How to Build a Floating Patio Deck

Things You'll Need

Instructions

1

Measure your yard, make a diagram of the space and decide on the size of the patio deck.
2

Stake the four corners of the patio site with garden stakes and wrap a string around each stake. Slide a spade under the grass and remove all root systems from the location. Continue to remove soil until the ground is level.
3

Arrange concrete footings in rows, perpendicular to the front and back of where the patio will be. Set one footing at each end, spaced 1 foot from the other neighboring footings.
4

Cut four 2-by-12-inch pressure-treated boards into your frame boards with a circular saw. Place two boards on a level surface and mark the length of the patio on each. Mark the width of the patio on the other two boards. Follow the cut lines with the saw and place the corresponding boards against each other to ensure they're exactly equal.
5

Cut interior 2-by-12-inch boards to make supports for the inside of the frame. You will need one support for each foot of length, minus one. The support boards should be 4 inches less than the patio width. For example, a 9-by-9-foot patio will need 8 support boards that are 8 feet 8 inches long.
6

Set the support boards in the concrete footings.
7

Place two footings at each corner of the outlined site to support the frame boards.
8

Set the frame boards in the footings so the width boards are parallel to the supports and the front and back frames are perpendicular to the supports.
9

Drill four 2 1/2 inch galvanized screws through the back frame into the ends of the supports and side frame. Do the same along the front frame board.
10

Arrange 2-by-4-inch decking timbers across the top of the frame, perpendicular to the supports. Once the you cover the frame surface, secure the timbers down with two 2 1/2-inch screws where the timbers cross over the support and frame boards.