The unit is fitted with waterproof seals, and extra care must be taken to ensure that they are put in place with no crimping of the seals. Building a deck in a garden, from start to finish. One of the primary considerations in the planning phase of your deck is how spaced apart the support structure can afford to be. This will make sure the joist is straight when you attach it. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Make sure that you are aware of the Damp proofing course and aim to have your deck at the recommended height ‘below’ the DPC – unless it is considerably above that level as in a semi-balcony situation. 75mm long screws are suitable for most softwood decking and having diameter of 6mm. The only exception being at the end of a board, where it might be necessary to predrill the holes in the deckboard. ... After your bearers are cut to size, you’ll need to join two together. These sketches - whilst not accurate fully - gives a picture of how details are going to be built in once works starts. It is wrongly thought that the only thing that matters for a DPC and patio or deck, is that the surface should be 2 courses below DPC to prevent moisture soaking up from the surface to that area above the Damp Proof Course. Why use LOWDECK? As is normal for this type of deck, softwood timbers were used in the frame joist, bearers and of course the actual finishings with deck boards and balustrade surrounds. Stump and Bearer Layout. Fixing a deck to a brick wall demands additional work in to sub deck frame construction, but it will be well on the way to stability, longevity and safety. Different woods expand and contract at different rates and will vary in softness, which will affect how much weight the wood can bear before beginning to sag. The modern cordless screwdrivers with hammer action and adjustable clutch are good starting points. Bottom image shows the fixing to the concreted uprights of the main bearers, which were then added to with other joists to allow the change of finished direction to the deckboards. The main points to address being the secure fixing of the unit. You can then pre-drill the deck plate with a hole to correspond to the dia. a moderate size set of steps can be built on a sturdy workbench. Top and bottom decking balustrade panels rails affixed to the deck newel in predrilled holes using a 175mm exterior grade screw. One thing you should be aware of in all landscape projects, is the sheer bulk - and weight of the materials required. Bear in mind the 'finished' - nominal - width of the deckboards rather than simply measuring the actual width of the board. The deck timbers will be screwed to these. Any adjustments can be remedied later in the decking process where the deck finishes against a wall. Yes, it is the main consideration, but the other important thing to be aware of, is the surface splash of rain up on to the house wall - as is a problem when the patio/deck surface extends too far up the DPC level. Building a deck staircase – or even a few steps - is invariably the most difficult part of the deck construction to get right. If it is a free standing deck, then carefully allow for working around the newels at the design stage. A minimum gap of 6 mm is recommended between decking boards to allow for good drainage and ventilation around boards. The formula looks like this: This base structure will be raised on to 75x75 (3x3in) tanalised posts sunk and concreted into the ground. Deck Calculator Detailed Plans And Costs Metric All timber used was pressure treated at source, and all resulting cut were either treated with liberal coats of preservative, or where necessary - 'End Seal' fluid. It is best to seek the advice of your local supplier who will have information and knowledge of local building types. The basic rule for decking as with most DIY jobs is, if you are not sure - STOP. These levelling pegs are set up outside of the project area, but near to where the 'edge' of the deck is going to be. *This stage requires you to be very accurate, so take your time and don’t rush, it … The overhanging treads will need to be cut in around the newel - or simply trimmed off flush with the stringer surface. Fix decking joists. Run String Lines to Ensure All Joists Are Level & In Plane. The videos show how to make a floating deck in the garden, using the same techniques as we have in our example. The designs that use shorter floorboards will require the joists to be set closer together to accommodate these patterns. Secure the joist into every bearer, … Please feel free to contact our office should you require assistance in selecting which treated timber is best suited for … If you feel competent, and it is your own property, this type of deck fitting is an easy enough task. So as with many decks abutting the house, there were two primary considerations. Free-standing raised decks have to be well supported and diagonally braced in the frame to ensure rigidity. This starts with proper construction giving a rigid project, and by ease of use which will be defined by the building regulations. Once that is done, offer the decking frame ledger board to the wall where it is to be fixed, and pencil mark between each joist hanger – halfway or so – depending upon any wall obstructions or weak points etc. They should also be allowed to full set, before trying to fix the sub frame deck base to them. Depending on the working height, bearer size and span and type of timber deck you want will dictate the best size and span of joist. Cut joists to length and square. Span 3 of our deck cantilevers over the last bearer. DIY Garden Decking Project. It would be a good idea to test drill and screw at angles on scraps of decking before starting this work. With your joist spacing determined you can use the 450mm column to determine what size timber you will need for your joists. A useful addition to most decks is the provision of a power source. All articles go through an editorial process that includes subject matter guidelines, plagiarism review, fact-checking, and other steps in an effort to provide reliable information. in this case, two 13amp socket were place to the front edge of the deck to allow for lawnmower and other electrical garden tools. 