A Deck Is All you Require? Build One for Yourself
Hard smart work does pay for sure
Building a deck according to many is a nightmare but one worth encountering. Before jumping into this venture of building yourself a deck, first you need to plan and ascertain the exact shape and size of your backyard. There exist three categories of decks namely:
. Low-level decks- usually built at the same level as your floor and designed to give more space to your living room.
. Remote decks-built separately from the house, preferably around the swimming pool or garden.
. Hillside decks-usually raised above sloping or uneven ground.
In all construction works, your safety comes first and when building a deck, you are expected to; wear safety glasses when using power or hand tools, where wear ear protectors when using noisy power tolls and meet local building regulations of the region you reside.
Building a deck according to many is a nightmare but one worth encountering. Before jumping into this venture of building yourself a deck, first you need to plan and ascertain the exact shape and size of your backyard. There exist three categories of decks namely:
. Low-level decks- usually built at the same level as your floor and designed to give more space to your living room.
. Remote decks-built separately from the house, preferably around the swimming pool or garden.
. Hillside decks-usually raised above sloping or uneven ground.
In all construction works, your safety comes first and when building a deck, you are expected to; wear safety glasses when using power or hand tools, where wear ear protectors when using noisy power tolls and meet local building regulations of the region you reside.
Step by step procedures
Assuming that now you have fully understood the exact shape and size of what you want to build, it will be time to now get rid of any weeds and while doing so, be cautious enough not to damage any underlying drainage or gas pipe.
1. Lay out the deck-when laying out the deck, use strings to mark the length and width of the deck. Be extra keen when doing this.
2. Set the posts-dig footing holes enough to hold both concrete and your posts. Prepare your concrete and pour some in the hole, erect a post and add more. Be sure to use a spirit level to confirm that the posts are indeed vertically erected at 90.
3. Fit bearers-first measure the decking, joist and bearer down from the floor height of the deck against the walls of your house to determine their thickness. Using dyna bolts for masonry walls, attach a (140x45) mm piece of timbre against the wall and screw every bearer to the post using either a framing anchor or a housing-joint.
4. Attach floor joists-using framing anchors, attach the joist across the already fitted bearers at 450mm. Once you are done, safely remove any pegs, nails or strings you may have used.
5. Fit the deck-lay the decking across the joists and firmly nail each joint using two galvanized nails. Alternatively, in place of galvanized nails, you can use galvanised screws and do it carefully not to leave unattractive marks on the floor of the deck.
Assuming that now you have fully understood the exact shape and size of what you want to build, it will be time to now get rid of any weeds and while doing so, be cautious enough not to damage any underlying drainage or gas pipe.
1. Lay out the deck-when laying out the deck, use strings to mark the length and width of the deck. Be extra keen when doing this.
2. Set the posts-dig footing holes enough to hold both concrete and your posts. Prepare your concrete and pour some in the hole, erect a post and add more. Be sure to use a spirit level to confirm that the posts are indeed vertically erected at 90.
3. Fit bearers-first measure the decking, joist and bearer down from the floor height of the deck against the walls of your house to determine their thickness. Using dyna bolts for masonry walls, attach a (140x45) mm piece of timbre against the wall and screw every bearer to the post using either a framing anchor or a housing-joint.
4. Attach floor joists-using framing anchors, attach the joist across the already fitted bearers at 450mm. Once you are done, safely remove any pegs, nails or strings you may have used.
5. Fit the deck-lay the decking across the joists and firmly nail each joint using two galvanized nails. Alternatively, in place of galvanized nails, you can use galvanised screws and do it carefully not to leave unattractive marks on the floor of the deck.