Who would love a beautiful wood deck around their backyard? It isn’t as simple as just nailing a few boards together, in most areas it starts with permits, then planning, then a lot of hard work. But We here at Gennaro Grass have broken the process down for you, so you can spend this spring building a deck, then enjoy it for years to come.
Step by Step Deck Building Guide
Inserting timber posts
1. Draw up your deck plan on paper first. (If you are stuck for ideas, there are plenty of resources online that supply deck plans) To be able to properly draw your deck design you will need to work out exactly where to position your posts and your purlin structure and joists.
3. Mark the positions of your posts using an ink marker or chalk. Your posts should be approximately 1.5 – 1.8m apart.
4. Now dig the holes for your posts going approximately 400mm deep. Insert your posts into the holes, lining them up and bracing them, making sure that the bracing will hold them in place while the concrete sets. The post will be cut later so it doesn’t matter how high they extend out of the ground.
5. Ensure your posts are plumb (level in the vertical plane.)
6. Pour some ready made concrete into the holes, filling them to the top.
7. Allow the concrete to set for 48 hours before pulling the timber bracing off and cleaning any concrete off the posts.
If a wood deck isn’t the route you want to go, consider a Flagstone patio or a brick patio
Purlin Stage
Purlins are horizontal beams running along the length of your deck to support the decking boards. The purlins are supported along their lengths by posts.
The purlin structure will run the same direction as the finished deck boards, which is normally parallel to the house / patio doors.
Use a self-levelling laser level on a tripod to set levels over a large deck. Ensure any laser-level you use has been calibrated within the last 6 months.
Bolt 6″ x 2″ planks on their edge to either side of the posts, stagger your joists so that you don’t end up with two joints on the same post. (Timber locks can be used instead of bolts as they are just as strong and much faster to use. Pre-drill the 6″ x 2″ timber first, insert at least two bolts or timber locks.
As an extra reinforcement insert a 4″ x 2″ dwarf leg between the 6″ x 2″ and the concrete base and attach it to the post with screws or timber locks. This will ensure that your substructure will last 20 years plus. This will transfer the load to the ground.
Water Run-Off
To create a water run-off you must create a slight slope on your decking. We will aim for a slope of about 1 in a 100. To achieve this we will set our levels using builders line. 50mm in 4.8m will create a 1 in 100 slope.
Dwarf legs can be used to reinforce the purlins. Once the purlins are positioned and bolted / timberlocked the purlin structure is now complete.
Joist Stage
Lay your joists out on top of the purlins at 90° to the purlin structure. The joists must be spaced at 250mm (10″) apart. The joists can be fixed to the purlin structure using 80mm stainless steel screws or 3″ galvinised nails. This should ensure the strength and durability for your decking to last two decades of use.
Now all that remains to be done is to insert bridging pieces between the joists to strengthen the joist structure. Use 10″ (250mm) pieces to do this.
Bridging pieces 250mm (10″) should be inserted between the joists to ensure a rigid, strong joist structure.
Critical Issues to Consider when Building a Deck
Take note that some homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover accidents that happened within a construction that has not met required local codes. Applying for permits entail fees that covers the review of the plan as well as the field inspections. These primarily serve as steps to building safety. Check with your local building department to know which permits and inspections are necessary in your area which changes depending on the climate and other factors.
- Layout and attachment of deck to the house.
When it comes to building decks, the primary issue that homeowners have to face is how it will be laid out to complement the look of the house. Consider the overall design of your home, the outdoor space available, the yard’s grade and soil type, existing trees and other home features such as garden or landscapes, and access to and from inside the house. You also have the option to build the deck free-standing or attached to the house. For better accessibility, many prefer an attached deck and with this you have to think out how the deck will be sufficiently supported and how to cut through the siding.
- Materials
One great thing about undertaking just any home improvements today is the wider range of materials and supplies that you an choose from compared with what was available in the yesteryears. Traditionally, decks are built of wood but now you can find other alternatives that will perfectly match the luxurious look and feel you prefer, maintenance you and the family are willing to put up with, your budget, and the strength of the material to serve the functions of the deck efficiently. Other than the decking material itself; here are other considerations to take:
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- Size of deck boards
- Spacing and joist size- though there are available formulas to determine these factors but the general rule of thumb would be; “The larger the deck to be built, the smaller spacing and larger joists required.”
- Number of posts and footings
- Size of beams to be used for spans connecting the posts