How to Plan & Build a Timber Deck

The Wickes Project Guide How to plan & build a timber deck A timber deck can be built on level or sloping ground and on one or more levels to create an attractive, solid base for garden dining and relaxation – and you can add a pergola and deck rails or deck panels to complete the picture. Buying the right Kit decking components Tool List > Wood chisels To help you get everything you need a project shopping list is on > Handsaw > Spade the back page of this leaflet, you’ll find advice on calculating material quantities throughout, too. > Circular saw or > Screwdrivers jigsaw > Plumb line Buy the timber components about a week before you build the deck to give it a chance to adjust to the temperature outside. > Drill and drill > Clamps bits Store it close to where it will be used, stacked on level ground on timber bearers, and cover to keep dry. > Cordless drill/ Safety driver Equipment Plan the deck need to work on the board widths at > Tape measure > Dust mask The key to a successful deck is in the 140mm plus 5mm gaps in between. 1 The table below will help you calculate > String line > RCD adaptor planning. First decide on the location: do you your deck’s proportions: > Spirit level > Goggles want a sunny or shaded location and is privacy a requirement? How big does the 10 boards and 9 gaps = 1445mm deck width > Hammer > Gloves deck need to be? Do you want to add 12 boards and 11 gaps = 1735mm deck width interest to the deck with pergola components 14 boards and 13 gaps = 2025mm deck width or combine decking components with As you would if Always use an paving? Is the site level or will part of the 16 boards and 15 gaps = 2315mm deck width* working with any RCD device deck have to be supported on timbers set 18 boards and 17 gaps = 2605mm deck width timber product, when employing into concrete (see page 5 for instructions). wear gloves to any power tools 20 boards and 19 gaps = 2895mm deck width See Fig. 1 (see page 2) to get an idea of avoid splinters, outside. *This is the key deck square, which has been sized to just some of the components we sell – and goggles allow the other modules to interlink, creating and how they can be used together. numerous deck designs. when using circular saws, Work out the deck’s proportions Skill level required drills or sanders. It is essential to plan your deck to scale on Basic carpentry skills are enough for Avoid breathing paper. Be as accurate as possible with building a basic deck; raised decks need in dust when measurements and bear in mind that it is careful planning and more experience. cutting wood by the deck boarding that basically governs wearing a nose the size of the deck. Designing a deck and mouth mask. carefully will limit cutting, and board or bearer wastage. For any deck, you will Planning pitfalls Fig. 1 Timber decking component parts > Decks built in permanent shade can be affected by damp and algae growth, Handrail Deck bearer so be prepared to clean and treat these Pergola upright once a year to preserve the timber. Elevated decks. Built as a Avoid very wet areas completely. series of platforms connected by the deck stair riser > Very large decks and raised decks may require planning permission, so check with the local council before you start work. > Raised decks should not be built with Deck board the deck level more than 600mm above Handrail ground level without specialist advice. > When installing posts or levelling the ground, take special care not to damage Stress underground cabling, pipes or drainage, graded joist Newel Post and do not permanently obstruct post manhole covers or other services. Square Deck stair spindle riser Deck board Deck bearer Stress graded joists are recommended for use when constructing a raised deck Build a basic Fig. 2 Basic deck support bearer layout deck frame 3040 2880 2Construct the simple, rectangular deck frame shown in Fig. 2 Our basic deck support bearer layout in Fig. 2 has an overall size of 3040 x 2400mm. 2400 The width of this basic deck is based on the use of 21 uncut 2.4m long and 140mm wide deck boards with 20 gaps of 5mm between them (the calculation is: (21 x 140mm 500 = 2940mm) + (20 x 5mm = 100mm) = 3040mm total width). The base is designed to provide a complete perimeter with intermediate bearers at no more than 500mm spacings. The bearers are cut to length to suit the dimensions. Prepare the ground 2. Fix the deck frame Clamp then join the Ensuring the ground is level and dry will Trade Tip frame at each corner using two 150mm (6") Plan the deck so that it help prolong the deck’s life. timber drive screws. As you proceed, use a slopes very slightly (a 1:80 fall is sufficient), spirit level to make sure the frame remains 1. Measure out the deck Following your and use fluted deck boards that run in the flat. Its corners should be square, too, and direction of the slope; this will aid rainwater plan drawing, measure and mark out the you can check this by measuring the frame’s deck area, using pegs and a string line. run-off, meaning the deck is less slippery and less prone to algae build-up diagonals; they should be equal. If you are constructing a deck on level ground, further marking out should not be 3. Fit intermediate bearers Now mark, needed, as the bearers can be laid out in cut and fit the intermediate bearers, Construct a basic deck the positions where they will be used. remembering the maximum 500mm bearer frame spacing limit, and checking they are flat 2. Level the ground If the ground is The basic deck support bearer layout with a spirit level. If longer bearers are slightly uneven, level it off, working in will change with the varying deck board needed, these can be clamped then joined a 1:80 fall for drainage, and make sure patterns – see Fig. 3 (see page 3). together by screwing together off cuts with that it is firm. If laying the deck over lawn 150mm (6") timber drive screws. or weeds, remove them, and cover the 1. Lay out the outer deck frame Mark, cut and lay out the outer frame first ground with Wickes Landscaping Fabric Trade Tip to prevent future growth under the deck. using 80 x 80mm bearers. Ensure the When fixing your frame rests flat and is totally supported. deckboard to the frame, use decking screws 3. Add pea shingle If the ground is soggy If you find hollows under the frame or as they can easily be removed without or likely to become so in wet periods, areas where it is held off the ground, damaging the wood. Clamping timbers together spread pea shingle over the landscape adjust the ground level to prevent the deck before screwing stops them moving out of fabric to a depth of about 25mm. Your being springy. As you work, treat every alignment during the fixing operation. bearer frame will bed down on to the cut end with Wickes Decking Preserver. Don’t just use preserver on cut ends shingle and will, to a large extent, be kept – use it in drill holes to help prolong off almost permanently wet ground the deck’s life, too. 2 Trade Tip Fixing deck boards If you are joining two cut deck boards together in a long run, screw them down at an angle 10mm from the end to the frame of each board to securely fix them to the joist beneath. With the basic deck support bearer frame complete, you can begin to lay deck boards. The different deck board layouts shown 2. Secure the deck boards Once you are Locate the screws about 15mm in from 3in Fig. 3 from chevron to diagonal, are happy with the layout and spacing of the the edge of each board and in a hollow, created using 140mm wide boards and deck boards, fit and secure them to the see Fig. 5 over-sized and trimmed later, 80 x 80mm bearers. Plan your layout bearers with 65mm (no.8 x 2½") decking see Fig. 6. before assembling your bearers, as the screws, using two screws per board to 3. Cut curved edges If you want to pattern will affect the spacing and number each and every bearer to avoid cupping. create a curved edge, bear in mind that of bearers. For example, double bearers the unsupported decking cannot be more will be needed for some chevron styles than 150mm away from a bearer. Mark out see Fig. 4. Trade Tip curves using a string line in an arc or with Gaps between decking 1. Check the deck board layout a piece of timber fixed to create an arc boards should be at least 5mm to allow for Loose-lay boards initially to determine expansion and for rainwater to drain through see Fig. 7. what the gaps will actually need to be – freely – cut a piece of timber to 5mm and use 4. Edge the deck Add deck boards the variations in timber mean you should between boards for a consistent gap (Wickes around the edges to frame the deck not stick rigidly to fixing the first board, flooring spacers do the same job). and finish it neatly seeFig. 8 measuring or using a 5mm spacer, (see page 4). then fixing the next board and so on.

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