Decking questions
Discussion
I'm in the process of building a deck out the back of the steading. It's 22m x 5.4m with a couple of steps in it.
Progress so far:
1. Cleared the ground where necessary and strip founds dug where required.
2. Concrete in founds
3. Sleeper walls built on to existing concrete slabs
(and yes I know there's a bit of downpipe missing.)
I've ordered all my 6x2 joists (tanalised timber) which are going to be at 400mm centres and wall plate (4x1) which I will be fixing this weekend with plastic dpc between them and the walls.
I'm going to build a lap fence around that oil tank so have ordered the fence posts (4"x4" dressed and treated) and will bolt them to my joists. I'm going to do the same with my newels.
Questions!
1. I'm going to get the biggest, sturdiest handrail that I can find - a 68x68 burbridge item. It comes in 2.4m lengths, will it be ok to have a newel every 2.4m or should I cut the handrails into 1.2m lengths and double the number of newels.
2. What spacing should I put my balusters at? 4"? I seem to recall from doing the steading that 100mm was the minimum for internal balusters but I wonder if the regs are different for external use?
3. What space should I leave between the top of the decking and the bottom of my baserail? Is there a legal maximum space?
Ta
Lefty
p.s. My Indian name should be "mixes up imperial and metric dimensions randomly"...
Progress so far:
1. Cleared the ground where necessary and strip founds dug where required.
2. Concrete in founds
3. Sleeper walls built on to existing concrete slabs
(and yes I know there's a bit of downpipe missing.)
I've ordered all my 6x2 joists (tanalised timber) which are going to be at 400mm centres and wall plate (4x1) which I will be fixing this weekend with plastic dpc between them and the walls.
I'm going to build a lap fence around that oil tank so have ordered the fence posts (4"x4" dressed and treated) and will bolt them to my joists. I'm going to do the same with my newels.
Questions!
1. I'm going to get the biggest, sturdiest handrail that I can find - a 68x68 burbridge item. It comes in 2.4m lengths, will it be ok to have a newel every 2.4m or should I cut the handrails into 1.2m lengths and double the number of newels.
2. What spacing should I put my balusters at? 4"? I seem to recall from doing the steading that 100mm was the minimum for internal balusters but I wonder if the regs are different for external use?
3. What space should I leave between the top of the decking and the bottom of my baserail? Is there a legal maximum space?
Ta
Lefty
p.s. My Indian name should be "mixes up imperial and metric dimensions randomly"...
Edited by Lefty Guns on Tuesday 1st September 16:14
Question 4.
I'm going to put some membrane down on top of the ground between the strip founds where there is no concrete and will put some sand on top of it.
Should I put some membrane on top of the existing concrete slabs too? Or will the lack of light and existing concrete be enough to stop the weeds?
I'm going to put some membrane down on top of the ground between the strip founds where there is no concrete and will put some sand on top of it.
Should I put some membrane on top of the existing concrete slabs too? Or will the lack of light and existing concrete be enough to stop the weeds?
2. What spacing should I put my balusters at? 4"? I seem to recall from doing the steading that 100mm was the minimum for internal balusters but I wonder if the regs are different for external use?
You can usually buy a 'Sphere' (sp?) that should not be able to pass in between the largest gap between your spindles
You can usually buy a 'Sphere' (sp?) that should not be able to pass in between the largest gap between your spindles
Just a quick observation... will the deck be more than 300mm above ground level? (some of the blockwork looks quite tall, hence the question) if so then the changes to 'Permitted Development Rights' were changed in October last year and you may need planning permission for the deck.
In terms of the balusters, taken from the building regulations (Approved Document Part K)... 'pedestrian guarding is provided in dwellings which is capable of preventing people being injusred by falling from a height of more than 600mm'... so if you are less than 600mm then you don't have to comply with building regs.
However, from a personal safety point of view, you might wish to follow the standards given by building regs. Do a search online for 'Building Regulations Part K' and you should find the approved documents in a pdf format, which you can look at and follow as you wish?
In terms of the balusters, taken from the building regulations (Approved Document Part K)... 'pedestrian guarding is provided in dwellings which is capable of preventing people being injusred by falling from a height of more than 600mm'... so if you are less than 600mm then you don't have to comply with building regs.
However, from a personal safety point of view, you might wish to follow the standards given by building regs. Do a search online for 'Building Regulations Part K' and you should find the approved documents in a pdf format, which you can look at and follow as you wish?
sleep envy said:
hope you've got your budget right 
Cheeky f
ker 
If anyone's interested in doing this sort of job themselves, here is my budget - all based on confirmed rates from local trade suppliers.
All structure timber is tanalised.
| 350m 6x2 joists | £480 |
| 80m 4x1 wall plate | £110 |
||3 bags building sand ||£93||
||1 bag 20mm gravel ||£42||
||2 pallets 100mm blocks ||£98||
||cement ||£40||
||dpc ||£0 - from a mate||
||770m 144x25 softwood decking ||£1,130||
| 230 41x41 spindles | £218 |
| 14x 2.4m 68m x 68mm handrail & baserails | £298 |
| 21x newels | £143 |
| 5000 deck screws | don't know yet |
| 70-odd coach bolts | don't know yet |
| ironmongery for gates | don't know yet |
| 30m 94x94 dressed and treated fence posts | £112 |
| 58m 200x25 dressed and treated for lap fence | £85 |
| TOTAL | £2,849 |
Labour is me and 2 mates (who are being paid in beer and food.)
The digger cost me a bottle of £70 whisky.
It'll be approx 110m2 when it's done and I've set aside £3,500.
Thanks for your answers chaps. I think I'll put my balusters at 100mm spacing. Still not sure about the newel spacing though. The quants above are based on having a newel every 1.2m.
Edited by Lefty Guns on Wednesday 2nd September 10:55
P924 said:
You forgot Question 5:
If I didn't play Mafia Wars so much, would this be finished by now?
If I didn't play Mafia Wars so much, would this be finished by now?
So far we've spent about 100 hours of labour. But it's mates pi$$ing about, having long lunches and playing the odd game of rugby. So productivity is poor!
And I've spent a few evenings moving blocks and sand around with the barrow.
Tomorrow I am getting the wall plates and joists delivered. I am picking up the newels on Friday and need to get all the coach bolts. First thing on saturday we will finish the 2 remaining sleeper walls then make a start on the joists and posts.
On the 12th/13th we will be doing the deck boards and the weekend after will be the balustrades. In the meantime I will be doing the stairs, building the gates and other little jobs.
Hoping to have it all done by the end of September.
BigBen said:
Lefty Guns said:
It'll be approx 110m2 when it's done and I've set aside £3,500.
I am almost finished building a 45m2 deck and it will have cost me around half your figure so hopefully that confirms things.I got the decking screws from Eebay, £15 for 1000 which I have used all of
Ben
Lefty Guns said:
BigBen said:
Lefty Guns said:
It'll be approx 110m2 when it's done and I've set aside £3,500.
I am almost finished building a 45m2 deck and it will have cost me around half your figure so hopefully that confirms things.I got the decking screws from Eebay, £15 for 1000 which I have used all of
Ben
The decking screws were the kind that are dipped in some kind of green stuff that are normally sold as decking screws in DIY stores. They were something of a bargain 'vs alternatives but were only long enough for board to joist fixing (2.5") not most of the frame fixing which I used longer screws for.
Ben
Ben
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff