Thread: Deck too close to the Ground

Dear All,
I am a newbee here in the forum. I have read many of your postings with interest and have found them very valuable. I am planning to build a deck at the back of my house. Adjacent to the house is a 2x3m concrete patio and beyond that there is a paved area which is only about 120mm below the concrete floor level and then gradually rises up to about 90mm below the concrete level. I want to build a deck that covers over the concrete slab and then goes further over the paved area. Due to this varying depth, the bearer at one end of deck will be almost touching the ground if I use the 90x45 Treated pine bearers. Is it OK to use treated pine for the bearers ? Or should I try to use Onesteel galvanised 75x50x3mm RHS for the bearers ? I have tried to google a lot, but I don't find anywhere some tips on how to use Timber Joists on top a galvanized steel bearers in terms of the span table etc. Even with the steel bearers there would be only about 10-15 mm gap between the ground and the bearer. There is a pergola that covers the whole area, but when it rains water will enter the subfloor. But due to the slope teh water does run off and so there is no ponding.

The total area I am trying to deck is about 20sq.m. (approx. 3.5m x 6m)

Any help or advice is most appreciated.

Thanks,

Ranga