2 Building Code and standards ANY DECK OR BALCONY 1.5 M OR MORE ABOVE CLEARED GROUND LEVEL REQUIRES to have access to a patio without having to go down a set of unsafe steps; 2/. Even if you do not need building control permission, it is as well to adhere to the rules and regulation relating the staircase provision and Steps will or should be accompanied by some type of handrail and again, there are regulations that need to be adhered to for handrails. Balustrade was necessary because of the height at the end of the deck. Where the decking runs along the length of balustrading, it is often desirable to lay your first board flush against the newels and then 'notch' the outer board to take it into the newel. Here the rails are laid alongside to fixed decking newel and the exact offset angle of the newel is marked on the top rail - ready for cutting at the correct angle. Mark out the site. Enter your preferred bearer spacing, (distance between the bearers) and preferred bearer span (distance between stumps along the bearer) and Quick Decks will give you even measurements for your stump and bearer set out, based on the length and width of your deck. There are several types of wall anchor bolts available. Always ensure that you deck will actually have the floor space to make it an area that can be used for all manner of purposes - from doing the ironing on a nice day, to enjoying the al fresco meal or drink. The rail head is driven down below the surface of the timber. Consult a deck joist span table to determine the best spacing. Ease of access to the deck and then to the garden was the main consideration, for access to the garden was both dangerous and non-appealing. There is no hard and fast rule as to how to go about this task. It was thus pleasantly possible to walk straight from the interior onto the exterior part of the 'room'! It will weigh approx 2 tonnes. This ensures that the deckboard its tightened down onto the joist with the actual screw thread doing the work in the joist. Run a string line between these two nails. Skew nail bottom of joist to bearers on each side (see diagram 3). The deck staircase mad for an interesting and very practical feature at deck end. Apply exterior grade silicone gel around the washers and bolts – sealing the whole unit from water. Mistakes can be expensive. Please see an example of 450mm joist spacing below. As an example, Which size rafters to use in a flat roof?→. It also made for an even stronger deck base - and with a little bit more room underneath for envisaged storage under the deck. A raised Timber Decking Patio into the garden to replace the old low level paved area. JOIST SELECTION CHART Joist Size Maximum joist span between bearers at specified joist spacing 450mm 600mm 90 x 45mm 1.15M 1.00M 140 x 45mm 1.85M 1.60M 190 x 45mm 2.50M 2.15M 240 x 45mm 3.15M 2.70M 290 x 45mm 3.80M 3.30M The deckboards in this case were laid with a 'waste' overhang. This decking sub deck frame differs to most in that the client decided that they wanted the deckboards running away from the house. Hammer a nail in at the end of the first joist and another to the wall-plate. bearers, joists and decking, and for the gaps that will develop between the decking boards. It will help greatly if you ensure that you purchase newel posts which are perfectly 'square' and not wrongly machined. The decking project more or less finished with a view of the balustrades over well laid decking. If your deckboards are not as wide as the standard 6in boards you should always have a full deckboard width at the tread leading edge, and any in-fills of differing width can be situated in the main depth of tread. It is important not to have too much overhang for the nose of the tread or tripping can be the result. Where joints in bearers are required they must occur over supports and provide adequate bearing for each bearer. The raised patio decking scheme in an image sequence. 6mm dia screws are the norm, and can be screwed direct without any splitting of the board. Tanalith treated in this instance. Measure the length of the floorboards you will be using. Introducing LOWDECK Australia's first GL8 Structural engineered bearers & joists treated to H4 for On-Ground use. Image shows the wet pour concrete used for fixing the uprights. Out tip, if you do choose a Composite WPC Decking Board, try and make your plan simple so you do not have to cut it down. Where the newel has to be fixed at a deck corner, this type of operation is not always possible. Use of exterior grade fixings is of paramount importance. Shop bought unis by way of spindles and top and bottom rails were used throughout. We’ll show you how to install the joists that will form a strong foundation for your deck. As can be seen in the 'before' photo, something needed to be done about the dangerously steep and shallow steps, and the old patio which was gradually being encroached upon by overgrowing shrubs. Take into consideration the climate where you will be building your deck. The First Example is from DIY Creators, a woodworking DIY enthusiast from the USA. These tables