Building a deck: to tarp or not to tarp (to prevent weed/grass growth)

[Red Squirrel]

What's the general concensus on adding a tarp under the deck? My train of thought is it will stop growth of weeds etc, but it may also trap moisture. It rained non stop for the past couple months here so I never got a chance to start building my deck. I only have the footings in place (going to be a floating deck, so it's not down to frost level) and only now has the rain finally stopped, but there's a couple cm of snow now. I can try to shovel it as best as I can but no matter what some will end up trapped under the tarp if I put one and it will melt in spring and that water won't really have anywhere to go. Is this something I should worry about or is it not really a big deal?

The deck is mostly going to be at ground level so would not be able to add anything after it's built.

Debating on if I build it this year or just wait till summer, but I hate to leave my lumber stacked all winter as it might warp.

 

[Greenman]

I always use weedguard, it's moisture permeable. There might be some reason not to up there in the frozen wasteland, but I have no idea what it might be.

 

[herm0016]

use something permeable. weeds wont grow if there is no light anyway. i would put down fabric and then cover with a few inches of 3/4 crushed stone.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah not sure where I would find something else, went with whatever I could get at the hardware store. I found Weedguard on Amazon though I suppose I can buy it from there.

Premium 5oz Pro Garden Weed Barrier Landscape Fabric By ECOgardener – Durable & Heavy-Duty Weed Block Gardening Mat Easy Setup & Superior Weed Control Eco-Friendly & Convenient Design 3ft x 50ft : Amazon.ca: Patio, Lawn & Garden

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www.amazon.ca

Though the longer I wait the more snow I have to deal with.

I don't have much time off this schedule anyway though, so I'm starting to think this project might end up having to wait till next year.

 

[mxnerd]

You should use pond liner, not weed barrier or tarp. Weed barrier or tarp will degrade quickly.

Amazon.ca : pond liner

 

[Red Squirrel]

Is that permeable though? I would imagine something for a pond is not as the idea is to keep the water in.

 

[mxnerd]

Why do you want it to be permeable? The whole purpose is to stop grass from growing, isn't it?

If you are so worried about trapping water underneath the pond liner,

place lumbers on top of the pond liner, drill or anchor them to the ground around the deck.

Grass won't grow if there is no sun light goes through.

==

or very good fabric

 

[Red Squirrel]

Because someone else mentioned it should be or is it not an issue? Though I'm thinking that does make sense as otherwise any moisture that is in the ground is basically going to stay there forever and it can't breathe. Or is that not something I need to worry about? Ex: if I do build my deck this year the tarp or whatever I end up using is going to be on top of the snow which will eventually melt next year. I will shovel as much of it as I can but there's bound to be some that stays behind. If something non permable is not an issue then I'll just stick with the tarp because I already bought it. No need to drill anything as the deck itself will sit on top of the tarp so it's not going anywhere. This deck won't be very high off the ground, basically high enough so the joists don't touch the ground. I have no more than a foot of height to work with. So I don't want grass to eventually start to grow through the boards.

Maybe I can stick with the tarp and just drill a bunch of holes in it and call it a day?

 

[mxnerd]

I live in California so I don't have experience about snow and long period of rain.

If you already bough the tarp, just go for it.

And use some U shaped garden pins / stones / bricks to hold the tarp.

 

[PowerEngineer]

I'd be inclined to use a layer or two or permeable weed guard fabric. If you decide to go with something impermeable (like pool liner) then you should pay attention to the sloping of the ground (you do not want to form mini-lakes under your deck) and where it will be funneling the run-off.

 

[herm0016]

if you use non-permeable stuff you have a good shot at growing mold or similar. you need to use permeable fabric. go to a landscaping place, they will have heavier duty stuff. cover it with gravel. it's the correct way to approach this.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah I'm in no position to start loading tons of gravel back there and no idea where to get the non permeable stuff here. Did one wheel barrow load of gravel for the footings and that was quite the job with a regular wheel barrow can't imagine several truck loads... in the snow at that. Need some kind of wagon or something, the wheel barrow felt like it wanted to tip over all the time and it felt flimsy. They don't make them like they used to. I think I will just omit the tarp completely and if stuff grows I can always spray tons of salt water through the cracks or something.

