A temporary deck can be built in a backyard without doing any major construction work. If you have landscaping around your house that you don’t want to disturb, using pressure-treated lumber for temporary decks will likely be necessary because of the weight of gravel and soil.
Building a deck can be an expensive and complicated process. What if you just need a deck for the summer? A temporary deck on grass is a great solution. Here’s how to build one.
1. Lay Down Landscape Fabric
- Lay Down Landscape Fabric
- Place Rails On Top of the Landscape Fabric
- Attach Decking Boards to Rails
2. Put The Deck Blocks Into Place
After the concrete has set, you’ll be ready to move on to the next step. In order for your deck blocks to stay in place and not shift around as you walk on them, it’s important that they are level. To make sure they are level, use a tape measure or a builder’s level when putting them into place. After you have placed all of your deck blocks onto the ground, it is time to dig holes for each one so that they can be pounded into place with a hammer. You may have a hard time digging into wet soil if rain has recently fallen or if there is water standing nearby; in this case, wait until after any rain has stopped before continuing with this step.
3. Connect The Deck Blocks With 2x6s
Once you’ve laid out the deck blocks, it’s time to connect them with 2x6s. You’ll use your nail gun to drive nails through the openings in the deck blocks into the ends of your 2x6s. Make sure that both ends of each 2×6 are flat and level before you begin nailing; if they’re not, they won’t sit flush against each other and will leave gaps between your deck blocks that water can get into quickly causing rot damage or your deck will lift off its legs over time.
After all four sides are connected, you’ll want to check each side for squareness by measuring from corner-to-corner along two adjacent sides (a total length of 48 inches). If this distance differs more than 1/32″ per foot on any one side then adjust it until they are all equal using a saw or circular saw as needed.
4. Lay The Deck Joists Onto The Deck Blocks
Lay the deck joists on top of the deck blocks. Make sure they are level and use a level to check them.
5. Frame In The Perimeter Of The Deck With 2x4s
Next, use a framing nailer to attach 2x4s to the sides of each deck block. This will give you a perimeter for your temporary deck. Once this is done, make sure that your newly constructed temporary deck is level by using a level as you go around checking for any unevenness.
6. Install The Floor Boards
- Install The Floor Boards
The floor boards are the foundation of your temporary deck, so it’s important to install them correctly. Use a nail gun or hammer to attach the joists and top rails in place using 2” decking screws and washers. Attach the remaining joist hangers to the ends of each joist with 1 5/8 x 4 ½ dog ear lag bolts and washers for extra strength. If you don’t have a nail gun, you can use a hammer and chisel or drill bit to attach them in place by driving nails through the holes that were drilled during installation.
Once all of these components are in place, take two 4-foot pieces of 2×6 lumber (or whatever size you need based on how many people will be using your temporary deck) and attach them as shown below:
7. Add A Handrail To Your Temporary Deck
Once your temporary deck is complete, it’s time to add a handrail. The handrail should be attached to the frame of your temporary deck using nails or screws and a drill. To ensure that your handrail is straight, use a level to check that it remains parallel with each support beam as you attach it.
Here are the steps for building a temporary deck on grass
- Lay down landscape fabric to prevent weeds and grass from growing up through the bottom of the deck.
- Place your deck blocks into position.
- Connect them with 2x6s, which can be cut to length using a circular saw with a miter gauge attached.
- Lay the deck joists onto the deck blocks, making sure each joist is resting on two adjacent blocks at a time (use nails or screws). It’s okay if some of these are not connected perfectly in line—it will still work!
- Next frame in your perimeter with 2x4s (which you can also miter for extra style points) and attach them to the joists with either screws or nails/screws again. This will make sure everything is square and sturdy before moving on to installing plywood flooring boards.
- Final words
And there you have it. With these steps, you can build a temporary deck on grass for those times when you need to get down at your favorite outdoor festival or just set up a nice spot for an afternoon of lounging in your own backyard. Hopefully, this article has inspired some ideas on how to turn any grassy patch into a hangout space. Get creative and stay safe out there.
