Building a Low Level Deck

[Paul2012]

Hi I'm about to build a low level deck at the side of my house and have a few questions.

1. I'm following a guide from bunnings and it says to concrete where all the posts will go and then when it is set drill in holes and screw in the post anchors with dynabolts.. A friend who is not a builder recommends that I cement in the dynabolts with the anchors to save all the drilling later.. My question is can this be done or is there a specific reason why you should drill and dynabolt after the cement is set.


2. The deck is only very low as the house level is 22 cm so its going to be even lower as i have read it should be 25-50 mmm lower to prevent flooding , for such a low deck i have read somewhere else that the joist can just sit on top of the post and attached using a nail plate, is this a good idea or should i bolt them to the posts...

Thanks in advance
Paul

[pawnhead]

Just use wet fix brackets instead of dry fix. When you've poured your concrete, push the brackets in and support them on two sticks across the pier hole. Locate their position accurately with string lines and tape measurements.

Your posts would be 4X4 whereas your bearers would only be 3" wide so nail plates wouldn't be suitable. I'd house them and bolt them.

If it's decking that your putting down then you could have it at the same level as your floor, unless you want a 20mm step for a door to close against. If you're tiling, then you'd only need a 20mm step, but give the deck a fall away from the house.

BTW, you need 300mm clearance under your bearer so you might have some digging to do if you want it done properly.

[Paul2012]

yes there is no way i'm going to have 300 mm clearance under the bearer and i dont want to dig, I will need to re think my design...

[pawnhead]

My brother has laid treated pine sleepers on a sand bed, surrounded by garden beds with sleeper retaining walls. It's a good chunky look and it's apparently cheaper than decking per square metre.

[Paul2012]

I want to use the treated pine decking all the way from the house to a pool , from reading other posts it seems as though decks under 200 mm are not really recommended due to termites and circulation problems.


I may have to pave...

[dazzler]

Our local council regulations require 450mm clearance. Best to check perhaps.