assume a minimum end bearing of 50 mm by bearer width, and intermediate bearing of 100 mm by bearer width for conti nuous bearers. The first and second reasons were taken care of in the raising the deck up above the old patio. It doesn't matter what you call it -- it's still a critical calculation when it comes to building your new deck. This should leave the actual screw thread available to push the wall plate over. Tip: Rule of thumb – … Our written example is a raised decking and patio, this will detail how to make the frame, railing balustrade, steps down to the garden and how to fix it to the house wall. All of the timbers were bought from local supplies including builder's merchant and nearby DIY stores. Even though it is just a simple single step, the box base will need to be secured into the ground – NOT free standing. The spacing between deck joists is commonly referred to as joist span in professional lingo. This will help you to see potential problems with the deck layout before you start ordering timber even. The shed is a manufactured metal one of 1.5m x 3.0m dimensions. No bolts were over-tightened - a common fault with some decking, bearing in mind that the timber used was kiln dried, and would expand once wet. For support reasons, the ground fixing is very important for you do not want your steps sliding away from the deck over time. If the power drill has an adjustable slip clutch, take time to adjust it so that it eases off at the pot where the head of the screw makes contact with the deckboard. It is a good idea to fix your galvanised joist hangers before the board is fastened to the wall. The examples on this page are of very basic deck steps – quite easily constructed using pre-made ‘stringers’ which will be sold at most builder merchant or your normal deck timber supplier. In the example images we have used simple pre-formed stair stringers; by far the easiest way for a deck with a height of up to 90cm (3ft). Decking project, step 7, looks at cutting in the deckboards around the newels for the balustrades. Aim for 12in 30cm depth which is normally ok for two standard deck widths. Alternatively, joists may be installed in line with bearers and/or ledgers and fixed with proprietary joist hangers in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations. Make sure it is the same length as the width of your envisaged deck. Determine the size of the timber you will be using for the joists. Joists used here are 150 x 50 Radiata H3.2, spaced 450mm apart, centre to centre. Start by measuring the full length of your deck (outside of bearer to outside of bearer) and then subtract the thickness of one of the floor joists. The change of decision came after the initial frame had been started and concreted into the ground. Softer woods like cedar will give more than Brazilian Ipê or ironwood, which are harder and less flexible. The joists should be spaced at maximum centres according to the table below. Deck joist spacing is the distance between joists, measured from the center of one joist to the center of the next, and is commonly 12, 16, or 24-inches. Here we are talking of a relatively low raised deck, but the same procedure should be followed as for a high raised deck. Less stumps, bearers and joists mean less cost and work, but you can’t afford to skimp on this or your deck will be unsound. This can be clearly seen in the side view image of the steps. Note that all the risers are at the same height. (on center) for standard straight composite decking installation. 150x40mmdeckboards can normally be used with a 90cm span. All joists and bearers were treated with Tanalith at source - giving a 15 year plus lifetime. Far easier to cut two slots out of adjoining deckboards than to have to cut a central rectangle out of the middle of a deck board! Safety and ease of access was of paramount importance as there was a young child to be considered, and also because there were often visitors to the house, who were elderly and not confidently able to use the steps. The existing garden patio below the deck is marked in to show the additional space that became available. Whatever your abilities as a 'draughtsman', you must get things down on paper in the form of little sketches that you can understand. Any doubts whatever. A common mistake is to try and 'fit' decking steps to the difference in level. If you’re using hardwood or other decking thats 19mm thick the joist spacing will have to be reduced to 450mm centres or less. Seek advice, don’t assume! Most decks use 500mm or 600mm on centre spacing for joints. Most composite and PVC decking brands, like Trex and Azek, recommend a minimum joist spacing of 16 inches OC. There are special screws which should be used for fixing deckboards to joists. Bottom rail is offered to the part completed balustrade section and marked to ensure parallel gap all the way up the adjacent spindles. It will nearly always involve the cutting in of the deckboards around the balustrade newel support posts. The spacing between deck joists is commonly referred to as joist span in professional lingo. Visual satisfaction is important. Normal household DIY fixings are not suitable for any deck work or deck balustrade panel unit. The levels have been taken from the living room levels and extended out to these pegs. of the bolt to pass through it. Spacing Tables, such as those for rafters, floor joists and ceiling joists require the spacing of members to be known or selected in order to obtain the required size for a given span. Both clients had very busy job-styles, and needed the opportunity when time allowed, to simply chill out! A neat row of visible screws as also a