Browse Forums Outdoor Living 1 Aug 14, 2011 6:57 pm I have been contemplating of doing a DIY decking and have read most of the post here but still had questions I want to ask. I would be basically be decking on a concrete slab with a stepdown of about 140mm but will extend the deck beyond the slab. The area beyond the slab (ORANGE in the drawing) have been compacted with crushed rock and tuscan topping and is now level with the slab. Below is a drawing of what I intend to do. - the little squares are posts - blue lines are bearers - red lines are joists (will be using those "window packers" that notremaison mentioned in the other thread to keep the joists above the slab) So part of the joists will be on slab, part of it will be sitting on the ground (compacted tuscan topping). Also, since the ground is levelled with the slab, the height of the post-bearer combination should also be levelled on the ground/slab. What I am struggling with is how/what to do the post and bearers. - can the post and bearer be "underground"? - since bearer will be pretty much underground, what type of treated pine should I use? - can i just use a concrete post that is below ground level and the bearer sitting on the top of it? Also, I am worried about termite protection or termguard inspection. This has something to do with that 300mm above ground requirement, right? Is my approach sensible? Any advice is greatly appreciated.. Thanks. Oxford 22 @ Stage12a Point Cook Site Cut : 05/03/2010 Slab Pour : 24/03/2010 Frame Inspected : 06/04/2010 Pre-plaster Inspection: 22/04/2010 PCI: 16/07/2010 Final Inspection: 30/07/2010 Landscaping: who knows??? MyHomeoneThread Our Oxford22 Blog Re: Help with my deck 2Aug 17, 2011 11:06 pm Hi draco! Sorry to bomb your thread, but have you purchased those window packers yet? I've read a bit about them to be used above slabs but have no idea where to purchase them. Are the simply available from Bunnings? Re: Help with my deck 4Aug 20, 2011 3:20 pm just went to bunnings and mitre10 and no one knows about that window packers .. the staff at mitre 10 told me I can use the treated pine to be as bearers underground.. i am really doubtful on this advice as the treated pines there are only H3.. isn't H3 only allowed to be above ground and I would be needing H4 or H5? Oxford 22 @ Stage12a Point Cook Site Cut : 05/03/2010 Slab Pour : 24/03/2010 Frame Inspected : 06/04/2010 Pre-plaster Inspection: 22/04/2010 PCI: 16/07/2010 Final Inspection: 30/07/2010 Landscaping: who knows??? MyHomeoneThread Our Oxford22 Blog Re: Help with my deck 5Aug 23, 2011 9:57 pm Good ol helpful Bunnies on the weekends. These are from there, might be in a bit more random area I'm thinking....like around plaster or something similar. They knew exactly what I was talking about, I think the builders plastic wedges were in the same area. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Draco will PM you back. Re: Help with my deck 6Aug 25, 2011 1:29 pm thanks for that notremaison. appreciate it.. will head out to bunnings this weekend and see if i can find them.. Oxford 22 @ Stage12a Point Cook Site Cut : 05/03/2010 Slab Pour : 24/03/2010 Frame Inspected : 06/04/2010 Pre-plaster Inspection: 22/04/2010 PCI: 16/07/2010 Final Inspection: 30/07/2010 Landscaping: who knows??? MyHomeoneThread Our Oxford22 Blog Re: Help with my deck 7Sep 09, 2011 4:01 pm I used these horseshoe packers: http://www.allmouldplastics.com.au/prod1.html Got them from mitre 10 for $35 in a large bag with a generous amount of each size. Re: Help with my deck 8Sep 14, 2011 9:57 pm thanks sierra. Found them at bunnings. Oxford 22 @ Stage12a Point Cook Site Cut : 05/03/2010 Slab Pour : 24/03/2010 Frame Inspected : 06/04/2010 Pre-plaster Inspection: 22/04/2010 PCI: 16/07/2010 Final Inspection: 30/07/2010 Landscaping: who knows??? MyHomeoneThread Our Oxford22 Blog Re: Help with my deck 9Oct 05, 2011 6:58 pm Deck is finished. Just waiting for some good sun to put the decking oil our varnish. Will post the pics soon. Oxford 22 @ Stage12a Point Cook Site Cut : 05/03/2010 Slab Pour : 24/03/2010 Frame Inspected : 06/04/2010 Pre-plaster Inspection: 22/04/2010 PCI: 16/07/2010 Final Inspection: 30/07/2010 Landscaping: who knows??? MyHomeoneThread Our Oxford22 Blog Re: Help with my deck 10Oct 05, 2011 9:27 pm That's cool Draco. Will be great if you can post some progress pictures and how you used the window packers (bit confused with this). This will be a helpful picture tutorial for many like me trying to achieve something similar. 26/2 - Sales 23/3 - Colours 31/3 - Tender 14/4 - Contract 7/5 - Taps 12/6 - Site start 15/6 - Slab 27/6 - Frame 1/8 - Lockup/Fixing 29/9 - PCI 25/10 - Handover Re: Help with my deck 12Oct 05, 2011 9:57 pm Madison27AA That's cool Draco. Will be great if you can post some progress pictures and how you used the window packers (bit confused with this). This will be a helpful picture tutorial for many like me trying to achieve something similar. not sure about the photo tutorial as I got my kid to take the photos. The window packers have a hole. You nail or screw them to the joist. I spaced them at 1 meter but the guy at bunnings said 2 meters apart should be enough. Oxford 22 @ Stage12a Point Cook Site Cut : 05/03/2010 Slab Pour : 24/03/2010 Frame Inspected : 06/04/2010 Pre-plaster Inspection: 22/04/2010 PCI: 16/07/2010 Final Inspection: 30/07/2010 Landscaping: who knows??? MyHomeoneThread Our Oxford22 Blog Re: Help with my deck 13Oct 05, 2011 10:15 pm draco76 Madison27AA That's cool Draco. Will be great if you can post some progress pictures and how you used the window packers (bit confused with this). This will be a helpful picture tutorial for many like me trying to achieve something similar. not sure about the photo tutorial as I got my kid to take the photos. The window packers have a hole. You nail or screw them to the joist. I spaced them at 1 meter but the guy at bunnings said 2 meters apart should be enough. ok so basically the packers sit between the slab and the joists and were installed at 1 meter distance along a single joist....