Small Deck Build

[jonny round boy]

Spent yesterday building a deck with a mate of mine. We'd originally planned to spend two easy days on this, but decided on Friday afternoon to start early & try to get it done in a day.

Got to site about 7:30am, and of course it was raining! The ground had already been dug out/levelled, and first job was to lay out the weed control fabric. We had plenty, so layed out far more than we needed so we wouldn't be walking on the grass & getting mud everywhere. We also set up a marquee so we had somewhere dry to work:

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7:45am, and we were ready to start - except we had no timber. That didn't arrive until just after 8:30am:

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I set my Kapex up with an extension on the step outside the door - luckily it was just wide enough - and set about cutting the joists. Once we had the basic frame made up, it was propped up & bolted to the wall of the house:

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Holes were then dug for the 4"x4" posts that supported the front edge, and the frame was levelled:

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The front boards were fixed, and the handrails were put in place. The posts were bolted to the frame, and the handrails were dominoed & glued into the posts. These were clamped up with ratchet straps. A step was built at the end, and then the rest of the boards laid. At this point we were distracted by a strange, bright light in the sky [blink] so snapped a quick pic:

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You can also see in this pic that my Kapex also suffers from guard-doesn't-spring-back syndrome. It's been like that as long as I can remember & never bothered me, but yesterday I was removing a board as the saw was winding down, and I swear I felt the teeth tickle the hairs on my arm [eek]. I think I may need to get it fixed...

The spindles are fixed with a single pocket-screw up into the underside of the handrail, and then screwed into the edge of the deckboard. I prefer doing the spindles this way rather than running them into a bottom rail, as the bottom rail tends to hold water & rot quite quickly. Plus, I think it looks better:

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At this point we were almost finished, with the exception of a few pieces around the bottom edge which needed cutting to suit the slope of the garden. I didn't have my TS55 with me, so we popped back to the workshop to cut them & then went back up to fix them into place, and finally cut off the excess sheeting:

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Personally, I would have put a second step in at the bottom, but the customer didn't want that. We finally got finished at around 7:30pm. Not bad for 12 hours, I think!

 

[speed]

looking good
did you need planning permission for that with it being over 300mm?

how do you fix the boards down screws of nails?

 

[kev carpenter]

good job, like the marquie . I tent not to much out door work nowa days incase i get my tools dirty [scared]what you using for posts post mix or concrete  [thumbs up]

 

[jonny round boy]

To answer all the questions:

No planning permission was required. There are other decks in the area much bigger than this, and it's not in any special zone.

Boards were fixed with Timbadeck 65mm deck screws. I don't like nails, and other than small pins for fixing timber mouldings, I don't use nails for anything.

Ground posts are treated 4x4", set onto blocks in the bottom of the holes, then holes filled with concrete.

The marquee was very useful, but when the rain stopped we had to take it down as it was very windy. When we had it up, it was tied to the van and to the fence to stop it taking off!

Like I said I would have put an extra step, but the customer didn't want it. I don't believe there is any requirement to have it.

 

[kev carpenter]

thats a good way to do the post and will last longer. good job [thumbs up]

 

[Deansocial]

To answer all the questions:

No planning permission was required. There are other decks in the area much bigger than this, and it's not in any special zone.

Boards were fixed with Timbadeck 65mm deck screws. I don't like nails, and other than small pins for fixing timber mouldings, I don't use nails for anything.

Ground posts are treated 4x4", set onto blocks in the bottom of the holes, then holes filled with concrete.

The marquee was very useful, but when the rain stopped we had to take it down as it was very windy. When we had it up, it was tied to the van and to the fence to stop it taking off!

Like I said I would have put an extra step, but the customer didn't want it. I don't believe there is any requirement to have it.

but it is over 300mm so it should have planning, Check the regs jrb they changed in 2008

would have been nice not to see any end grain either

 

[Deansocial]

also it on the front of the house? if so it need planning if in 20m(i need to check this measurement) of the pavement

 

[jmbfestool]

Planning permission for decking what a LOAD of CRAP.  I wouldn't even ask just do it its only decking its a temporary structure. Okay maybe on the front of a house you should need planning as it might look silly and any one from the road can walk onto it and if some one builds this massive decking every one can see from the road but in some ones back garden planning shouldnt even get involved.  Not like your building a solid wall or anything man I hate this country. 

A small decking like that I would just do it.

JMB

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Jonny,

I don't know the legal mumbo jumbo over there, but it looks really good to me.  I would have added the extra step to prevent a possible trip and fall hazard  [2cents].

I think JMB's just cranky because you didn't make the deck out of a single piece of 700mm oak.  [tongue]

 

[jmbfestool]

Jonny,

I don't know the legal mumbo jumbo over there, but it looks really good to me.

I think JMB's just cranky because you didn't make the deck out of a single piece of 700mm oak.  [tongue]

hahaa lol!  Whats up with the 700mm oak! Only one supplier I called was able to supply me that size so maybe it was a little wide!

Would of looked nice in the middle of the decking !

Any way nice job decking just like Dean said a little to much end grain showing for my liking.   I would of props put a piece going the other way to hide the end grain on the top step and on the end I would off had the risers mitred with the sides even if they didnt line up or something im not fond of end grain showing on decking so I would do something just to hide it.

