is flush we're gonna go down

and check the rest
and check the rest

down a little bit
down a little bit

okay good all our blocks are in place
okay good all our blocks are in place

we're ready to start setting the
we're ready to start setting the

intermediate joists into the hangers we
intermediate joists into the hangers we

want to check each board
want to check each board

the wood has a little bit of an arch to
the wood has a little bit of an arch to

it you want to look down the board
it you want to look down the board

and see which side
and see which side

crowns up
crowns up

that's the side you want to keep up
that's the side you want to keep up

this looks like it has a little bit of
this looks like it has a little bit of

crown to it so i'm going to set it in
crown to it so i'm going to set it in

place like this
place like this

fits like a glove
fits like a glove

we planned our framing so that it would
we planned our framing so that it would

go around the tree now i'm going to add
go around the tree now i'm going to add

some framing on either side to carry our
some framing on either side to carry our

deck boards which we're going to install
deck boards which we're going to install

later i'm going to hold those a few
later i'm going to hold those a few

inches off the tree to allow for growth
inches off the tree to allow for growth

lay my framing square on here
lay my framing square on here

make a mark that's going to be the
make a mark that's going to be the

outside of my framing
outside of my framing

same thing on this side
same thing on this side

you can mark here and here
you can mark here and here

for my framing around the tree i notched
for my framing around the tree i notched

out the bottom a little bit using a
out the bottom a little bit using a

jigsaw this will allow the tree to grow
jigsaw this will allow the tree to grow

i'm gonna double it up
i'm gonna double it up

with this one and i'm gonna use double
with this one and i'm gonna use double

joist hanger
joist hanger

to install it
to install it

for larger trees or longer joist spans
for larger trees or longer joist spans

double up the framing all the way around
double up the framing all the way around

the tree you can even use special
the tree you can even use special

hangers to attach framing at the corners
hangers to attach framing at the corners

now we're going to install our end
now we're going to install our end

joists
joists

ready mark
ready mark

i'm doubling up the end joist for a
i'm doubling up the end joist for a

stronger frame
stronger frame

then i'll add sleepers to provide extra
then i'll add sleepers to provide extra

support
support

[Applause]
[Applause]

then i'll attach corner brackets inside
then i'll attach corner brackets inside

the frame
the frame

the steps for this project are real
the steps for this project are real

simple i built some boxes out of
simple i built some boxes out of

pressure treated lumber this lumber is
pressure treated lumber this lumber is

rated for direct contact to the ground
rated for direct contact to the ground

our decking manufacturer has recommended
our decking manufacturer has recommended

a tighter spacing for more support for
a tighter spacing for more support for

the steps
the steps

i'm going to put it in place
i'm going to put it in place

check for level
check for level

looks good
looks good

now i've got everything leveled and
now i've got everything leveled and

squared
squared

i'm gonna put a clamp on it here
i'm gonna put a clamp on it here

take my coated deck screws
take my coated deck screws

i left the framing up a little bit on
i left the framing up a little bit on

the inside to allow for airflow
the inside to allow for airflow

some local codes require that a floating
some local codes require that a floating

deck be anchored down
deck be anchored down

this is a shed anchor it's easy to
this is a shed anchor it's easy to

install it screws down into the ground
install it screws down into the ground

and mounts to the framing member
and mounts to the framing member

that'll resist any uplift during a
that'll resist any uplift during a

windstorm if the joists are a little
windstorm if the joists are a little

high use a power planer to even them out
high use a power planer to even them out

here's a technique that's popular for
here's a technique that's popular for

deck installations we add some
deck installations we add some

waterproof tape to the top of the
waterproof tape to the top of the

framing members this will help protect
framing members this will help protect

the wood
the wood

and protect against any ice or water
and protect against any ice or water

that'll get in between the deck boards
that'll get in between the deck boards

to keep animals from getting underneath
to keep animals from getting underneath

we're going to cut some wire mesh and
we're going to cut some wire mesh and

install it along the edge of the deck
install it along the edge of the deck

i'll install small blocks to my frame to
i'll install small blocks to my frame to

staple the screen to then i'll cut the
staple the screen to then i'll cut the

mesh to height
mesh to height

and install the mesh with staples
and install the mesh with staples

i'm ready to start putting down our
i'm ready to start putting down our

decking we're using trex composite
decking we're using trex composite

decking it's a very durable product it
decking it's a very durable product it

comes with a groove along the edge that
comes with a groove along the edge that

i can use these concealed fastener clips
i can use these concealed fastener clips

to hold it down before i set the decking
to hold it down before i set the decking

in place i'll measure and cut the deck
in place i'll measure and cut the deck

boards ahead of time using a chop saw
boards ahead of time using a chop saw

for the first deck board i'll attach
for the first deck board i'll attach

start stop clips along the rim joists
start stop clips along the rim joists

and at each flooring joist
and at each flooring joist

then slide the board into position on
then slide the board into position on

the other side of the board position the
the other side of the board position the

hidden fasteners inside the groove and
hidden fasteners inside the groove and

drive the screw through the hole into
drive the screw through the hole into

the joist
the joist

attach a fastener on every joist
attach a fastener on every joist

slide the next board onto the fastener
slide the next board onto the fastener

tap it with a rubber mallet to make sure
tap it with a rubber mallet to make sure

it's tight and locks onto the fasteners
it's tight and locks onto the fasteners

then install the hidden fasteners along
then install the hidden fasteners along

that board
that board

continue installing the deck this way
continue installing the deck this way

when i make the cut for around this tree
when i make the cut for around this tree

i'm going to make sure that my boards
i'm going to make sure that my boards

are lined up here and for end
are lined up here and for end

i'm going to take about a quarter inch
i'm going to take about a quarter inch

past the framing
past the framing

make a mark
make a mark

on my board
on my board

right here
right here

then i'm going to transfer this line
then i'm going to transfer this line

on this side
on this side

transfer my line from here
transfer my line from here

on this side
on this side

i'm going to take the jigsaw
i'm going to take the jigsaw

and i'm going to cut this out
and i'm going to cut this out

[Applause]
[Applause]

[Music]
[Music]

and install the rest of the decking with
and install the rest of the decking with

hidden fasteners
hidden fasteners

[Music]
[Music]

i'm going to rip down our last deck
i'm going to rip down our last deck

board for width
board for width

[Music]
[Music]

i'm going to take my slot cutter and put
i'm going to take my slot cutter and put

a new groove in the edge
a new groove in the edge

then i'll have a place to attach my stop
then i'll have a place to attach my stop

clips to fasten it down
clips to fasten it down

after all the decking is in place
after all the decking is in place

install fascia boards over the exposed
install fascia boards over the exposed

framing and deck boards with composite
framing and deck boards with composite

screws
screws

[Music]
[Music]

and that's it our new floating deck is
and that's it our new floating deck is

complete we've added a great table and
complete we've added a great table and

swivel chairs for a comfortable and
swivel chairs for a comfortable and

inviting place to gather
inviting place to gather

you can add plants and flowers to bring
you can add plants and flowers to bring

out color and texture
out color and texture

for the space between the deck and the
for the space between the deck and the

fence i've built a short frame to hold
fence i've built a short frame to hold

up the planter boxes
up the planter boxes

[Music]
[Music]

we've added lights
we've added lights

and lanterns to provide a soft glow for
and lanterns to provide a soft glow for

evening entertainment
evening entertainment

this is a great project for
this is a great project for

do-it-yourselfers and now you know how
do-it-yourselfers and now you know how

to do it right
to do it right

[Music]
[Music]

[Applause]
[Applause]

you
you