Wondering what you can cover your old deck with? Our guide lists 9 best deck covering ideas for all budgets! Plus, we look at other ways to upgrade your deck.

Looking to upgrade your back yard? Well we've got 6 simple deck designs, but built in beautifully landscaped yards. These decks aren't just about functionality; they're about creating a vibe, a mood. Imagine stepping out to a space that blends seamlessly with the outdoors, where the boundaries between inside and outside blur. A place for morning coffees or to have dinner outdoors. These decks all use simple landscaping materials such as pavers, stone & rock to incorporate your deck into your yard by building pathways and garden beds around the deck itself. When using TuffBlock deck blocks, you can build the deck portion in a matter of hours when the deck itself is a simple rectangle. But when blended into the yard with some simple landscaping tricks, it elevates it to a whole new level. Hopefully these inspire you and get you thinking about how you could transform your own yard! This first deck shows how you can build out from your home to create a patio deck, and extend the living space in your house. This type of deck is perfect for an outdoor living area. Think about using stones around the deck to frame it. The symetrical plants at either corner of the deck along with the L shaped couch make this a perfect place to sit and enjoy the outdoors that leads perfect out to your garden. This type of deck is also perfect in winter where the stone and paved pathway allow you to stay out of the mud whilst still using the space. This deck is similar, but is floating in the yard as a stand alone platform. A floating deck platform is a great place to have dinner during warm summer nights. Adding pavers to your lawn is a great way to connect the deck to the house, and the gravel/stone around the deck is great for hiding the deck blocks under the deck. This deck is built into the garden bed at the end of the yard. The pathway connects is seamlessly to the house, and allows you to sit in your yard whilst enjoying the nature around you. A two toned deck is always a nice touch. A floating ground deck is perfect for a bbq and inviting friends over for a feast! Building on a slope yard? Well TuffBlock allows you to build using posts at various heights for a deck like this. Consider creating a bench as part of your floating deck for an extra place to sit. You can also build a firepit next to your deck to warm you up in the evenings! We hope these six stunning examples of floating decks have sparked your creativity and inspired you to embark on your own backyard transformation. Each deck, with its unique blend of simplicity and style, demonstrates how when using deck blocks, like TuffBlock, a single day's effort building a floating deck can result in a breathtaking outdoor sanctuary. Whether it's a cozy corner for your morning coffee or a spacious platform for social gatherings, the possibilities are endless. Now it's your turn to bring these ideas to life! Grab your tools, choose your design, and start building. Remember, the beauty of these decks lies not just in their construction, but in how they harmoniously integrate with the natural landscape of your yard. We can't wait to see the incredible spaces you create, transforming your outdoor areas into personal havens of relaxation and joy. Happy building!

Want to create the perfect outdoor tablescape? We put together 40 of our favorite outdoor table decor ideas for you to try!

Adding a beautiful deck railing could be inexpensive and easy to do if you follow these amazing DIY deck railing ideas and tutorials.

Discover 30 stunning gravel patio ideas to enhance your outdoor space. It's perfect for any style and budget!

A deck is an extension of your home and should reflect your unique style. If you're looking for a way to make your deck stand out from the crowd, two-tone staining is the answer! This

Discover modern courtyard houses that maximize every inch of space while seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor living in their U-shape floor plans.

For this project we built a DIY covered pergola attached to the house to our existing deck, & covered the DIY pergola with clear corrugated plastic roofing.

Are you planning to build a deck railing soon? If you haven’t built any yet, chances are you are looking for some ideas. Well, no need to worry. Here we have deck railing ideas you can use to transform your deck.

This homemade deck cleaner is safe for plants and pets! Get your deck sparkling clean this summer with this easy to make deck wash!

DIY inexpensive how to deck rails out of steel conduit to look like steel wire deck railings, tutorial on how we did the railings on our deck! DIY inexpensive how to deck rails out of steel conduit to look like steel wire deck railings, tutorial on how we did the railings on our deck!

In this post, we provide some of the best deck skirting ideas across different categories and preferences.

