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Building a basic ground-level deck is achievable for anyone comfortable with a drill and a saw. It takes a weekend for a 3m x 4m deck and saves £1,000-2,000 in labour.Step 1: PlanningCheck if you need planning permission — most ground-level decks under 30cm high are permitted ...
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- Last Updated:
- 22 Apr 2026
- Category:
- DIY Tips
- Reading Time:
- 1 min read
Building a basic ground-level deck is achievable for anyone comfortable with a drill and a saw. It takes a weekend for a 3m x 4m deck and saves £1,000-2,000 in labour.
Step 1: Planning
Check if you need planning permission — most ground-level decks under 30cm high are permitted development. Mark out your area with string lines. Remove turf and lay landscape fabric.
Step 2: Foundations
Concrete deck blocks at 400mm centres along each joist run. Level them carefully — this is the most important step.
Step 3: Frame Construction
Build the subframe from 47mm x 100mm treated timber joists at 400mm centres. Check diagonals for square.
Step 4: Laying Boards
Start from the house wall. Leave 5-8mm gaps between boards. Pre-drill screw holes. Use stainless steel screws.
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Hi there! Just starting my first deck project this weekend – any tips on making sure those diagonal measurements are dead-on square?
Remember to use tanalised timber for your joists; it's treated with an anti-rot preservative that'll prolong your deck's life. Plus, it comes in handy metric sizes!
I'm from York and just built my first deck using this guide. The bit about checking diagonals really helped me get it square. Cheers!