A terrace is a great supplement to any
home. Not only does it give you the added living space but it
can also be a great focal point with
your visitors and close friends. A real ice breaker or
conversation starter. If its created the right
way it can also add significant value to your home. Decking
isn't appropriate for all areas though, especially
shaded areas. Whenever making a deck you should
always use pre treated softwood or hardwood.

Time to finish job: 2-3 days

Rough budget: Depends on the
sizing of your outdoor patio. Decking boards and
joist ledgers and noggins cost about 10 per 3.6m (12ft), each.

What you need:Pegs and string

Weed-suppressant membrane

Graph pieces of paper and pencil

Spade

Joists ledger & noggins 47mm x 150mm (2in x 6in)

Decking panels 28mm x 145mm (1 1/8in x 5 1/2in)

Fine-toothed saw

Hammer & screwdriver

Screws & nails

6mm (1/4in) spacers

Organizing:

Draw out the proposed spot and lay out your
furnishings to see if it's large enough. Select a position to pick up the sun at the
moments of day when you will want to use the patio
- south-westerly facing is typically a good
choice but also consider the outlook, whether you
will be overlooked, and the prevailing wind gusts. Steer clear of any drains, subterranean pipework and cables.
Check to see whether planning permission is required.

Draw a scale plan and assess the
products you will need.

Suggestion: This instruction
identifies the build of a
basic rectangular deck
connected to the residence, but you could
look at wrapping a deck around the corner of your house,
close to a tree, or siting it away from the house completely.

Once you've got a
attractive new deck, you'll have to
memorialize with an open-air
gathering.

Action 1: Preparing the site. Clear away plants to plan the
site, then draw out the location with pegs and string, making sure it's
block. Place a deck cloth over the
earth to protect against weeds growing up by means of the deck in
the future. The garment can be pegged or weighed down with
concrete, paving slabs or grit.

The structure for a deck
must be installed onto concrete foundations
rather than immediately onto the ground. You can
often lay down concrete for this or more easily utilizing concrete paving
slabs. If using slabs, set them in a grid structure with
each slab situated approximately
1400mm (4ft 7in) from the next - these will support the solid timber joists that hold the
planks.

Next, lay squares of bitumen DPC membrane over the concrete or paving slabs before laying the deck timbers.

Idea: Use a spirit level to make certain
that the deck carefully slopes away from the
house. For every metre of deck there ought to be a 10mm drop.

Action 2: Attaching a ledger to the house.

Install a ledger joist to the wall using spacers for venting and drainage. This sets the elevation for your deck which ought
to be at minimum 150mm (6in) below the damp proof course (DPC).

Fix firmly as the ledger is load-bearing - the most
effective technique will differ in
respect to your property's structure so seek out
advice.

Builders in Gloucestershire
Suite B 21 The Plantation, Hardwicke, Gloucester GL2 4SP 0845 094 8278 http://www.builders-in-gloucestershire.co.uk/