Spending summer 2009 on deck
Summer 2009 is predicted to be one of the best. If, like most people, you’re planning to holiday at home this year, making the most of your outdoor space will be essential. One of the most popular ways to dress up a tired garden is by adding a timber deck.
There is nothing to beat a timber deck for extending the living space out of doors. Unlike a patio, decks can be built to the same level as the floor inside a property, creating the true outdoor room feel. Timber is a natural material that’s not only good looking but is also warm to the skin and pleasant to walk or sit on. Decks blend well with any style of home or garden – traditional or contemporary and are quick and cost effective to install without the need for major earthworks. They are a great way to makeover an old slab patio or to create a new garden feature that will be the envy of your summer BBQ guests.
If you want your deck to provide years of pleasure then follow the top ten tips of the Timber Decking Association (TDA), the UK’s setter of standards for decking design, construction and installation good practice.
Ten Top Tips for perfect decking:
1. Wood used out of doors needs to be highly durable. Only buy wood that is resistant to decay and will last indefinitely – that means using pressure treated softwood or naturally durable hardwood from sustainable forest resources.
2. Not all pressure treated wood is the same – the level of treatment is tailored to where it will be used. For a joist or post that will be in direct contact with the ground make sure you buy wood that has been treated to the correct standard. Never accept components treated for internal construction – they will not stand the test of time.
3. Never build decks directly on to grass or soil. Remove turf and cover bare ground with ‘ground paper’ to prevent weeds from growing underneath.
4. The most important job when creating a deck is the supporting framework. Use 150 or 100 x 50mm joists spaced at 450 centres. This should be rigid with a slight slope of 1:100 away from your home to help drainage.
5. Deckboards come with either a plain, ribbed or grooved surface. Remember, grooved boards are designed to help drain water and should always be laid in the direction of fall away from your home.
6. Lay deckboards with a minimum gap of 5mm between each board to aid drainage and provide room for expansion and contraction of the boards over the seasons.
7. Only use fixings that are fit for purpose and made from corrosion resistant metals. Pre-drilling screw or nail holes prevent unsightly splitting, particularly at board ends.
8. Keep timber decks in tip top condition by using surface treatments or decorative stains.
9. Simple ground level decks are well within the scope of DIY enthusiasts but where the plans are more ambitious and the deck is raised off the floor then to be sure the structure is safe and sound it pays to have it designed and installed by a professional who knows what they are doing.
10.For complete piece of mind only use materials and contractors complying with the TDA’s DeckMark quality scheme, which confirms they have been independently assessed for quality and workmanship.
The TDA is an independent technical and advisory organisation that exists to promote quality materials, design and installation practices. For further details check out their web site www.tda.org.uk
May 27, 2009
