Easiest Approach

Tom M

Im designing a small deck for customer that is only 14" high. The structure will butt up to the corner of a porch and house. We have no railings and the 2 exposed sides will have a full step. My question is what is the easiest way to build / design this.
Do I double platform 2 x 6 and 5/4 material? So the base platform creates my step and the next platform creates the deck. This is 13-14". I was thinking perhaps 48" o/c joist base with top layer 12" o/c. Or do I put a 2 x 6 floor platform on a 2 x 6 built up girder then free float a wrap around step. This is also 13-14" but not joining the step bothers me. Connecting dozens of little 1 step stringers 12" o/c seems crazy. I dont recall doing anything this low to the ground before so any feed back pros or cons or other solutions would be appreciated.
Thanks Tom

WNYcarpenter

You're setting posts to carry the deck 14" finished above grade and you have one wrap around tread?

Could you set two sets of posts. One set that carries the rim of the deck and the second that carries the rim or riser of the tread and fill it in with nailers between the inner and outer posts. You could use 10' posts and after you cut the inside post to length use the excess for the tread/outer posts.

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Tom M

There is no posts. The girder will be flush or topped with the floor joist themselves the material will add up to 13-14".