Browse Forums Outdoor Living 1 Aug 06, 2022 8:11 pm Long time reader, first time poster. We have a 6.5 x 3.5m alfresco built into our slab that we're finally getting around to decking. After a stack of research on this fine site and elsewhere, the one thing I'm still struggling with it a decent option for the subframe - our constraint is that there is only 60mm from the concrete surface to the underside of the back door frame, and we wouldn't want the finish height to be much more than 10-15mm above that. Given that even a 90x45mm timber joist wouldn't fit there, my working plan has been to lay them on their side and support them more frequently. The standards don't extend to such a short joist height, but after some experimentation I'd be comfortable supporting them every 500mm, and use standing 450mm spacing. Probably is, to elevate them off the concrete for ventilation, I'm going to end up with a heap of packers, brackets, and concrete fixings, just to get the decking boards 55mm off the concrete. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Surely there's a better way! I know low-level decks have had a long history of even being acceptable at all, but given that my concrete surface is good, level and undercover, I think surely there's a way to space the decking timber 50-60mm off the concrete without drilling 100 holes in it. I thought a metal frame might be the ticket, because then it could be sat on the concrete and include its own ventilation gaps, but I found options hard to come by and every one I found is at least 180mm tall anyway. Then I finally came across Deck Cell and thought - this is it! A plastic grid 50mm tall. For ease of placing on the concrete, levelling, securing decking boards, and getting under my height requirement it seems perfect. But I've never heard of it before and I can't believe there's not more popular options like this. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Anyone have any insights into options for a low level deck on concrete? Happy to entertain non-decking options too, but leaning heavily that way if it can be done effectively. FWIW, we plan to extend the decking off the edge of the alfresco, but at that point traditional timber joists, bearers and posts seem pretty straight forward. Re: Deck subframe options for very low height 2Aug 07, 2022 9:56 pm I know people are really attached to timber decks but I would always go for tiles/pavers here, it will be a similar price at last forever. Timber will look good for 12 months before the maintenance starts and if you drop anything between the boards it is a problem. You could use FC packers if you stick with the timber 90x45 flat. Might only need to fix at every 2nd one which saves on the labour. Good luck. Re: Deck subframe options for very low height 3Aug 08, 2023 8:13 pm I found this guy on youtube. He had a great idea for low decking option. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_bcaSJy8bs Re: Deck subframe options for very low height 4Aug 08, 2023 10:27 pm scottydont85 I found this guy on youtube. He had a great idea for low decking option. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_bcaSJy8bs That is indeed the way to do it. I've done the same several times. In the video he has a sloping concrete slab so any moisture that gets in under the decking can run out. If your concrete slab is flat with no fall any moisture will tend to sit under the deck and can cause issues with elevated moisture levels which can cause problems with the decking boards. If you are using timber decking boards I'd fully oil all sides of your deck before fixing it, or choose a composite decking. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Deck subframe options for very low height 5Aug 09, 2023 7:51 am scottydont85 I found this guy on youtube. He had a great idea for low decking option. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_bcaSJy8bs This guys other videos are great too. Shame his shtick is bad dad jokes. But one or two during a 10 min video is tolerable. Good communicator Those span tables can be pushed a little for a low deck if you dont mind a little flex. Last deck I did, I pushed it a little and it was still rock solid - no noticeable… 6 13989 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair Thanks. I was thinking of using either Extreme Joist or LOWDECK timbers for joists. Any idea what sets them apart and which… 2 13039 Hi - thanks for your reply. Yes I think 'Ill go for whitish with very speckly bits rather than pure white something like this. PS was actually 2008 I built the… 2 12046 |