I'm looking to build a floating deck in my backyard without needing a permit, which means I have to keep the height from the ground to the deck at a maximum of 8 inches. I know where I want to put it, but there's a slight slope in the land, which means one corner will be at 8 inches while the other could end up being too high before I even start. I'm considering two options: either digging down the footings so they stay under 8 inches (but I'm worried about wood rot), or leveling the area and making it just above grade. The area I need to level is about 12x20 feet. Is it as simple as just buying soil and dumping it? Any advice would be great! Thanks!
4 Answers
I’d recommend renting a sod cutter to remove the grass first, then use a bow rake to redistribute soil from the high spots to the lower ones as best as you can. It’s going to take some effort, but if you don't remove the grass, it could grow through the deck boards later on.
You actually might not need to do much dirt work at all! You could just dig for solid CMU drystack or posts at the bearing points where needed. It really depends on your setup, though.
Yeah, I hear you, but some of my posts are already 5-6 inches above grade, while others are pretty much flush. If I raise the deck, that could require a permit, which is what I'm trying to avoid!
Sounds like you're working around some tricky regulations. Just check if your local laws allow for certain setups without permits. Sometimes, as long as you keep your structure low and out of sight, they might just let you off the hook!
You might want to bring in dirt or sand, especially if you can find an excavation site nearby to get it cheaper. Another option is to build a border at the low end and maybe even add a flower box if you want some greenery. Full-length steps on the low side could also work well!
That makes sense! Maybe I can also supplement with gravel for drainage once I level it out. I was thinking about laying down black tarps to stop any grass from growing underneath.