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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    Blackalls Park NSW 2283
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    77
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    7

    Default Laying a deck with Merbau not straight

    I am laying a deck 2m x 4m approx 60LM.
    For the first time.
    Just had delivery of timber from NHS Cardiff NSW.
    The timber is flat not cupped or warped but is not straight.
    The pieces in question are just under 4m in length.
    Hope photos are a help.
    Is this normal and how can the boards be laid side by side without cutting shorter pieces?
    Any advice would be appreciated.IMG_20211119_110729.jpgIMG_20211119_110658.jpg

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    65
    Posts
    20

    Default

    One method is to lay every 5th board, using a string line or similar, and you need to pull it (the deck board) straight. Make sure these are perfect. Then you lay the infill pieces, and basically, you use the fixed pieces to pull or push these straight, as you go.
    You can use packers of cut up ply or even thick nails as spacers, if it makes it easier.
    Hope that makes sense.
    TM

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    Blackalls Park NSW 2283
    Age
    77
    Posts
    7

    Default Laying a deck with Merbau not straight

    Yes logical, non lateral thinking maybe. I can see the concept. Just tried pulling 2 boards together in the workshop and the principle works well. Thanks much appreciated.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Little River
    Age
    78
    Posts
    225

    Default

    Just did a similar deck. Used bar clamps and spacers to pull the boards straight starting from the outside edge and working towards the wall. Last board was positioned with wedges and spacers.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    Blackalls Park NSW 2283
    Age
    77
    Posts
    7

    Default Laying a deck with Merbau not straight

    Yes all makes sense. Thanks
    Just need a few bar clamps?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Helensburgh
    Posts
    608

    Default

    Floors used to be laid with joist clamps but I guess those days are long gone.
    CHRIS

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    In between houses
    Posts
    185

    Default

    Just use plastic packers and the every 5th board stringline method.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Bundaberg
    Age
    54
    Posts
    160

    Default

    Make sure you alternate the direction of the bent planks; you don't want them laid like this ))))))) or all the bending forces will accumulate and can cause the bearers to distort. lay them like this: ()()()()()
    Nothing succeeds like a budgie without a beak.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Helensburgh
    Posts
    608

    Default

    I use several short pieces of angle iron because they lay flat on top of the preceding board and they are hard to lose. Thin plywood nailed to blocks of wood work the same.
    CHRIS

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Geelong
    Posts
    87

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by MichaelGT View Post
    Yes all makes sense. Thanks
    Just need a few bar clamps?
    You don’t really need clamps the boards will bend fairly easily. You can use an off cut of 90 x 35 or whatever is at hand about 300-400 long screwed sideways onto the joist as a lever. Work your way along the joists moving your lever along, rinse and repeat and for the last board in your set of 5 a chisel or timber wedges will do the trick. I used this method with 135 x 32 blackbutt.
    cheers

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    Nsw
    Age
    64
    Posts
    558

    Default

    It is quite normal for them not to be straight. Just lay your first row to a line and then use spacers and lever or clamp the boards to pull them straight. I find it is easiest to have the bow out in the middle of the board so you are only pulling the centre in rather than trying to do both ends so is much quicker

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2021
    Location
    Mornington Peninsula Australia
    Age
    64
    Posts
    7

    Default

    For spacers i used 4 or 5mm nails in blocks and slipped them between last and next plank to be screwed. A foot jammed against the centre of the run brings the plank up tight to the nail block and then screw it down.

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