How we built our deck

This was our big project last summer (2006). As you can see we had a metre drop from our back door onto the ground. We lived for two years taking death plunges from the door onto the two logs in the pictures. This was okay except on wet days and when you had a basket of washing. Amazingly neither of us (nor any brave guests who dared it - well done Babs, we
remember your elegant attempt) suffered any injury. It was hard work and extremely hot. Here's how we did it:

• cleared the area
• made the platform grid (thick wood struts every 40cm in both directions)
• used the platform on the ground to measure location of holes for the supporting posts. Holes had to be 70cm for each main post. Each was filled with 15cm hardcore (we used gravel as we wanted something fine that could easily be levelled), post in, kept upright with spirit level and filled with postcrete. Kept platform at ground level while posts went in. We later went round the base of each post, building up the the concrete so the rain would drain away
  
• when posts firm, rasied platform little by little, we found using blocks helped (our tressles weren't tall enough). Attached posts with two coach bolts (in both directions)
  
• Nicer job was laying the boards on top - we used clothes pegs as spacers - worked a treat
• Realised we needed second platform for steps (so they wouldn't extend too far into the garden). This meant two more posts and holes needed.
  
• Diagonals needed for steps - we fixed the wood sides and then concreted these in where they met the ground
• Level supports for steps attached and then two boards for each step

Took a few weekends to complete as we hadn't done this before and were thinking/designing as we went. We are really pleased with the finished deck though.