| Getting The Right Decking Timber | | | | treated timber to your house (see your local building |
| When it comes to the finished product when building | | | | guidelines as specifications vary) or setting up an |
| your deck, you have a range of looks to choose | | | | extra bearer and line of posts if you're unable to nail |
| from. You can either go with a traditional pine look, | | | | or bolt into your exterior cladding. |
| imported hardwood, painted timber, fiber cement | | | | After the concrete has dried, remove the stabilizing |
| boarding or even synthetic decking planks. | | | | pegs and secure your treated timber bearers by |
| Put consideration into the look you're trying to | | | | sitting them on top of your posts and nailing down or |
| achieve as well weather affects in your area, the | | | | to the side of each post with galvanized bolts. |
| upkeep and the functionality of your deck. While | | | | Cut to size your treated timber joists and secure into |
| building your deck yourself can save money on | | | | position with joist hangers. The joists should be no |
| paying someone to do it for you, you will want to | | | | more than 350 - 400 millimeters apart. |
| set yourself a clear budget at before beginning he | | | | Laying The Surface Of Your Deck |
| project. This may be the deciding factor in the | | | | Two things to think about before getting started are: |
| cladding you decide to go with. (imported timber can | | | | Rather than pre-cutting your timber to the exact |
| cost up to four times the price of traditional pine.) | | | | millimeter, cut the outside lengths a little longer than |
| If your budget is tight, a little planning can literally | | | | required. This way you can simply trim along the |
| save you hundreds of dollars. While I never | | | | outside when complete, ensure the edges are |
| recommend using lower grade timber (as this | | | | perfectly even. |
| contains more knots, is often buckled and weaker), | | | | Staggering your decking timber will avoid untidy |
| keep an eye out on local timber prices. Catering to | | | | looking rows of joins. |
| the home DIY'er is a fierce market, you can often | | | | You should start laying the along the house side of |
| take advantage of "1 day only" timber specials or | | | | your deck, leaving a 5 - 6 millimeter gap for rain to |
| pick up excess timber lots at for a cheap price. | | | | drain off. Between each length use a nail or pencil |
| Framework | | | | head to keep a consistent 2mm gap. Position your |
| Start by putting together a clear plan of what you | | | | lengths to meet over a joist so you can nail the ends |
| features you want your deck to have. Is it going to | | | | of your timber down (pre-drilling will stop the timber |
| be a standard rectangular deck, a hexagonal deck, | | | | from splitting, particularly if you're using hardwood.) A |
| split level..... is it going to have handrails or bench seats | | | | good way to ensure consistency in the gaps |
| around the outside? This is also the time to be | | | | between each length, is to smack a nail into the joist |
| checking with your local council or builder as you may | | | | beside each length of timber. Once you've laid your |
| need to get building consent or have regulations in | | | | first length, hammer in a thin nail (remember you're |
| your area that need to be followed. | | | | trying to keep a 2mm gap) hard against the outside |
| Now it's time to get started on construction. Setup | | | | of the length, push the next length hard against the |
| your string-line from the house to guide you on the | | | | nail, hammer in another nail, then hammer in down |
| dimensions and height of your deck. Dig your post | | | | your decking timber. This may be a little extra work, |
| holes in the corners and at 1800 millimeter centers, | | | | but is worth-while to avoid inconsistent gaps. |
| setup pegs to hold the posts in place and pour in 1-2 | | | | Now you've finished the structural side of building |
| bags of 20KG ready mix concrete into each hole | | | | your deck, all that is left is the finishing touches. You |
| (see pack for instructions). Ensure the posts are in | | | | may want to paint or oil your deck to fit in with the |
| position with your string-line and flush by using a spirit | | | | look of your house and to protect the timber from |
| level. | | | | the elements. Add some outdoor furniture or a |
| While you are leaving your concrete to dry you can | | | | barbecue, and get ready to enjoy your DIY outdoor |
| attach your ledger-board to run along the length of | | | | entertaining. |
| your house. This entails either securing a length of | | | | |