(sorry I am totally new to this so just trying to confirm what I understand ) 26/2 - Sales 23/3 - Colours 31/3 - Tender 14/4 - Contract 7/5 - Taps 12/6 - Site start 15/6 - Slab 27/6 - Frame 1/8 - Lockup/Fixing 29/9 - PCI 25/10 - Handover Re: Help with my deck 14Oct 05, 2011 10:37 pm Madison27AA ok so basically the packers sit between the slab and the joists and were installed at 1 meter distance along a single joist....(sorry I am totally new to this so just trying to confirm what I understand ) yes, that,s what I did. The packers serves as a spacer so that the joists is not sitting on the slab protecting it from any water ghat might accumulate under the deck. But also to make the deck higher so the finished height is almost level with the entry Oxford 22 @ Stage12a Point Cook Site Cut : 05/03/2010 Slab Pour : 24/03/2010 Frame Inspected : 06/04/2010 Pre-plaster Inspection: 22/04/2010 PCI: 16/07/2010 Final Inspection: 30/07/2010 Landscaping: who knows??? MyHomeoneThread Our Oxford22 Blog Re: Help with my deck 15Oct 05, 2011 10:44 pm Cool thanks for explaining this Draco......now just waiting for our handover and getting started with numerous DIY projects.... 26/2 - Sales 23/3 - Colours 31/3 - Tender 14/4 - Contract 7/5 - Taps 12/6 - Site start 15/6 - Slab 27/6 - Frame 1/8 - Lockup/Fixing 29/9 - PCI 25/10 - Handover Re: Help with my deck 16Oct 07, 2011 3:53 pm draco76 Madison27AA ok so basically the packers sit between the slab and the joists and were installed at 1 meter distance along a single joist....(sorry I am totally new to this so just trying to confirm what I understand ) yes, that,s what I did. The packers serves as a spacer so that the joists is not sitting on the slab protecting it from any water ghat might accumulate under the deck. But also to make the deck higher so the finished height is almost level with the entry Pretty much what I did also. Helps work out the level of the concrete/joists so you get a flatter finish to put the boards on to. The flatter it was the easier it was to get the boards down. Plus helps with the water clearance below the deck. I just laid out my joist on the slab, cut them, then used packers to get to level by using a $2.00 level that attaches to a string line, bolted the joists, then wedged the packers as firm as I could get them and used liquid nails to stop them moving and rattling in a few years. They then provide a bit of stability also. ....but just made it up as I went along. Interested in the pics also, what oil did you use to finish it? Re: Help with my deck 17Oct 07, 2011 7:08 pm notremaison Interested in the pics also, what oil did you use to finish it? i haven't put oil yet because of the weather.. i looked at some decking oil at bunnings and am thinking of putting the cabbots decking oil (merbau)... how are decking oils different? what to look for? Oxford 22 @ Stage12a Point Cook Site Cut : 05/03/2010 Slab Pour : 24/03/2010 Frame Inspected : 06/04/2010 Pre-plaster Inspection: 22/04/2010 PCI: 16/07/2010 Final Inspection: 30/07/2010 Landscaping: who knows??? MyHomeoneThread Our Oxford22 Blog Re: Help with my deck 18Oct 09, 2011 8:55 am draco76 notremaison Interested in the pics also, what oil did you use to finish it? i haven't put oil yet because of the weather.. i looked at some decking oil at bunnings and am thinking of putting the cabbots decking oil (merbau)... how are decking oils different? what to look for? Hey Draco, I think it's just a case of preference. I ended up using Feast Watsons natural which I'm happy with. Shows up a bit more of the differences in the merbau. Landscaper used Ultra Deck with Merbau colour and looks great on the planter boxes but not sure I would of used it on the deck with the tint. It's not cheap but I bought a 1L in the Watsons and used it on test boards to see if I liked the colour first. Also while you're not oiling wash the deck down a few times and let it dry so some of the bleed comes out. When I knew some warm weather was coming I washed the deck with water, then put 1/3 napisan in warm water (about 10L bucket) scrubbed the deck, left it for 15 mins, then washed it thoroughly and came up a treat. Then oiled when dry. Some better posts with pictures around on how and why to do this. Re: Help with my deck 20Oct 10, 2011 5:57 am This is what I looked at for oiling http://www.*.com/f196/clean ... eck-75429/ About a year ago, I embarked on a DIY project to construct an outdoor Pergola, which measures approximately 5.2 meters by 4.0… 0 29596 I work with owner, he/she is my man on the ground and I instruct them when to visit the site and take photos and I have other tools in the bag. 4 15258 I am in the same situation, would you be able to give some insights in to this? I am in SA 8 17038 |