Over 2020, we faced many challenges, but none as ambitious as building a three-and-a-half-metre-high raised deck over the summer. Now, looking out over the garden with the finished structure in place, you might never guess the scale of work involved. You probably wouldn’t even notice that the ground beneath drops a full three and a half metres.
So how do you design and build a garden structure like this hardwood raised deck? Like any project built to last, it starts with a solid foundation.
Preparing the Site by Hand
We cleared the hillside of trees and shrubs before digging large, level pits into the slope. Driving a digger on such a steep incline would have been risky, so we dug the pits painstakingly by hand. Each pit was filled with concrete to create a stable base for the deck.
Building the Deck Frame with Precision
We made the posts for the raised deck frame by bolting together three lengths of 6×2 inch timber. This method allowed us to slot the beams securely into the posts and screw them in place. Positioning the posts to match the design with millimeter accuracy was no easy feat! Once bolted to the concrete, we started building the frame. After placing the beams, we installed joists perpendicular to them at regular intervals to complete the structure.
Installing the Hardwood Decking
Building a raised deck frame 3.4 metres above the ground was nerve-racking, so we were very pleased when it came time to install the yellow Balau hardwood boards. We created a picture frame around the deck’s perimeter to enclose the area and filled it with boards. Each screw hole was pre-drilled, which was tedious, but it paid off—none of the boards cracked, and the deck looked incredible.
Finishing Touches and Transformation
To finish the design, we added a balustrade for safety and planted trees for screening. This raised deck build was rewarding from start to finish, and the final result is stunning. Where there was once an unusable, overgrown 3.5-metre drop, there now sits a magnificent social area—perfect for summer barbecues and lounging. This has been one of our favourite designs to create and figure out. We love a challenge, and this certainly was one
If you have a space in your garden that seems useless, contact us today, we are confident we come up with the perfect solution.