The objective of this guide is to provide the homeowner with a straight forward how to-build-a-deck process. This will show you how to make a strong, beautiful deck that withstands the test of time.
Level the deck. Use a level and spirit level to ensure that your deck is perfectly flat before it is built. If you don’t have the right tools, hire a professional to do this part of the job for you.
Before building a short deck, there are some things to consider. For example, if you don’t add a railing and make your deck too short, it could be an outdoor hazard. And if you don’t add a foundation that keeps your deck sturdy, it could collapse! But there’s no need to worry—I’ve written this guide to help you build the shortest deck possible while still making sure it’s safe and practical.
Step 1: Don’t make it too short
When deciding on the size of your deck, it’s important not to make it too short. You don’t want it so short that people can’t get on and off easily. The same is true for making it too long. Also, don’t make the slope of your deck too steep or anyone will end up with a serious injury if they trip while walking down it. The width of your deck should be just wide enough for one person to comfortably walk side by side without bumping into each other, but not so wide that you’re tripping over all sorts of stuff left out there by guests who don’t know where anything goes yet either.
Step 2: Make sure you have the right tools.
- Use a level to make sure your deck is straight: You can use a simple carpenter’s level, which has two pieces of wood that you place on the ground, one at each end of your board. If you don’t have one, use your eye and see if it looks like the board is exactly horizontal or not.
- Use a saw to cut the boards into smaller pieces: This is probably the most important tool for building this deck! You’ll need something sharp and strong enough to cut through all those boards without breaking them or dulling out your blade.
- Drive nails in with a hammer: Nails are used to secure boards together so they don’t fall apart when you’re done building them (and also so they stay attached!). You use hammers because they’re stronger than just using your hands; if you were using just your hands then there wouldn’t really be anything holding those nails together once they were hammered into place.
Step 3: Don’t skimp on materials
- Don’t skimp on materials. When it comes to building a short deck, you want high-quality materials that will last for years. But you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars or go overboard with fanciness. As long as your materials are good quality, they should work well and last a long time.
- Make sure you have enough materials (and tools) to complete the project. This isn’t something that can be said enough: when you’re building a short deck, it’s important not only to have the right materials but also make sure that they’ll be enough for what you need them for! For example, if you want to build an outdoor patio area around your house but don’t feel like spending money on expensive wooden furniture or stone pavers because those things cost too much right now… then maybe consider using plastic chairs instead? Plastic chairs require less effort than wood ones do (which means less time spent working), so this could save some money over time.
Step 4: Measure twice, cut once
Now you have your plan and you’re ready to start construction. Before you get out the saw, make sure you have all of the right tools and materials.
In this step we’ll measure twice, cut once! That means taking your time to make sure that you are getting the measurements right. If there is a mistake in size or shape, it can be very difficult to fix later on down the line. It’s much easier in most cases if mistakes are caught at this point so take measures seriously.
The best way to measure accurately is with a tape measure as it will give an exact measurement every time without any room for error. Make sure that when measuring for length on long pieces (6 feet), place both ends together then pull them apart so they aren’t touching each other when reading from one end at a time–this way no mistakes will happen due to human error such as holding onto one end while thinking about how much longer/shorter another section needs cutting after measuring instead of just looking at two different points simultaneously.
Step 5: Think about how you want to use your deck.
Now that you have the plan, it’s time to think about how you want to use the deck. Will you be entertaining? Will it be your favorite place for a morning run or an evening of yoga? Are there children who will be playing on and around your deck?
How will these needs influence the size and design of your new outdoor space?
Step 6: Add a foundation that keeps your deck sturdy.
If you’re building a deck on top of a concrete patio, skip this step. If you’re building a deck on top of an existing wooden deck, however, you’ll need to add a separate foundation for your new structure. The recommended width for the foundation is at least 48 inches wide and it should be made of concrete blocks or pressure treated wood.
Step 7: Consider adding a railing.
Railings are a great way to add safety and style to your deck. They can also be used as barriers between decks, or to separate children from the edge of the deck. If you have pets, you may want to consider adding railings for them as well.
The railings should be installed before any other features on your deck because it will affect how much space there is for everything else. You’ll want at least one railing per side of your deck, but more is better.
There are many different styles of railing available; some offer a more decorative look while others keep it simple so they don’t detract from other features on the deck (like an outdoor kitchen).
It is best to use the shortest deck possible for your outdoor space, but some people build a deck that is too short and impractical.
It is best to use the shortest deck possible for your outdoor space, but some people build a deck that is too short and impractical. Here are a few tips on how to spot problems with a short deck:
- If you have an 8-foot tall backyard fence and want to only use half of it for your patio, you should shorten the fence first before building the deck. This will make the patio seem much larger.
- A good measurement for an outdoor space is about one yard per person who will be using it most often (i.e., if you live in an apartment building with two roommates). In this case, each roommate would need about 30 square feet of usable space outside their bedroom door—so three people total would require 90 square feet total within their individual apartments! This can easily be accomplished by making sure all entrances/exits are no more than 12 feet apart from one another; otherwise there may not be enough room between them because they would collide or overlap each other while trying walk through doors into different parts of their homes at once.
Final words
We hope this guide was helpful for you! We have talked about how to build a short deck, but you should always make sure that your deck is not too short for comfort. If it is too short, then there will be no point in building one at all.
