circular decking

[billozz]

hey guys,
hope someone can help i am hoping to build a deck which will be in the shape of a circle or a few circles but i am not sure what to do with edge of the decking normally i would run a ddckboard on its side along the edge so you cant see the joists etc but obviously you cant bend a deckboard round in a circle .....can you????
also any special layout for the joists if im doing a circle
appreciat the help
thanks
bill

 

[gregers]

yes you can with quite a few clamps/water and lots and lots of patience,but it does depend on how big/small the circle is?

 

[billozz]

i appreciate the answer gregers, but is there another way that you know of if not how do i bend the board, it will be quite a large radius

 

[gregers]

well you try and make up a steam box,iirc norm did on new yankee workshop a few years back,was amazing timber looked like jelly.

 

[xerxes]

You might do better to kerf the timber in order to bend it for a job such as this.

 

[^woody^]

Don't use a deckboard, but use some tanalised 4x1. This should bend reasonably, and if needed kerf the inside. You can sand it a little if needed

Pay attention to the ends, as these may tend to spring out. If you cant lap or mitre the joints, then fix extra timber on the back to fix to (instead of just the end of a joist) or use a plate on the back and a couple of bolts

Joist layout will be the same, but with extra noggins at the perimeter

 

[billozz]

woody,
thanks for that, do you mean the joists would be the same as if you were doing a square or rectangular deck, i have to admit i was wondering about the joist layout, any other suggestions, advice please.
thanks again
bill

 

[^woody^]

I would just set it out as a square deck - with the width based on the diameter, and normal 400 centres spacing

Then you can use the diagonals to find the centre and mark the circle out. This will waste some timber as you will have to cut a length twice and have two off-cuts, so having marked the circle, shove the timber across so that you are only doing one cut. And then the off cut may fit in as the timbers get shorter - or just use them for noggins

 

[billozz]

woody thanks for the help but i cant see how to layout as a square and then turn it into a circle can you help maybe with a drawing or summat btw what i am building is not a full circle but part of one its in one corner of the garden so it is in fact a quadrant
appreciate the help
bill