Decking Project

[DeadBeat]

I'm Hoping to get a Decking Project underway for use this summer. I've been doing a lot of research online and think I'm ready to make a start. It will be a weekend project for now so probably take me a few months to get it completed but here are the before pictures and the plans. If anyone can comment on the plans id be grateful to hear your opinions.

Here is the area im hoping to deck:

Ill be pulling up all the trees and bushes as they are just overgrown and The area isnt very big so id like to use as much as possible for the desk as its the only part that gets the evening sun. The deck will stretch right out to the fence at the back. the space is 6m long by about 3.2m wide

Id like the deck to be level with the interior floor, which should be possible if i pull up the pavers which are no use anyway.

The plan is to use 6x2 laid onto 6 concrete slabs 600 x 600 the biggest spans are 2.1 meters wide. im hoping this wont be too much, i read 2m is ideal for 6x2 but im hoping the extra 10cm wont make a huge difference.

 

[DeadBeat]

ok interesting development that I had not thought of. I called some timber yards near me.

Standard lengths of 2x6 are 3.6m 4.8m and 6m the 3.6 and 4.8 lengths are roughtly £2.65 per meter. the 6m lenght is around £3.15 a meter. so ill probably re engineer the design to be constructed from 4.8 and 3.6 meter lengths.

Prices for those interested

6x2 3.6m x 1 = £9.55 : £2.65pm inc vat
6x2 4.8m x 1 = 12.73 : £2.65pm inc vat

5" 3.6m 32mm thick x 1 = £8.38 inc vat
6" 3.6m 38mm thick x 1 = £8.47 inc vat

Free Deliverey

Ive done the re design in sketchup which ill post up a little later.

 

[DeadBeat]

Here is the rough re-design of the frame

two 3m x 3.2m boxes, that i can bolt together in the middle. then at one end ill run the lengths on top to their full 3.6m and brace underneath, just to go around the corner a little, then at some point ill probably put up some banister and a gate to stop the dog getting on when i let him out

 

[DeadBeat]

I had a change of plan last week, with the weather being so good and having an extra pair of hands, we decided to tackle the deck project. Its Pretty much completed now except for some nice bits around the edges.

here is the process.

Day one was lifting and cleaning the block paving, the bricks can be used for the drivway

end of day 1

Day 2 Was to attack the overgrown plant life

we saved this holly bush for the front garden

day 3 was laying the slabs, we laid them all on a cement base which was on top of a deep stone footing that we packed down. we also had to move a load of top soil from the bottom end of the garden as the garden was higher than the house here by about a foot.

Finally on day 4 we started building the deck frame

On day 5 we started laying the boards

Put the deck lights in place as we went a long

day 6 we finished the last boards and sorted the edges

All done, a few things I's like to do to make it look nicer, but the deck itself is done.

 

[kingandy2nd]

Good work, thanks for sharing.

Space for a hot tub on there

 

[Umy786]

Great job!

Am looking to do something similar but need to get some of the inside done first! Plus this weather isn't helping!

May I ask if those LEDs are solar or mains connected?

 

[DeadBeat]

The LEDs are 12v Mains connected. Ive never really seen anything solar that was very bright

 

[SuperAverage]

Noticed that you had no supports on some fairly long joist spans. How did this work out? Looks great by the way!

 

[DeadBeat]

I compared a few span tables i found online, I cant actually remember the specifics now, but the spans were well under what the recommended for 6x2