Your concrete porch is uneven, or maybe you don’t have a good footing at all. You don’t need to spend your time and effort trying to work around these problems, when you could just build a deck over them. This guide will show you how to build a deck over an uneven concrete porch or slab.
Decking over slab. Other than concrete itself, a deck supported by posts on piers or columns is the most common type of deck built today.
How to build a deck over concrete slab
A concrete slab is the most common foundation for a deck. This is often the case when you are building an addition onto an existing home. The deck can be constructed over top of the concrete, or it can be built on top of another type of foundation. If you choose to go with the latter, you will need to make sure that the new deck is level with the existing one and that it will not cause any cracks in the concrete slab.
How to Build a Deck Over Concrete Slab
Step 1: Leveling the Concrete Slab
Step 2: Joining Two Layers of Plywood
Step 3: Framing Your Deck With Douglas Fir Wood
Building a deck over concrete is not difficult, but there are some things you’ll need to consider. The main concern is not the weight of the deck, but rather how much snow will sit on it in wintertime.
The biggest mistake people make when building a deck over concrete is skimping on the joists. If you use a 2×10 or 2×12 as your joist, it won’t support the weight of the deck, especially if you have a small porch or patio with no posts.
The best way to support a deck over concrete is by installing posts at regular intervals along the edge of your porch. These posts should be set into footings that are large enough to hold them at least 12 inches below grade (or whatever depth they’d be if they were installed as new).
You can then put pressure-treated posts every 6 feet along these lines, and attach your new joists to them with metal brackets called ledger boards. This gives you a solid base for your new deck without having to lift up any part of the concrete itself (which could damage its surface).
There are many ways to build a deck over concrete. One option is to simply lay the decking boards on top of the slab and nail them down, but this is not a good idea because it doesn’t allow for drainage and can lead to rotting. A better option is to build a frame or ledger board around the perimeter of the concrete, then attach that to the existing concrete using metal connectors. You can use treated lumber, pressure-treated wood or composite materials for either method.
In this article we’ll show you how to build a deck over concrete slab with a ledger board. This method works well on decks that are less than 12 inches high. If your deck is higher than that, you’ll need an engineer’s stamp for approval from your local building inspector before you begin construction.
The most common decking material is wood, but you can also build a deck over concrete. If you’re looking to create an outdoor living space from scratch, this is a great option. Here’s how to go about it:
1. Survey the area and decide on the size of your deck.
2. Measure the length, width and height of the area you want to cover with decking.
3. Calculate how much lumber you’ll need to build your deck based on the measurements taken in step two.
4. Purchase enough lumber for your project and have it delivered to your site.
5. Mark two points at each end of each joist (the horizontal beams that support the deck) so they align with each other at right angles when placed on top of each other. This will ensure that all joists are level with one another once they’re installed between posts or beams that support them on either side of the structure (called ledger boards). This is important so that water doesn’t pool beneath any part of the structure due to uneven ground level or slope toward one side or another during rainstorms or heavy winds; if water pools under a board for too long it could rot away completely
How to Build a Deck Over Concrete Porch
Concrete is one of the most versatile building materials available. It’s durable, affordable and easy to work with. But it can be challenging to build on top of concrete.
There are several ways to create a deck over concrete:
1. Attach joists directly to the concrete surface
2. Build a concrete pad and attach joists to the pad
3. Build a frame structure and attach joists directly to the frame
You can build a deck over a concrete porch or patio, but it’s not as simple as it may seem. The steps below will guide you through the process of building a deck over concrete.
Step 1: Measure and mark out your deck location. Use 2 x 4s to mark out the shape of your deck in chalk on the concrete. Make sure to leave enough room for any stairs or railings you plan to install.
Step 2: Dig out the area where your foundation will be laid. This will require digging down to the level of the frost line, which is usually about 18 inches below ground level in most areas. You’ll need this much space so that water has room to drain away from your foundation walls.
Step 3: Lay down landscape fabric over the soil where you plan to install your deck footings; this will prevent grass from growing up through your footings later on and allow for good drainage around them.
Step 4: Pour concrete footings around each post location, following the instructions included with the footing forms you bought at home improvement store or lumberyard (add an extra inch to each side of each form if they don’t include instructions). Make sure these are level before pouring them full with concrete!
If your house is already built and you want to build a deck, it is important that you first measure the height of the ground. The ground should be level since it will be easier for you to build a deck on uneven concrete.
You can use the following tips when building a deck:
Measure and mark the area where you want to build your deck. You can use stakes and string to mark the area where you want to build your deck or use a laser level if possible.
Dig holes for post footings on each corner of your deck. Make sure that these holes are deep enough so that they will support the weight of your deck without bending or breaking.
Set up posts at each end of your deck using lag bolts and washers with concrete anchors into each hole that you dug for footings. Make sure that these posts are plumb and level before securing them with concrete screws in order for them not to move after installation.
Building a deck over concrete is a great way to get a good-looking, low-maintenance deck for your home. However, many people don’t realize that concrete can be uneven at times and will need to be leveled out before you start building the deck.
There are several ways you can level concrete if it’s not already level. You can use concrete leveling compound or self-leveling cement, which will form an even surface on top of the old one. These products should be available at most hardware stores.
If there are issues with the foundation of your house, however, you may need to consult with a contractor before proceeding with any type of construction project.
The first step in leveling a concrete slab is determining where the high and low spots are located. To do this, simply find two points on opposite sides of the slab and walk across it until you reach those points again (in most cases this means walking diagonally across). Use these two points as benchmarks for leveling purposes; they’re usually marked as such on blueprints or other construction documents provided by contractors or architects who designed your home.
Next measure from each corner of each square foot of your slab to see if any areas are significantly higher or lower than others (see image above). If
This project doesn’t require any structural changes to your home, only some minor modifications to the decking boards and railings. This means it can be done by anyone with basic carpentry skills, although it’s best to have at least one helper on hand when you lift and secure the decking boards.
Materials Needed
Deck boards*
Railings*
16d common nails*