Skew ChiDAMN!!
9th January 2008, 06:18 PM
Finally got some boards laid on a deck I started several years ago. This photo was taken on 09-Apr-2K5, just before I started laying joists & bearers. (I shouldn't have laid them back then... they were hard as rock when I finally got around to trying to nail the boards down this week. :doh:)
64327
Over the next 12 months, we ran some steps, planter boxes and the piers up to full height, ready for lintels (I'm not looking forward to installing them... the deck is 10mx5m and you can see from the pix that they'll have to be >3m each, with the end ones at around 4.5m. Oh, my aching back!) FWIW, the deck will be roofed, hopefully looking something like a feature we have out the front:
64328
The decking boards are 90mm Merbau, laid with a 10mm gap. I know this is a bit larger gap than usual, but it fits well with the general "feel" of the house. It was hand-nailed [groan] over the last 3 days, using some 3.5kg of galv twist nails.
So... a few pix of my effort as it currently stands:
64333
64336
As you can clearly see in the following pic, I ran a 1m wide band around the edge at the diagonal. This was for two reasons... mainly because we expect heavy weathering at the ends of the deck, even after it's finally roofed and completely finished. This way, replacing sections will be far easier and cheaper than replacing whole runs of board.
Also, and by no means of less import, IMHO it makes for a nice decorative effect. :)
64335
To reduce any visual problems where the ends of the diagonal boards met the ends of the "horizontal" boards I added a single "vertical" board at each end, as a visual divider. (I'm kicking myself for not running another couple between the two pairs of inner piers, dividing the centre section into 3, but it's easy to say "I shoulda" when you have the benefit of hindsight. :doh:)
64334
Any feedback or comments (esp. valid criticisms of the construction) are welcome; I'm a general contractor and decking is not my forte, so if you can see a booboo or potential future problems with my concept, please let me know so I don't do it again next time! :;
At this rate, I reckon it'll be finished around... oh... Xmas 2010. As I said,it's been a slow process. :B But I believe she's as solid as a brick shytehouse. :2tsup:
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off for a long soak in a tub. I reckon 3 days or so in there and a coupla gallons o' zinc cream should see me right. [groan]
64327
Over the next 12 months, we ran some steps, planter boxes and the piers up to full height, ready for lintels (I'm not looking forward to installing them... the deck is 10mx5m and you can see from the pix that they'll have to be >3m each, with the end ones at around 4.5m. Oh, my aching back!) FWIW, the deck will be roofed, hopefully looking something like a feature we have out the front:
64328
The decking boards are 90mm Merbau, laid with a 10mm gap. I know this is a bit larger gap than usual, but it fits well with the general "feel" of the house. It was hand-nailed [groan] over the last 3 days, using some 3.5kg of galv twist nails.
So... a few pix of my effort as it currently stands:
64333
64336
As you can clearly see in the following pic, I ran a 1m wide band around the edge at the diagonal. This was for two reasons... mainly because we expect heavy weathering at the ends of the deck, even after it's finally roofed and completely finished. This way, replacing sections will be far easier and cheaper than replacing whole runs of board.
Also, and by no means of less import, IMHO it makes for a nice decorative effect. :)
64335
To reduce any visual problems where the ends of the diagonal boards met the ends of the "horizontal" boards I added a single "vertical" board at each end, as a visual divider. (I'm kicking myself for not running another couple between the two pairs of inner piers, dividing the centre section into 3, but it's easy to say "I shoulda" when you have the benefit of hindsight. :doh:)
64334
Any feedback or comments (esp. valid criticisms of the construction) are welcome; I'm a general contractor and decking is not my forte, so if you can see a booboo or potential future problems with my concept, please let me know so I don't do it again next time! :;
At this rate, I reckon it'll be finished around... oh... Xmas 2010. As I said,it's been a slow process. :B But I believe she's as solid as a brick shytehouse. :2tsup:
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off for a long soak in a tub. I reckon 3 days or so in there and a coupla gallons o' zinc cream should see me right. [groan]