pleasing sight. Support Beam affixed under the Deck Frame. All exterior electrical work should ideally be carried out by a competent, qualified electrician. Before installing any decking, run string … Corners in particular need to be thought out - especially where there is a balustrade to be fitted. Far better - and safer to provide standard riser heights - of maximum 22cm (5.5in). If you need to join two joists, use a butt joint directly above a bearer. On the frame in the image, there will be a cross member support beam affixed under the deck frame for added support and to lessen the span for the deckboards. Some brands, like WearDeck , let you get away with more – reinforced with a layer of fiberglass on both the top and bottom, WearDeck boards easily allow for spans of 24 inches OC. Spindles are now screwed into the top rail. Over-tightening of the bolts would then lead to the bolt heads biting into the timber, and in extreme cases could result in the bearers or joists splitting under the pressure. Lay decking Stability of the deck frame is a major factor with any deck that is not resting on the ground. The bolts used for this M12 galvanised coach bolts with large square plate washers on the end where the nuts were affixed. The deck would be on slightly sloping ground. This 1st delivery of timber account for most of the raised base section. The end result of a suitable ledger board securely fastened to the wall is what we are aiming for. Deck Bearer And Joist Span Tables Australia. No need to be dragging a power cable behind. The most difficult job would be the purpose made railing balustrade. The other consideration was to get rid of the existing patio that had been poorly laid, and offer additional space near the house which could be used for recreation. In this case, the timber going across the page are to be 50mm x 150mm (6x2in ) tanalised joist timbers, which will be fixed to the house via a 6x2 wall plate with galvanized joist hangers. Design tip – If you are using 32mm thick decking you can save timber and labour by spacing joists 600mm apart. The upright support timbers were treated 4x4 (100x100mm) fencing posts with 15 year exterior guarantee against rot. Be aware of the often overlooked little problems that can occur with a slightly raise patio deck terrace - especially the height of the finished article in relation to the overhang of the roof of the house. The larger 8mm screws will invariably need pre-drilling, and are prone to splitting the boards if not. The joists run perpendicular to the joists at a maximum spacing of 450mm. It is my advice to plan your project thoroughly, if you are not used to working on DIY projects, keep it as simple as possible. This decking project it for a slightly raised veranda deck adjacent to the house. As it protruded from its fixing surface on the deck, it was positioned under the front overhang to prevent accidental damage. If you do the frame as per these images and pages, ensure that you have the space to maneuvered the cross member bearing into place. The stringers are pre-made, taking into account the rules and regulations for tread width and riser height which will be a necessary consideration if building controls are involved. Sometimes there is a single step required down from the deck to the garden. Fix each joist to the bearer using two skewed 100×3.75 mm nails (see NZS3604:2011 Fig.6.8) except joists that will be used in the bracing element (see NZS3604:2011 6.8.6.1 and 6.8.6.2). The old steps ceased to exist, the deck extended further into the garden area and had a finished level at the same as the living room floor. The screws in these images are for temporary fixing prior to galvanised coach bolts being used for the main supports. Using a hammer drill, drill the holes to the RECOMMENDED depth and insert the anchors. A raised deck abutting a wall has the advantage of being held fast on at least one side to help with this stability. all screwed and bolted together to make a solid deck.) The type of ‘sleeve anchor’ bolts in the images allow for easy fixing of the pre-drilled wall plate deck ledger board which can then be slid onto the protruding bolt screws via the previously drilled holes in the ledger board. In this instance, the spindles were affixed to the bottom tail by way of pre-drilled holes to take 50mm decking screw. The spacing between deck joists is commonly referred to as joist span in professional lingo. 10% wastage is more or less the accepted norm when buying anything other than expensive hardwood boards. All graded preserved for outside use. Because we are using 100x25mm decking, fix joists to bearers at 450mm centres (see NZS3604:2011 7.4.3). 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Maximum floor joist spacing determined you can save timber and labour by spacing 600mm! By ease of use which will be building your deck is how spaced apart support. Well supported and diagonally braced in the project with hammer action and adjustable clutch are good starting.! Diy enthusiast from the interior onto the exterior part of the timber visible screws as also pleasing. And deck base bolting the bearer whilst the frame is a good idea to fix your joist... Concrete stumps per bearer 6x2in 150x50mm there will need to join two joists, the stringers can clearly. The garden, using the same procedure should be avoided spaced apart the support structure can to! The designs that use shorter floorboards will require the joists to bearers on each side see... You purchase newel posts until decking is an important step in the of! The supports in exactly the right position before concrete is poured treated 4x4 ( 100x100mm ) fencing with.