Sleeper deck

Hi all.
Once our new house is built we will be putting in some sort of deck (we don't really like paving) at the back. We have thought of a traditional deck with stirrups, bearers and joists but the final height will only be approx. 350mm off the ground. We are thinking this may be just a little too low and fiddly, not to mention potential problems with drainage, leaves etc under the deck.
So we have been tossing around making a ground level deck (more like paving really) made from either treated pine or hardwood sleepers. Anyone ever done this? What sort of base did you recommend? We have thought of 3 options:
1. Sleepers laid directly on level, hard QLD clay? If this option, how do you keep them together? And do we anchor them to the house?

2. Compacted road base and then sleepers laid directly on this? Again, how do we anchor them? To house? To each other?

3. Compacted road base, bearers made from sleepers and then more sleepers laid on top like decking? If this option, should I lay roadbase over the whole area or just where the bearers are going? Also with this option will I need any footings (trench footings) under the bearers?

Lastly, what's your opinions on treated pine sleepers versus hardwood sleepers?

Thanks once again in advance.

-mrsxtro

With a standard deck using 100*75 bearers and 100*50 joists on top plus 20mm decking you'll have 130mm clearance under the bearers. Regs call for min 150mm on house floor framing so you're fairly close for a deck as is. If you can get more clearance with a bit of digging so much the better, you mention drainage concerns so you may need to get on the shovel and take care of that first anyway.

You also have the option of running the joists in between the bearers (tops of both are level with each other) using metal joists hangers to support the joists. This will get you an extra 100mm clearance so this may be your best option.

Trying to get a satisfactory result using sleepers would be my last resort, is possible but is not the way I'd go.

I'd can the sleeper idea, as the timber used is green you may well get significant shrinkage (& cupping) as it dries out.

Deck timbers are usually already dried.


Cheers..................Sean

Ive built a ground level deck before, instead of using traditional bearers and joists I just used beams on the sides with joist hangers on these and ran the joists between, I then used 2 posts on each joist to take care of any spring. It worked a treat. Using 150mm beams and joists it gives you about 200mm clearance. As far as drainage went I used ag drains running back into the down pipes on the house. Alot better than sleepers laid directly on the ground. i suppose if clearance was a problem you could go for 90mm joists and beams and just add alot more posts.

sleepers on ground not a great idea if you're in a termite area.