Decking into soil

[Bowness72]

Hi everybody, I have an small area of garden (about 4m x 2.5m) which I am planning to replace with decking. I want to put the new decking in at the same level as the existing grass. The way I was planning to do this was by cutting grooves in the grass/soil and pouring pea gravel in the bottom to bed the joists onto. The problem is that I know its not usually a good idea to put timber below ground as it will rot, although not sure how quickly if I used treated timber. Has anyone got any tips or bright ideas which might help ?

Also, there are existing walls on four sides so not sure what is the best way to place the framework, i.e. in one piece (heavy) and try to lower in or place each piece individually ?

Any help or opinions would be appreciated.

 

[Thermo]

dig the area out so its clear of the framework, it will rot in time. Build the frame one piece at a time, off of the walls to give you a firm fixing. the joists can come off of that and then be supported by timber posts in post hole foundations.

 

[Bowness72]

Is there anything I could paint the timber with or surround the bottom of the joists in ploythene ?

 

[Thermo]

not really.

 

[Deluks]

You could use a metal post anchor base on the end of each support. There are small ones which hold the end of the post slightly clear of the ground, which would sit on a concrete block or paver slab. Also are longer ones which are concreted into the ground.

Yeh definitely use the existing walls as support. You could use the metal base brackets I mentioned to hold a 4x4 post horizontally, which would act as a sleeper wall, picking up the span of the joists.

 

[Deluks]

I've just found these online. Will solve all your probs.