DIY – Backyard Deck

Just built this 16 x 16 foot deck in our backyard NOLA home. 4 rows of red cedar planters for herbs and other goodies part of the construction. Also some planters on the sides of the deck for lemongrass and other mosquito repelling plants. DIY – Backyard Deck!

Frame. 6×4 inch posts to raise deck off the ground. 4×4 inch 16 foot framing beams. Cut ends at 45 degree angle to set square frame.

6×6 support beam across bottom middle of frame. 2x4s for support throughout frame.

2x4s rest on top of 6×6 supports. 3 inch Deck screws connect all framing.

16 foot 2×6 boards connected with two 3 inch deck screws at every contact point.

Two 4×6 8 foot beams leveled and buried 2 feet deep. Holes filled and secured with concrete, posts connected to 4×6 posts with stainless steel cornet brackets.

Planters made out of 5/6×6 inch 6 foot red cedar fence boards. Each side is 2 fence boards end to end. This bottom planter has two fence boards on top of each other making it 12 inches deep.

Next level planter is 6 inches deep.

Bottom of planters are aluminum screening secured with stainless staples. Little stop sign style red cedar on ends just a decorative touch to accent the ends of the fence boards.

Finished planters. Red cedar boards between the 4×6 fence posts to seperate the treated lumber from the natural cedar. If your are planting things you want to eat do not use treated lumber. Cedar is great because it doesn’t rot.

First batch of herbs.

First run of the new deck before waterproof/stain.

Finished with water-sealer, Natural Cedar finish. Step made of two 6 foot 4×6 posts and two 6 foot 2×6 boards. Secured with metal brackets.

Natural cedar waterproof sealer.

After waterproofing/stain Natural Cedar finish.

planter made for side of deck out of 5/6×6 boards. Treated lumber, so these plants are not for eating, just for lemongrass and other mosquito repelling plants.

Deck 6×6 base and 4×4 frame.

Deck frame with 2×4 supports. Eight 15 foot 4 inch 2x4s placed every 22 inches (cut to fit tightly between 4×4 frame). Set on top of 6×6 base pieces, secured with deck screws and corner brackets.

Thirty 2×6 inch 16 foot treated lumber boards place them one deck screw width apart, you can drill a deck screw into the supporting 2x4s to make sure you have space so water drains. You might have to trim the boards to make them fit perfectly once you place them. Line the boards 16 foot x 16 foot deck frame topped with 2×6 boards ing the planters.

Source: Hometalk