Yurts are traditional, round, domed shelters originating in Central Asia and used by nomadic groups. Yurts have been used for over 3,000 years, evolving to

The latest building codes require decks supported by a house to be built with a “positive attachment” to resist lateral loads

If you’re using deck blocks then an important first step when creating your list of materials is to work out exactly how many you need for your project. Before we delve into any specifics, let’s first cover the main factors that affect our calculations: What are the dimensions of your project? What size lumber are you using? What are your joist centres? Which direction are your cross joists? Is your project raised or is it a ground level deck? 1. The dimensions of your project This one is pretty self-explanatory, but some decks may have multiple corners or curved edges which affects the number of deck blocks required. 2. What size lumber are you using? The size of lumber will determine what your spans will be. The thicker your lumber, the further apart your span supports can be. It’s generally recommended that 2x6 or thicker be used for a sturdy deck. Check your local span tables to find out what is required by code. 3. What are your joist centres? The spacing of the joists will depend on the type and thickness of the deck board material you are using, as well as the design and load requirements of the deck. In general, joists for a deck should be spaced 16 inches on center for rectangular decks and 12 inches on center for diagonal decks. However, it is always best to consult the specific installation instructions for the decking material you are using to ensure that the joists are spaced correctly. In general, composite boards require closer joist centres (to remove ‘bounce’), whereas hardwood boards can be further apart. Additionally, local building codes may have specific requirements for the spacing of deck joists, so it is important to check with your local building department to ensure that your deck is built in compliance with all applicable codes. 4. Which direction are your cross joists? As you’ll see in examples below, the direction of your cross joists can have a significant impact on the number of deck blocks you’ll require. For example, with a 10ft x 20ft deck, the number of supports can vary from 32 to 54 depending on whether the joists are along the 20ft length or the 10 ft length. 5. Is your project raised or is it a ground level deck? If you’re building a raised deck with a layer of bearers beneath your joists then you’ll require fewer deck blocks. For a visual explanation of this, check out our 3D explainer video showing this in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT9bLQWw5vw&t=110s A ground level deck is often the preferred choice for floating decks because it removes the step up and allows you to walk straight onto it much like a patio or walkway. If you do build a raised deck, then it cuts the number of deck blocks needed by roughly 40-60%. Lastly let’s cover span tables in more detail. Span tables for lumber are tables that provide information on the maximum allowable span of lumber for a given size, species, and grade of lumber when used in various types of construction. Span tables are used by builders and contractors to determine the size and spacing of the lumber members required to support a given load. The tables take into account the strength and stiffness of the lumber, as well as other factors such as moisture content, type of load, and duration of the load. Span tables are typically provided by lumber manufacturers and can also be found in building codes and design guides. Span tables also gives us an indication of allowed overhang for our joists. An overhang isn’t required, but it’s useful to hide the TuffBlocks under the deck. A typical allowed overhang is ¼ to 1/3 of your span table for the lumber you’re using. It’s always best to check your local building codes to see what is allowed in your area. Now that we’ve covered off the main factors, let’s dive into some practical examples. Example 01: A 10ft x 20ft ground level deck using composite decking boards & 2x6 treated southern pine joists In this example our cross joists will be along the 20ft length. There are many different materials that can be used for decking boards, including wood, composite materials, and plastic. Wood decking boards are commonly made from lumber species such as cedar, redwood, or pressure-treated pine. Composite decking boards are made from a mixture of wood fibers and plastic, and are a popular alternative to wood because they are more durable and require less maintenance. They do tend to have more flex than cedar or redwood, so the joist centres need to be closer together (14 inches in this case) to remove any ‘bounce’ from the deck and to make sure it’s firm under foot. Check with the supplier as they will be able to guide you on the appropriate joist centres for your specific deck boards. Therefore, we’ll require 8 cross joists at 14 inch centres. The allowable span for 2x6 southern pine is 9 feet. Although this is the ‘allowable’ span, in practice it’s much more common with a 2x6 to use a 5-6 foot span for a firm and durable deck without any bowing of the joists or sag over time. Therefore, we’ll require 4 TuffBlocks per 20ft joist, spaced 6 foot apart with a 1 foot overhang on the ends. 8 joists x 4 supports = 32 TuffBlocks Example 02 Now let’s change the direction of the cross joists, so they’re aligned with the 10ft length. The direction of your cross joists is determined by the direction of the deck boards (which will be the opposite direction). Typically you want to face the deck boards parallel to the direction you’ll be walking onto the deck in order to have the most grip under foot. But this is also mostly to taste. We require 18 cross joists at 14 inch centres. Each cross joist requires 3 deck blocks. 18 joists x 3 supports = 54 TuffBlocks Example 03 With 2x10 joists we could eliminate the middle supports, with only 2 TuffBlocks per cross joist: This would raise the deck by 4 inches, but it would reduce the number of TuffBlocks down to 36 (18 x 2). We’d definitely recommend a middle support in this instance for the longevity of your deck and to make sure it’s sturdy, but this is to illustrate that using thicker joists could impact the number of deck blocks you’d require. Example 04 Let’s look at another example here but instead of composite boards, let’s use a hardwood deck board. We’ll also replace the 2x6 joists with 2x10s. This deck has 7 cross joists at 16 inch centres. And with the 2x10 joists, we have 8 foot spans with a 2 foot overhang on either side. 7 joists x 3 supports = 21 TuffBlocks. Example 05 The final example demonstrates a raised deck (although hard to illustrate from a top down) that uses bearers beneath joists: The bearers use 4 supports per bearer and are spaced (slightly under) 5 foot apart. This allows the joists to be supported at 5 foot spans. The joists are spaced 16 inches apart, on which the decking boards will be placed. So for our calculations: 3 bearers x 4 supports = 12 TuffBlocks. By using a row of bearers beneath our joists, we reduce the number of TuffBlocks required from 32 down to 12. Conclusion: With these 5 examples, we can see how a number of factors can affect the number of deck blocks our floating deck requires: Deck 01: 32 TuffBlocks Deck 02: 54 TuffBlocks Deck 03: 36 TuffBlocks Deck 04: 21 TuffBlocks Deck 05: 12 TuffBlocks Please bear in mind that you will need to build in line with your local codes that govern span tables and joist centres for the lumber that you’re using. Additionally, some builders like to use more supports to ensure the strength, sturdyness and longevity of their deck. The more deck blocks used along the spans, the firmer the deck will feel. Likewise, the closer the joist centres, the firmer the deck boards will feel under foot.

