Creating and constructing a garden deck can be a tricky job for an individual. While I would advise that you first look through your options regarding hiring a professional, if you are interested in doing it yourself, there are a few things which you need to make sure of first.

With any construction, making sure that the foundations are good is the most important thing. To do this, you need to make sure that they are stable, which you can shore up by using a stone/gravel base and sandbags above that.

From there, deciding upon the design of the deck becomes the most important. Making sure that the materials used makes design-sense in regards to both your home and your garden is something which you will appreciate when using it for years to come. Wood, which is, in my opinion, the best material to use for a deck/patio, but can mean problems in the long run, as decay and rot can be an issue.  This can be avoided, by properly treating the wood, and regularly treating it in following years.

A stone patio may be a great alternative to a wood garden deck, depending upon the design of the rest of your garden and home. Unlike a deck, a patio doesn’t require so much preparation, as you can just use irregular stones to fit the parameters of the area.