How to build a floating, movable deck?

rbdiy

I am looking to put in place a small, easily movable deck to cover this drain access point. The yard is on a small slope from the grass area down to the garden bed. I want to avoid digging holes and it needs to be easy to shift as required. Are there any simple (ish) solutions for someone new to DIY? I'd be looking at something about 2m x 2m. The garden box

and plants can/will be moved fyi

JacobZ

Hi @rbdiy,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

While a floating deck, like the one my colleague @MitchellMc built for his article How to build a deck is certainly possible, at 2m x 2m it would have some considerable weight to it. I'd estimate that it would be somewhere in the region of 100-150kg. This could still be moved using mechanical aids, but it wouldn't be easy and you might have to consider unscrewing some of the boards instead of shifting the whole deck in the event that you need to gain access to the drain.

You might like to start by having a look at How to build a low-level deck as well as How to understand deck components and How to understand deck span tables which provide information on the key points of deck building.

Regardless of size, a deck should be constructed in line with the bearer and joist span tables to ensure it is solid and will not have any bounce when stood on.

For your joists to run over the drain cover, they would need to be able to span the full 2m unsupported, and the lowest calibre of timber that can do this while acting as a joist is a 140x35. If you were to use this for your joists, then it would make sense to also use it for your bearers. When acting as a bearer, 140x35 can span 1200mm, so you would need at least three supports per bearer.

A design like this, which uses 140 x 35, would work.

You can use pedestal feet, sat on 400 x 400mm pavers to support the bearers, then connect your joists to them with joist hangers, before adding your decking boards over the top.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, or some concerns with this plan, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Jacob