 

[herm0016]

too bad @Greenman and his fancy wheelbarrow are not closer.

tons? must be a big deck.

 

[Sgt. York]

Red Squirrel thinks big.

 

[Red Squirrel]

too bad @Greenman and his fancy wheelbarrow are not closer.

tons? must be a big deck.

Maybe not literal tons... though maybe. Adds up fast. Deck is 15x24.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Maybe not literal tons... though maybe. Adds up fast. Deck is 15x24.

Have a dude drop off the stones, provided you don’t care about the color of the stone it should be affordable
Use the weed block stuff too.

 

[herm0016]

i put many tons in a 16 x 24 playground. 6 -12 inches deep pea gravel though. it was more than 15 ton.

 

[mindless1]

The deck is mostly going to be at ground level so would not be able to add anything after it's built.

Haul less at a time if the weight is unmanageable, crushed rock or gravel. If it takes till next summer to get it done right, better that than something you have to keep messing with.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Have a dude drop off the stones, provided you don’t care about the color of the stone it should be affordable
Use the weed block stuff too.

I have a truck now so that's not an issue. The issue is the amount of work involved in moving it from the driveway to back of the house. I had to move one load with a wheel barrow when I did the footings and they sure as hell don't make them like they used to, it felt all loose and stuff like it was going to fall apart. They're all plastic now. Though if I had planned this ahead of time where I really wanted to move that much I would build a cart of sorts to make it easier.

If I use the weed blocker then there's no sense in worrying about the gravel. Though just realized I would need 3 rolls. Getting expensive. I was having my doubts about the tarp as it would just trap water so think I'll just go without it. Sucks I already bought it though but suppose I'll find a use for it at some point.

 

[mxnerd]

Why not just cover up all sides of the deck?

With lumbers/boards, it could get soaked in the snow or rain, however.

With your unused tarp, it can be a bit ugly.

==

Maybe outdoor faux stone panels?

Google Search

 

[Red Squirrel]

Why not just cover up all sides of the deck?

With lumbers/boards, it could get soaked in the snow or rain.

With your unused tarp, it can be a bit ugly.

There won't really be any sides to cover. One side is the hedges, the other side is the house, and in the other direction it's the house (it's L shaped in that area) and then the front, which will be steps. It's only going to be about a 2x6 width in height. Though I might redesign so the joists sit on top of the beams instead of using joist hangers, I realized I might have enough height to work with to be able to do that.

This is a random old picture but you can see how much height I have to the patio door, it's not much.



other angle:



Deck will cover just before the corner of the house. (I have an AC unit there now)

 

[mindless1]

I have a truck now so that's not an issue. The issue is the amount of work involved in moving it from the driveway to back of the house.

It's your lawn, nobody is stopping you from backing the truck up right to that area? Granted if it has rained a lot, that'll leave ruts. Wait till the ground dries out.

 

[Red Squirrel]

It's your lawn, nobody is stopping you from backing the truck up right to that area? Granted if it has rained a lot, that'll leave ruts. Wait till the ground dries out.

There's no room at all to do that. I have a really tiny yard. That part is literally the biggest part of my yard. And yeah even if I tried I would be sinking with all the rain we had. Though the ground is probably a bit frozen now. But there is no way I'd fit anyway.

I really want to buy a bigger property eventually but that's another story. I'd probably be renting heavy machinery to do a lot of the landscaping work. Just trying to compromise at this point without getting a heart attack.

 

[mxnerd]

Picture not attached/shown.

 

[Greenman]

too bad @Greenman and his fancy wheelbarrow are not closer.

tons? must be a big deck.

They actually make a snow plow that fits my wheelbarrow. RS could plow a path and haul the gravel at the same time.
I had it filled with decomposed granite the other day, I have to admit my hand got a little tired holding the lever down that makes it go. By the fourth trip I was pondering ways to add a seat.
My laziness knows no limits.