Decking Project - Ideas please

[woodcutta]

I want to construct a deck in out courtyard area which is 60 M2. The height will be only 300mm above the ground.

What would be better for the bearers?

1. Bearers direct on concrete pads on the ground fixed with stirrups
2. H4 posts concreted in the ground with a bearer fixed to each side
3. any other way that would work with only 300mm of height.

TIA
Woodcutta

[OBBob]

Concrete stumps would be easy and cheap, they come with a reo bar in the centre so you can tie down your bearers.

[SilentButDeadly]

I'd be thinking about steel for this. You get strength and span in smaller dimensions than timber so you may get the bearers further out of the mud. galvanised steel requires no additional protection and can be a bit cheaper than timber bearers and joists when all added up....take all you dimensions up to Smorgons, OneSteal (pun intended) or similar and they'll be happy to help with design and material. Timber decking can be still be nailed/screwed into steel just as easy as into timber. As for stumps...if you use steel then 90x90 gal RHS straight into concrete footing would be very useful overkill - weld or bolt through to attach to bearer.

[woodcutta]

Concrete stumps would be easy and cheap, they come with a reo bar in the centre so you can tie down your bearers.

OBBob
Thanks for the info. I checked the link you posted in another thread about replacing stumps under a house. The "Reo Bar" you mentioned - are they the threaded ones?

As for stumps...if you use steel then 90x90 gal RHS straight into concrete footing would be very useful overkill - weld or bolt through to attach to bearer.

SBD thanks. Would you suggest Posts, Bearers and Joists all steel and screw down the decking. Could you elaborate on the weld or bolt through bit

Thans
woodcutta

[OBBob]

Hi, You can buy the concrete stumps with a thread and bolt, which they often use to 'pull down' any bowed bearers in old houses or with a loop on each side so you can hang the stump under the bearer and fill below with conrete. Lastly you can get the stump with a single bar of about 4mm thick reo out of the centre, which is normally used for new construction. You put the stumps in, the drip holes in your bearer from the reo for each stump, slot it on and bend the reo down over the bearer to tie it down.