Our deck was in good shape structurally but was not aesthetically pleasing. You may remember from my earlier blog post that I painted the deck above with solid…

Building a deck on your own will take time and planning, but can save you money in the end. We partnered with Evision Decking to bring you along on our process of building a deck on a budget! We had never built a deck before and decided to research the process and materials to use,

Browse the Wild Hog Railing Panel photo gallery and give your outdoor living space strength and style. From deck railing and fencing to gardens and patios, shop DecksDirect!

How to build an "instant" floating deck using concrete deck blocks! The deck block pier system takes the hardest part out of building a deck.

Looking for the perfect privacy fence? Here are privacy fence ideas you can look through to find the one for you!rn

Want to create a charming French pea gravel patio or garden look in your own backyard? Here are 10 inspiration pictures to save.

Looking for the best plans on how to build a deck step by step with pictures? Just follow these simple steps, just make absolutely sure you . . .

Screen Porch Ideas On A Budget; A screen porch provides a place to cool off in the shade during the heat of the summer. These inexpensive screen porch ideas on a budget will help you transform your deck into a cool spot where you can relax. Disclaimer: this post may contain affiliate links, and every...Read More

Want to avoid deck decay and enjoy your outdoor space for the rest of your days? If you use these deck building tricks during the initial build, you’ll find yourself with a sturdy backyard oasis for a long, long time.

For this project we built a DIY covered pergola attached to the house to our existing deck, & covered the DIY pergola with clear corrugated plastic roofing.

Want to give your deck a more modern and open feel? Upgrade your railing! DIY cable railing is straightforward to install and looks amazing!

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Are you considering a deck makeover? These deck skirting ideas will give you plenty of options to beautifully remodel your deck.

配達された荷物は3つの便でなんと38個口、600Kg超でその一つずつがとんでもない重さです。 配送の方にも「経験があるのですか」と尋ねられ、若干の不安がよぎります。 しかし、その中に「床下構造材」と銘打たれた荷物があり、 …

DIY simple deck for a modern playhouse - Our deck is 3' high, which is tall enough for a slide but not so tall that it feels unsafe.

Learn how to hang string lights on a deck by attaching string light poles to the railing with this quick & easy tutorial. Summer is coming, and that means it's time to put string lights

If you need to restore a deck, this tutorial will help you! We're going to show you how to restore a deck that has been neglected for way too long.

This project has been two years in the making, and it’s finally completed. I stained/sealed/finished/protected the deck! I won’t lie and say that I wasn’t a little intimidated to take on this massive project of staining a full 545 square feet of deck, railing, 102 spindles, and two sets of stairs, but I knew the…

I built a modern outdoor sofa for our back patio. Find the step by step instructions with photos and a link to the woodworking plans.