Building decks

Before going on holidays we also managed to complete the deck/ramp at the entry way. The main reason for getting this done before leaving was that we had friends house sitting whilst we were away, and with two kids, it was a bit of climb to get into the entry way.

We decided to use treated pine to build this deck, as well as all the others we have done later (see below). The main reason was basically cost and durability. We will stain the pine once it has dried out, but for the moment it only has the colour it came in.

The first step was to cut away some of the cement sheet and remove some insulation to fix a lintle to the slab. This lintel is fixed with 10mm thick and 100mm long dyna bolts at every 450mm. It is a 90 x 45mm thick piece of timber.

Second step was to have a lintle on the other site, between the posts that were already in place. Due to the distance between the posts, we used two pieces of 140x45, bolted with 2 x 12mm galvanised bolts in each post.

Just the same again, with a different angle.

Then we installed the floor joists. We first removed a bit more cement sheet and insulation, but just enough for where each floor joist had to rest on top of the lintel fixed to the slab. The lintels were then fixed at either end with a type 17 bugle screw (75mm long). We predrilled the hole in the floor joist, just to make sure that the wood would not split when fixing the screw.

The next step was then to nail down the decking. The decking is 90 x 22mm and is fixed with 2 nails in each floor joists. We used the type of nails that twist down into the wood. Think they are called decking nails, but not sure. They work better than ordinary nails at least.

Next step was the ramp. This is supported by a treated pine sleeper that rests on the ground and the joists are again fixed with bugle screws at the lintel between the posts.

Decking in place on the ramp - only the little step to go.

And here is the final result. It was really strange at first to walk into the house without having to walk up a massive step, but we got used to it and it is now really good to have a proper deck outside the entry way.

The next one to be done - after the holidays - was the laundry exit. The same principles were used, but there the lintels and joists were out of hardwood as we had already bought the timber a long time ago. In order to protect the hard wood we just used a bit of sump oil before putting on the decking. The end result of the laundry exit is as follows:

Then it was the deck outside the living area. Here we had to dig 4 big holes in the ground first and fill them up with concrete. Then we put down 140x45mm treated pine on top of the concrete pads and fixed to the wall using joist hangers. Again we used a 90x45mm lintel fixed to the wall with dyna bolts and on top of this we rested floor joists, again using 140 x 35mm. Same decking as in the other places:

Forgot to take pictures from the beginning, so this is partially completed.

Same again, but from a different angle.

And the final result, with Jodie enjoying a cup of tea. We have to work on our out door furniture though....

Next in line was the deck outside the dining area and the kitchen. As with the laundry, we had already bought the timber for this, so we used hardwood lintels and joists, with treated pine decking on top.

Completed, seen from the north.

Seen from the north west. Eventually this deck will be extended further out and will probably cover another 25 to 30m2. This should give us a very nice sitting area outside, but it will have to wait for a while.

And Geir (now with shorter hair) enjoying a cut of tea on the western side of the house.

And finally it was just the deck around the little cabin. Here I was good and managed to remember to take pictures along the way, so here we go:

Lintel from 90x45mm treated pine, fixed with dyna bolts every 450mm

Holes dug to fill with concrete for pads. The holes are more or less 400 x 400 x 400mm

As there is a bit of a slope on the ground, the frames around the pads had to be of various sizes.

Holes filled with concrete and with tie down installed.

Bearer installed on top of the pads. This is fixed with nails to keep it in place.

All joists now in place, spaced 450mm apart. For the joists we used 140x35mm for the short span and 140x45mm for the longer span (see next picture).

Here are the 140x45mm joists. They are fixed with joist brackets at one end and resting on the bearer on the other. The "older" part of the deck that we had already done is made out of hardwood.

Joists screwed to the bearer using galvanised 75mm bugle screws, with a predrilled hole to stop the wood from splitting.

Final result, seen from the southern side of the cabin.

Seen from the north, looking south west.

And finally seen from the west, looking south east.

There was also a small deck on the southern side of the cabin to be built. Here we had already put the joists in place, so it was just to make sure they were fixed and then put on the decking.

Any problems, please email webmaster. This page was last updated 24/07/2008