Anyone know anything about building decks?

I'm thinking about making my deck bigger but only a temporary thing, so I don't want to spend a fortune. Do I have to use cedar? I know regular pine won't last long, but if I protect it will it last 2 or 3 yrs until I build the big one I really want?

My other question is about holding it up.

so I have this area it's about 7' x 7', currently the crap deck is attached to the cement via lags and then a metal brace for the part that is not against a wall, can I just move it and do something similar? Here's my paint drawings

 

1 - you can use pressure treated lumber
2 - Wait till you can build the one you want...your just making a lot of extra work for yourself....

 

What's with the steel brace?? Use PT unless you want to seal and paint the spruce.

If you can attach to the house all the way along you can get away with 1 joist and 2 posts right down the center if you want your deck boards sitting like they are in the pic.

Like marco said... wait until you can build it properley or else it will end up costing more in material and time.

 

Yeah I decided to wait, looking at it again it would be pointless. I spent a weekend laying patio stones at the bottom already to tied me over, so that's good enough for now.

I think pressure treated decks might be illegal in Ottawa. They are afraid you'll get a splinter.

 

They use different chemicals now. I doubt they're illegal.