What To Consider When Building Your Own Deck
Like all building projects, everything is made easier with a little preparation and planning. As is the case with most do-it-yourself builds, it pays to get to grips with the ins and outs of the product, the limitations of the material and a clear idea on what you aim to achieve with the build.
When looking at planning out a new deck building installation project, whether timber or composite, there are a few key things you need to consider before embarking on it. By considering your tools, materials, location and design ahead of time, you can anticipate any potential obstacles in advance and not have to ‘down tools’ because of an oversight. In this article, we will look at a series of factors to consider before building your own deck. Let’s take a look.
Determine The Scope Of The Project
Many of the unfinished DIY which litter our homes and lives are down to one thing, under-estimating the scope of the project. If you do choose to completely replace an existing deck, this will take some time and effort, as you will ned to rip out, cut down and remove the material.
Having got to a blank canvas, you can now review the area for installing the decking. If fitting over a patio, how many pedestals will you require to support your joists? How large is the area you’re intending to cover? Determine this early on, as this will dictate how much prep work and how many joists, boards and fixings will be required, and which tools you need to have ready.
Find The Right Composite Decking Solution That Works For You
Within the NeoTimber® composite decking family, we have several different products to suit different purposes. We supply both hollow and solid boards in a capped and traditional finish. If you are installing on your own, be realistic as to your abilities and capabilities. Our solid boards weigh 14kg each and working on an average sized deck of 25-30m2, you would be handling, manoeuvring, cutting and installing between 50 and 60 boards.
This is no small undertaking, if you suffer with back pain, you may like to consider our lighter, hollow board options. Our Essential and Advanced boards are both hollow and are ideal if they are not going to be supporting significant weight, such as a hot tub. The hollow boards have a reduced weight of 11kg for each board and so are easier to handle. Consider a composite subframe to ensure you fit a solid, strong structure which will stand the test of time.
Consider Decking Building Regulations
Depending on your chosen location for your deck, you may need to seek local planning approval. This will almost certainly be the case if you’re planning on building a decked roof terrace area, a raised deck area or decking a balcony. With these kinds of projects, you should consult the local authority for planning permission.
Building regulations state that composite materials may not be used for decking or cladding above three stories high. However, this may be less in certain boroughs, so it is always advisable to check with the local authority first. A guide on standard building regulations relating to decking can be found here.
Get Some Clarity On Product Requirements
Having measured out your space, draw a sketch of your deck, taking careful note of access routes and the orientation of your garden. For instance, if your garden is north facing, it may be that a deck at the bottom of the garden receives more sunlight. Look at these factors beforehand by sitting at various places in your garden, at different times of the day. This will allow you to maximise the use of your deck if you want it to be a sunnier space.
Use our online calculator to estimate how many decking boards, joists and fixings you will require. Our decking calculator enables you to easily compare different products side-by-side so you can find an affordable composite decking solution which both meets your needs and works within your budget. When making your calculation, allow for at least 5% wastage. Depending on the pattern you choose to opt for, you may encounter a greater percentage of wastage due to the peculiarities of the design. Be sure to take this into account during your planning stages.
Consider Your Tools & Requirements
It’s important you have the correct tools before you start a composite decking project. NeoTimber® is constructed of a combination of reused wood fibres and recycled plastic. Because of the plastic element within the boards, a standard saw blade will not suffice. You will need to use Tungsten Carbide-Tipped (TCT) drill bits and saw blades to prevent blunting the blade and shearing the boards. For more information on tools and preparation, please refer to our pre-installation guide.
At certain stages in your installation, you may benefit from a second pair of hands, for example to lift the joists and hold them in place whilst you drill. Having someone on hand to cut the boards whilst you fit them or to fetch and carry may speed things up somewhat. Be realistic about how long things are likely to take. A medium sized deck of 30m2 will not be fitted in a day, you will need to set aside a week or so to do it justice.
Please feel free to browse our Advice pages, Case studies, Blogs and Inspiration Hub for ideas, answers and a keener understanding of the installation process. Should you have any questions which are not addressed within this resource, please call our office on the number below and our highly trained team of specific sales support experts will be able to advise you.
Need Further Support or Advice?
If you’ve still got questions that have not been answered here, or you would like additional advice,
support or assistance then please give one of our friendly experts a call and we’ll be happy to help.
Just give us a call on 01509 323 170.