Asked by: Bradley Mache
home and garden landscaping

How much gravel do you need under a deck?

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Dig a hole of at least 36 inches. Place about 6 inches of gravel into the hole along with a wood footer plate.


Also know, should you put gravel under deck?

Compacted gravel around wood posts allows for adequate drainage and keeps water away from the wood which helps to prevent rot and extend the life of the deck. When used beneath a concrete footing gravel prevents water from pooling up underground which reduces issues related to erosion that can compromise your deck.

how do you prepare the ground under a deck? Preparing Deck Site Checklist
  1. Layout the shape of the deck with a hose or string and remove any sod.
  2. Ensure there are no underground services in the area where you will be digging.
  3. Locate the positions of the piers and footings.
  4. Dig the holes for the footings and piers.
  5. Prepare the soil with landscaping fabric.

Accordingly, what is the best material to put under a deck?

If the area under your deck or stairs will collect water or is prone to gathering moisture, an inorganic mulch such as gravel, crushed rocks or river rocks is best. Gravel is a good material to place under outdoor structures, because it allows water to drain and doesn't decompose.

What kind of rock goes under deck?

Crushed Gravel Easily the most common option for use under decks as well as for most other outdoor applications, crushed gravel is widely available just about everywhere rock is sold. There are different types of gravel out there, but the term “crushed gravel” usually refers to pea gravel.

Related Question Answers

Helia Ahrndt

Professional

What to put under decking to stop weeds?

Instead of using sprinklers that spread water over a large area, use drip irrigation for the plants near your deck. This helps prevent weeds. For organic control that kills existing weeds and prevents most new weeds from growing, add 1 cup of salt to 2 cups of water and pour it over the ground under your deck.

Hinde Amian

Professional

What do you put under moisture on a deck?

Sloping Bricks or Cement. The soil under your deck will soak up as much water as it can, but when it becomes saturated, the water pools. Prevent this by laying bricks or pouring cement under the deck. This area should slope away from your home, allowing the water to easily run off into the rest of your yard.

Nicesio Likhodeev

Professional

Can you lay decking on soil?

There are two ways you can lay decking on grass. Use a flat surface (a decking board or tamper is perfect for this) and place a spirit level on top to check the ground is even. If the spirit level indicates the ground is uneven, level it out with extra soil or compact the soil to flatten it out.

Saule Linneberger

Explainer

Should you put landscape fabric under a deck?

It's also needed under decks, patios, and other hardscapes. “Landscape fabric has been an especially helpful alternative for us under decks,” says Berg. “We used to put stone down to keep weeds from growing. Now we just put down the weed barrier, add a little weight on it, and staple it down.

Adalid Chantre

Explainer

Can you lay decking on gravel?

If the area is not well drained, or if you simply want to give the timber deck frame something a bit more solid to sit on, place paving slabs at all of the corners and at intervals along the middle of the deck area. These can sit on top of the gravel base and will act as basic foundations for the frame.

Nail Tisdall

Explainer

What do I do with grass under my deck?

How to Prevent Grass From Growing Under Your Deck
  1. Mow It. First and foremost, you should mow the area under your deck.
  2. Apply Herbicide. After mowing the grass, apply an herbicide to the grass under your deck.
  3. Lay a Tarp. No herbicide lasts forever.
  4. Inspect Regularly.

Felicinda Rouault

Pundit

How do you clean under a low deck?

To prevent the mold, mildew and algae from returning, all you have to do is spray the underside of the deck with an oxygen bleach solution two or three times a season and rinse. If you periodically apply the oxygen bleach so that you don't get heavy deposits, you'll never have to scrub again!

Mzia Messerschmidt

Pundit

How can you prevent erosion under a deck?

How to Prevent Erosion Under a Deck
  1. Keep the sod and grass in place under your deck.
  2. Dig small drainage trenches in the spots under the deck that are most prone to erosion, such as areas between boards or along the edges of the deck where runoff can occur.
  3. Dig a small hole at the end of each trench that is at least 1 foot deeper than the trench itself.

Magdalene Noseda

Pundit

Is plastic or fabric better for landscaping?

Weed control is a major concern for gardeners, and landscape fabric or plastic can help block light and nutrients from reaching weed seeds in your soil, preventing them from growing. The fabric is more porous than the plastic, allowing moisture to penetrate, while the plastic causes most of the water to run off.

Harpreet Pando

Pundit

Should I put a vapor barrier under my deck?

Do not install a vapor barrier beneath the deck. Water vapor from the soil can cause severe cupping of the decking. The underside of the decking boards readily absorb moisture that evaporates from the soil.

Sulema Srinath

Pundit

Does landscape fabric allow drainage?

Landscape fabric is a material placed around trees, flowers or shrubs to stop weeds and promote plant growth, without chemicals. Landscape fabric blocks weeds, but its permeability allows the proper balance of air, water and nutrients into the soil.

Dessiree Birckholtz

Teacher

How high does a deck need to be off the ground?

If the decking is close to the ground, be sure to follow the manufacturers' guidelines, to prevent performance problems. Breyer Construction & Landscape Guardrails aren't required but may be a good idea on decks less than 30 inches above the ground. Stairs with four or more risers require at least one handrail.

Junwei Teruel

Teacher

Does a deck add value to a house?

Homeowners who installed a 16-by-20-foot pressure-treated wooden deck onto their house recouped an average of 85.4 percent of the cost of the project. On average, a deck which cost $10,347 to build added $8,835 to the value of the home when it was sold [source: Remodeling].

Hisham Errico

Teacher

Can I use deck pier blocks instead of footings?

A deck pier block is in many ways just a simplified version of a “precast foundation”, a foundation type recognized by building codes. They're subject to all of the same requirements as a typical footing, regardless of not being cast-in-place. The small bearing area of pier blocks is limited in supporting much load.

Filipe Eschbaumer

Teacher

How much does it cost to build a 20x20 deck?

An entry level deck with basic materials costs $15 per square foot, while a deck built with premium materials costs $35 per square foot.

Cost To Build A Deck By Size.
Deck Size Square Feet Average Cost
20x20 400 $6,000 – $14,000

Neha Dorrjes

Reviewer

Do decks need ventilation?

This is why proper ventilation is essential. In order for wood to be able to move evenly, it must have good airflow across all four sides. Proper airflow will also keep the bottom of your boards dry. Without it, the top will be dryer than the bottom, which will cause cupping.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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19th February, 2020

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