am I doing this right

[fattony]

I've started my decking and just wanted to make sure I heading in the right direction with it really.

What I've done so far:

1) I've lifted the existing patio and dug down about an inch to drop it below the damp course level.

2) I laid down a tarpaulin ( to stop weds and crap growing)

3) Next I have fitted my joists, however in a couple of place I had to dig under the joists to drop the level away from the house.

4) I then put a few paving slabs / bricks under the joists to support it.

What I want to do ideally is mix up a fairly runny mix of concrete and pour it under the joists (where I have dug down under them) but Im not sure if thats a good idea or not, I'd have great support on my joists but if I ever wanted tho get them out to replace them in years to come I'd struggle.

Would anyone advise against pouring concrete under my joists?

 

[Thermo]

get rid of the tarpaulin. you need a landscapr fabirc that will stop the weeds but let the water through. if the frame is adequatley supported on the supports then there is no point using the concrete.

 

[fattony]

thanks once again thermo, where could I get the lkandscape fabric from and any idea on cost?

 

[breezer]

good gardening place, at a push b & q.

dont tell thermo, i have tarpulin in the ggarden, so* the rain getting through

 

[Thermo]

get the decent stuff that will last. any builders merchant will do the plantex stuff. the stuff in the sheds is like tissue paper.

 

[WabbitPoo]

It sounds like you've skimped on the prep, to be honest. Don't dig trenches around the joists as the water will pool there. You need some proper support at various points on the deck's frame (at the very least near each corner). What I mean by "proper" is a 4" post down into or onto concrete. Just chucking a few slabs down on the earth won't stay the course for long. There's plenty of posts on here about how to do decking.

Just my 2p worth.

 

[Thermo]

but that would mean some research wabbit!

 

[fattony]

What I mean by "proper" is a 4" post down into or onto concrete. Just chucking a few slabs down on the earth won't stay the course for long.

Surely the water wont pool if the landscape material went down and this would allow the water to drain, maybe you should re read my original post:

'I put a couple of bricks and paving slabs down to support the joists and ideally I wanted to pour concrete under the joist thus giving it support'

surely thats adequate way of supporting the decking frame, I forgot to add that on 2 sides it will be fixed to the house.

 

[breezer]

tommy walsh never used paving slabs for that, perhaps they may split, he DID use concrete blocks though

 

[fattony]

so I can keep with my idea using bricks and slaps to hold it in position while I add concrete under the joist, and thermo I like the idea of the membrane over the frame

 

[Thermo]

fattony, if your going to do it, do it right. you may like your idea but frankly its ......crap! have a look through some of my posts or wabbit poos. weve both done some very detailed descriptions of how to do it. trust us we do it all the time for a living. ive never been called back for a bouncy, or badly erected deck. in fact ive never been called back to adeck weve done for any problems and i suspect having seen wabbitpoos posts and having spoken to him, neither has he

 

[fattony]

fair enough thermo Iam reading through posts etc, I saw you mentioned a couple of times that decking can be above the damp course level can you confirm this for me please.

 

[Thermo]

yes it can, if necessary. place some spacers behind the ledger board going on the wall in question to move it waya from the wall, put a slight fall on the deck away from the house as well.

 

[fattony]

ok thanks I'll take your tips on board

 

[WabbitPoo]

fattony, if your going to do it, do it right. you may like your idea but frankly its ......rubbish! have a look through some of my posts or wabbit poos. weve both done some very detailed descriptions of how to do it. trust us we do it all the time for a living. ive never been called back for a bouncy, or badly erected deck. in fact ive never been called back to adeck weve done for any problems and i suspect having seen wabbitpoos posts and having spoken to him, neither has he

Postal order's in the post.