Howdy!This is a friend asking for help to build a deck with myself as the lead. I've built a dozen decks over the years. Would appreciate some feed back before I get into this deck project (before the snow flies). I'm north of the 49th parallel. Frost line 6 ft. I'm from an area where there is an abundance of bedrock. Deck I'm working on is a new home construction on bed rock and places where there is clay. Friend wants me to build a floating deck by putting down "A" gravel and tamping with soil tamper. Deck blocks to sit on precast concrete pad. Deck height ground level to 2ft.. He built an entrance deck last year and wants to work off this. I'll put a level on the existing deck and see if existing deck has remained level.
I've read some of the feedback on other deck projects and have been impressed by the professional and skilled suggestions. (I'm building a deck on a house of mine at a 12 ft height that I've gleaned some important feedback especially on fastening the ledger to brick veneer.)
The Ask: Does anyone out there in "deckland" have any suggestions as to building on grade on tampered gravel? Also, a discussion I've had amidst DIYer's on setting blocks on grade is if it is a house that has had 30 -40 years of undisturbed soil then why not build on grade?
Thanks! Look forward to the feedback. ~ Dave