Contractor-driven deckstend to be insanely expensive, butthe price tagplummets the moment you take on the job yourself.
A couple of important threads run throughdo-it-yourself deck building: easy and inexpensive.
Crews of workers magicallytransform empty backyardsinto multi-level decks within minutes.
The Spruce / Michelle Becker
In reality, do-it-yourself deck building is a slow process involving hundreds of pounds of lumber and concrete.
This means that the need to keep things simple and easy is all the more important.
Exceeding a certain vertical height is the condition thattriggers building permits.
Scott Allen Perry / Hometalk
Building codes vary from place to place, so check with your local permitting office for guidance.
These decks are often called ground-level, floating orplatform decks.
They stay below permit level and are easier to build.
My Shiny Nickels
Inexpensive Deck Boards
Do-it-yourselfers love to save money.
Successful deck builders know that the seriously high cost of some deck floor board materials can kill the project.
So most use low-cost pressure-treatedwoodor pallet boards to construct their backyard paradise.
Needles and Nails
Imported hardwood like ipe is another favorite wood for decks.
Pallet wood works best when it isnot used as a contact surface.
They kept the job super-simple and sane by employing only five major building materials.
Imgur
The only thing missing is a backyard deck.
Big Easy residentScott Allen Perry naturally wanted a deck that would be low-cost and easy.
The logical conclusion was that it had to be done by himself.
Second Wind of Texas
He kept costs low again by using pressure treated lumber stained a cedar color as his deck boards.
Should frugality run contrary to life’s basic luxuries?
Laura and Randy didn’t stint on the deck materials one bit.
Merry Pad
These 3-step stringers are found at most home improvement stores and are pre-cut and ready to be installed.
Build Diagonals
If there’s anything a deck-building do-it-yourselfer likes, it’s simplicity.
Emily, from Merry Pad, first had todeconstruct the outdated deck.
DIY Girl Cave / Holly Prim
She downsized to a platform deck that’s proportionally better for her home and backyard.
If a deck remains low enough, local code may not require the deck to have railings.
Check with your local permitting department for guidelines.
Dagmar’s Home
For solid shade or to ward off those occasional summer rainstorms, install a board under the stair stringers.
She and her husband, Don, had pallets left over from their stone driveway project.
Voila: instant deck.
