we also build decks in a unique way too we dig 3 foot holes and we put pillars in the ground. we fill the whole with concrete about 1/3 full we fill it another 2/3 with dirt and then the last 1/3 we will top it off with concrete  and then we build a abse around the top of the pillars and put rails on them and after that we build stairs with 2x4s and put 1x1x3 all around the rails