Soon or later your hunting or fishing shack will need a deck.  A nice level place up off the ground to help keep things a little dryer and much less muddy.

First, start with the footings.  If you are on sandy, well drained soil, then simple precast concrete spread footings from your local Menards will do the trick.  If you are on clay or silty soil, then you will need to pour concrete footings.  These need to be below the frost line (which can be over 4 feet in northern climates).  Check with your local building supply store or the city/county engineer’s office to find out the depth of the frost line for your area.  Powered augers are the way to go for deep footings.  This is a two person job and remember to hold on to the handles very tightly!  These can be rented at most tool/equipment rental stores or even your local hardware store.

The number and spacing of the footings will vary depending on the size of the deck and the materials used.  There are many, many books on deck building to choose from, and these can also be found at your local building supply store.  You could also check with your favorite contractor or engineer friend if you’re lucky enough to know one of these.

Once the design has been determined and the footings in place, the basic procedure is set the posts, main beams, joists, and then the decking.  This is where a nice Honda generator comes in handy along with a chop saw.  The concrete is easy enough to mix one bag at a time in a wheelbarrow.  A powered concrete mixer can also be rented.

Then crack open your favorite beverage and enjoy!