Visit Wickes for all the materials you need to build your own garden decking!
If you have decided that your garden could do with a bit of a make over and you have looked into creating a hard standing area for your wooden garden furniture then you may have already decided that you would like to install decking in your garden. A flat single tiered deck is a relatively easy project to undertake if you have some basic DIY knowledge. This is a quick guide to creating a 8 square foot, free standing deck, but can also be used as a template to create any size, simple shaped garden decking area. It follows the theme that all garden decks are created in similar fashion, with a solid foundation at the base made of concrete bearers and then wooden joists to create a framework on which the decking surface is laid. It is vitally important that the wooden joists are laid at right angles to the concrete footings to add strength to your deck, and that the decking surface is laid at right angles again to the joists.
1. First things first mark out the area in which you wish to have a deck. If you do it blind then mistakes will occur so take the time to mark it out properly so you know from the beginning if you are on the right track. The best way to mark your area is to lay out four of your 8ft decking planks into a square making sure the corners are at right angles to each other. This can be achieved in a number of different ways but the easiest method would be to use a builders square. Once the planks are perfectly square, mark the outside with either a cut mark of your spade or use a can of builders marking out spray paint. Bear in mind that once you have marked out this area it will actually be a little bigger than the finished decked area.
2. The next stage of the process is to work out where your foundations need to be set. The easiest method for this is to leave a single deck plank in place and set your joists up at each end so they are parallel to the plank and flush with it. Then measure between the two set joists and place the remaining two joists at equal spacings in the the area between so that the plank is evenly supported throughout its length. After all the joists are in place, mark a six inch line either side of each joist.
3. Now is the back breaking part of digging out between these markings so that you end up with four parallel trenches that are 4 inches deeper than your concrete bearer blocks. The empty trenches then need a layer of sand to bed the bearer blocks onto. This sand should be laid and compacted to a depth of 2 inches and this is best done by treading it in and flattening down with the back of your shovel.
4. The next step is to lay the concrete bearers in the trenches, three to each trench with one at each end and another in a central position. It is vital that these bearers are all level to one another otherwise it will effect the strength of the finished deck. These concrete blocks should also sit proud of the soil so that when the joists are placed on top of them they do not come into contact with the ground.
5. Once all your blocks are level with each other the trench needs to be backfilled with sand and then compacted as to prevent the blocks from moving around and deforming the deck. The finished level of the sand does not need to be any higher then that of the surrounding soil.
6. Once the blocks are in place and backfilled then the joists can be laid on top of them. The two outside joists need to be laid first so that they can be measured to be exactly the length of the decking plank. Make sure they are parallel to one another by checking both ends and then place the two internal joists as parallel as possible to the two outside joists.
7. Use metal brackets to secure each end of the joist to the concrete footing. The longer anchor screws used will give the best results. It is now time to fix the planks. Fix the first one in place, making sure each end is flush with the joist and counter sink two screws per joist, totalling 8 screws per plank.
8. With the first plank in place, the rest becomes easy. Just lay out all the planks on the joists and leave half an inch between them. Counter sink 8 screws per joist to keep them all in place. Get four more planks to act as fascia boards but bear in mind to keep two of them 1.5 inches longer so hat a perfect joint can be made.
If you are thinking that you want to create a more complex deck structure then it may be worth employing a professional or investing in some deck design software to make the job a little easier.
Visit Wickes for all the materials you need to build your own garden decking!
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