JMB

 

[ajones]

Jonny,

I don't know the legal mumbo jumbo over there, but it looks really good to me.

I think JMB's just cranky because you didn't make the deck out of a single piece of 700mm oak.  [tongue]

hahaa lol!  Whats up with the 700mm oak! Only one supplier I called was able to supply me that size so maybe it was a little wide!

Would of looked nice in the middle of the decking !

Any way nice job decking just like Dean said a little to much end grain showing for my liking.   I would of props put a piece going the other way to hide the end grain on the top step and on the end I would off had the risers mitred with the sides even if they didnt line up or something im not fond of end grain showing on decking so I would do something just to hide it.

JMB

Its a bit like showing your ankles [eek]

 

[kev carpenter]

never known anybody needing planning for decking at front or not [off topic]

 

[jmbfestool]

never known anybody needing planning for decking at front or not [off topic]

Same! and I wouldnt ever get planning involved any way. Ridiculous.

Jmb

 

[jmbfestool]

Oh at least you did smooth side up I hate grooves up  smooth looks more slick plus this myth of having more grip with grooves is rubbish as grooves make it more slippery if anything.    I like decking with abit of both like smooth all over and the grooves up around the edges or something.

Jmb

 

[jonny round boy]

TBH, I didn't know about the 300mm rule. I've checked the rules of my local authority, and the planning portal, and they do mention the 300mm. No mention of whether it's on the front or not, or any distance to the pavement.

WRT the 300mm, I'd say well over 75% of the area is below 300mm of where the original ground level was before it was dug out. The only bit that is over 300 high is by the steps where the ground drops away more. Like JMB says, it's only a temporary structure really, so even if I had known about this rule I wouldn't have bothered applying for permission. The cost of a planning application would have made the job too expensive anyway.

I appreciate what some of you guys are saying about the end grain. TBH I think it stands out a lot because it's so new & the end grain is very clean! once it's weathered a bit it'll blend in more, but I'll admit I could have hidden the end grain with a bit more thought. Having said that, I hadn't really seen the site until we arrived on the morning of the build, and the step area was 'designed' as I went along.

JMB, the surface isn't really smooth - it's a double-sided board, deep grooves on one side and small grooves on the other, almost like a reed detail. That side looks far better!

 

[Deansocial]

TBH, I didn't know about the 300mm rule. I've checked the rules of my local authority, and the planning portal, and they do mention the 300mm. No mention of whether it's on the front or not, or any distance to the pavement.

WRT the 300mm, I'd say well over 75% of the area is below 300mm of where the original ground level was before it was dug out. The only bit that is over 300 high is by the steps where the ground drops away more. Like JMB says, it's only a temporary structure really, so even if I had known about this rule I wouldn't have bothered applying for permission. The cost of a planning application would have made the job too expensive anyway.

I appreciate what some of you guys are saying about the end grain. TBH I think it stands out a lot because it's so new & the end grain is very clean! once it's weathered a bit it'll blend in more, but I'll admit I could have hidden the end grain with a bit more thought. Having said that, I hadn't really seen the site until we arrived on the morning of the build, and the step area was 'designed' as I went along.

JMB, the surface isn't really smooth - it's a double-sided board, deep grooves on one side and small grooves on the other, almost like a reed detail. That side looks far better!

Situations Requiring Planning Permission
Where the deck is situated within 20 metres of a highway.
Where the deck platform is more than 300mm (1 ft) from the ground (effective 1 October 2008).
If the structure would affect the amenity value or privacy of neighbouring properties.
If the deck is attached to a listed building or situated in a conservation area or National Park.

i said pavement as that is part of the highway.

my post was intended to inform

 

[Ken Nagrod]

TBH, I didn't know about the 300mm rule. I've checked the rules of my local authority, and the planning portal, and they do mention the 300mm. No mention of whether it's on the front or not, or any distance to the pavement.

WRT the 300mm, I'd say well over 75% of the area is below 300mm of where the original ground level was before it was dug out. The only bit that is over 300 high is by the steps where the ground drops away more. Like JMB says, it's only a temporary structure really, so even if I had known about this rule I wouldn't have bothered applying for permission. The cost of a planning application would have made the job too expensive anyway.

I appreciate what some of you guys are saying about the end grain. TBH I think it stands out a lot because it's so new & the end grain is very clean! once it's weathered a bit it'll blend in more, but I'll admit I could have hidden the end grain with a bit more thought. Having said that, I hadn't really seen the site until we arrived on the morning of the build, and the step area was 'designed' as I went along.

JMB, the surface isn't really smooth - it's a double-sided board, deep grooves on one side and small grooves on the other, almost like a reed detail. That side looks far better!

Situations Requiring Planning Permission
Where the deck is situated within 20 metres of a highway.
Where the deck platform is more than 300mm (1 ft) from the ground (effective 1 October 2008).
If the structure would affect the amenity value or privacy of neighbouring properties.
If the deck is attached to a listed building or situated in a conservation area or National Park.

i said pavement as that is part of the highway.

my post was intended to inform

So you're not turning him in for the reward money?

 

[jonny round boy]

my post was intended to inform

Dean,

Don't worry, I didn't take it any other way.