Decking project help

richieboy

richieboy

richieboy

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29 Dec 2004
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So here is the area in question:

QtEwC0Zl.jpg

I am planning on decking a part of the area above - a rectangle 270cm x 420cm between my house (on the right in the picture), and my garage (funnily enough, on the left!). The house is slightly higher than the garage, so my plan was to dig it up and make it level, then lay my decking frame in to that on top of some paving slabs, i just had a few questions:

1) Someone on here mentioned that a deck should have a "fall" and so should slope 1 in 100 (i think), would this be a good thing to do here? I was going to run my deck boards across (as i can buy 4.2m deck boards i was just going to run them across the entire 420cm width from house to garage).

My only thought was - as these boards have a channel in them i was then worried that the slope would then have to go either towards the house or garage because of the channels in the wood but id rather it sloped forwards away from the fence/garage/house so water just runs off on to the path/grass.

2) I am looking to buy the following deck boards:

http://www.avsfencing.co.uk/decking...s/grooved-and-reeded-arbordeck-decking-board/

Do they look OK? I don't want to pay too much but i'd like it to last a while and i intend on maintaining it.

3) Is there anything i am missing, or any general advice you can give me?

Thanks for any help!
 
Definitely need a fall on a deck, 1 in 100 is correct, if you want to slope away from building, try a different decking layout, like V shape or diagonal can look stylish, running fall from front to back or other way.
 
Ah so I do need a fall, and it does need to fall in the direction of the boards with the channels/treads? Just thinking I'll put the boards going the other way then maybe, from fence to grass rather than house to garage and the fall can be toward the grass?
 
£3 a meter is a bit steep for decking. You would be better off ringing a few local timber merchants for prices. Or even try Ebay. I found a local seller doing it for £1.87 a meter.
 
When we built our decking we didn't think about a "fall". Yes there is a little puddle in the middle but to be honest... How often are you going to sit on the decking in the pouring rain ?

We told the timber merchants what size we had to build one in and he did the math.

Then we sat there on fishing chairs looking at the space (in the rain) trying to figure out how we are gonna do this !!


Deckingbase by The1DogzBollox, on Flickr

It took a while for the penny to drop but we built a frame work first then when adding the decking planks we sawed down the pillars of the frame that were too high.

Finished product


DeckingDone by The1DogzBollox, on Flickr

One thing you need to realise before you start is that, at that length those decking planks are not straight. There is always a slight bow in the middle.

Get a scissor jack (car). Soak the planks in water first (they bend easier without splitting). Put the plank where you want it to go and then using the jack in the middle, wedged against the frame work slowly wind it together and screw secure.

Decking a few years later..


ColdBackYard1 by The1DogzBollox, on Flickr
 
Thanks for the tips and pictures guys, definitely helps with finalising ideas in my head - i have made a lovely diagram for you to show my current plans:

A0Zq7Ax.jpg

So if i just run the boards from fence to grass (i don't want to sound lazy, but i really don't want to run the boards diagonally across....too much cutting!) and slope it slightly it should allow water to run off.

The top bit in my fancy diagram is my general idea for the frame, which will be set on concrete slabs. I was going to use 100x47mm joists for that...

All look OK?

Thanks for the tip with the jack, brilliant idea!
 
Just found another couple of planning & building pix so you get the gist


Fathoming it by The1DogzBollox, on Flickr


Halfway there by The1DogzBollox, on Flickr

Yes.. Don't forget the membrane !
btw.. My neighbours decking has the grooves front to back instead of left/right. It looks ok but he's never treated it with anything so it's now looking pretty manky !
 
Softwood Decking can become dangerously slippery during wet periods or used around outdoor Jacuzzi's / hot tubs.
If it's a space you constantly have to walk over rather than a set seating area etc, I'd suggest you opt for a Composite board with a non-slip surface.
 
Thanks guys, one thing i've realised is that my frame diagram is pretty wrong! I am now going to do 9 4.2m length joists going across every 45cm to support the boards going front to back, and prob a few noggins in between them.

Does anyone know whether i should use "hangers" for the joists or would you just nail/screw them in directly?
 
Outcast said:
One thing you need to realise before you start is that, at that length those decking planks are not straight. There is always a slight bow in the middle.
Click to expand...
This was an oversight I made but used ratchet straps and heavy gauge nails.

The nails used as spacers between boards and the ratchet straps wrapped around the adjacent fixed boards to pull the deck board tight against these nails holding the board straight for me to screw down. Worked well, hasn't warped at all since either.
 
Tesla said:
This was an oversight I made but used ratchet straps and heavy gauge nails.

The nails used as spacers between boards and the ratchet straps wrapped around the adjacent fixed boards to pull the deck board tight against these nails holding the board straight for me to screw down. Worked well, hasn't warped at all since either.
Click to expand...

Another brilliant solution! How did you find the boards bent moved into place and were yours also wet when you did them?
 
richieboy said:
Thanks for the extra tips guys, any ideas on the hangers thing? As in these things:

http://www.avsfencing.co.uk/decking/ironmongery/ironmongery/joist-hanger-galvanised/

Would you use these or is there a better way of doing it?
Click to expand...

They should be fine, they are galvanised, so should hold up well outside.

I have used these a few times now to construct the frame. They seem to work really well and hold the frame together solid. My 10x8 shed is built on top of a frame constructed using these bolts and there are quite a few heavy tools in there like a pillar drill and rip saw and the base is still solid.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150mm-TIM..._Material_Nails_Fixing_MJ&hash=item3f0b257ca4
 
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