Decking

[akb]

Looking to install some decking at the back of the garden to provide hardstanding for a swing chair and a fire pit. Any tips before laying. I have drawn out the frame layout and board layout, maximising lengths of boards and less cuts.

First big timber job I will be doing myself so would be good to get some ideas and tips before doing so. Some pictures of yours would be good too for design ideas (and I'm nosey!)

Idea is to level the ground area and dig existin grass, put down a membrane to stop weeds and weigh down with concrete slabs for the frame to sit on.

 

[ushills]

Sounds okay, leave a gap between the boards, drill holes for the screws in boards to prevent splitting, buy pressure impregnated timber.

 

[akb]

Ive read that 5mm gap should be sufficient for movement and drainage.

Goes off to google 'pressure impregnated timber'.

Thanks for your comment.

I have designed the frame using 4 x 2" timber. Does these seem sufficient?

 

[Fnaar]

A member of staff in B&Q asked me if I wanted decking...
"Look, I'm not here for a fight, I'm just buying some paint", I told him

 

[akb]

A member of staff in B&Q asked me if I wanted decking...
"Look, I'm not here for a fight, I'm just buying some paint", I told him

Is that how you got your purple helmet?

 

[ushills]

5mm gap should be fine, needn't be too big.

4x2 is what I used resting on paving slab.

PS, measure twice, cut once.

 

[raleighnut]

Ideally the frame should be in tanellised timber and the heftier the better (within reason)

 

[akb]

Thanks for the advice. @ushills would be interested to see a photo of your completed project

 

[akb]

Is tanalised timber and pressure impregnated timber the same thing?

 

[Beebo]

Are fire pits compatible with timber decking?

 

[Archie_tect]

Use the rule of thumb that the depth of any support joist is half the span [in feet] of the joists + 2 inches; ie if you are using 4x2 joists then they will only span 4 feet [1200mm].... if the intermediate supports are 6 feet apart then the joists need to be 3+2 ie 5 inches deep [125 x 50].

Pressure impregnated and vacuum impregnated are basically the same.... also supplied as tanalised timber, but there are more eco-friendly preservatives used these days if you ask B+Q.

The preservative is only drawn into the top 5-10mm or so of the treated surface, so if you cut or drill through it the cuts need to be preserved coated.

 

[davdandy]

For mine i used decking clips,like the ones here.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/deckfix-clips-pack-of-150/55674

They leave no trace of nails or holes and are invisible once laid.

 

[raleighnut]

Is tanalised timber and pressure impregnated timber the same thing?

Tanalised (if that's how you spell it, I just ask for it) 25yr guarantee against rot other pressure treated timber, dunno could be as good but if not stated then probably not industry standard. Fenceguard is crap for instance

 

[Ganymede]

Just thought I'd mention that we have some decking (was there when we bought the house) and it becomes very very slippery in the wet. Having said that, it's partly in the shade and a long way from the house and we don't use it much so we don't scrub it or anything. I think what I'm coming round to is that you should ask if it gets slippery and if there is anything you should be putting on it to prevent broken ankles.

 

[davdandy]

Jet wash the decking every year,that will stop the slipping.