Browse Forums Outdoor Living 1 Feb 07, 2012 5:04 pm Can someone who is knowledgeable tell if it is cheaper to go for a timber deck over concrete and then tiles laid on top. We will try and build the deck ourselves. So just wondering? I really want a deck, hubby not so much... I am the one that will build it so I need some justification to get me started.... Part of the deck will be laid over concrete and then extended out from the concrete. Re: is decking cheaper than concrete and then tiles on top? 2Feb 08, 2012 1:55 pm Tiles would be a lot cheaper. I'm in the same boat myself at the moment. Except I already have the tiles, but I'm looking at selling them to do decking. Bit more maintenance with decking, but I love the look so I'm happy to deal with it. I have about 24 sqm, with tiles working about $800 to cover that. (they are 600x600 porcelain with an edging tile) Then adding on top of that glues, grout etc.. prob looking over a grand. However I have had 2 quotes for the same area for a deck.. one quote was $5400, the other was about $4600... But in saying that, doing it myself is on the agenda.. I think I worked out timber costs for the area approx $2/3k including all materials (screws, packers, water membrane etc)... Soon as I can sell my tiles, I am going to deck it.. Re: is decking cheaper than concrete and then tiles on top? 3Feb 08, 2012 3:46 pm We have a really tiny alfresco so we are going to have to add more concrete on the edge of it to make it larger and then tile it on top to make it look nice and streamlined..... or extend the deck from the alfresco out to make it larger I was not really clear in my first post... oops I think decks are more maintenance but I do love the look of them against lush green grass and plants... Re: is decking cheaper than concrete and then tiles on top? 4Feb 11, 2012 3:38 pm Rather than concrete, consider Hebel. We built ours from Hebel (75mm), and it was quite a quick job (you screw them to the steel frame, and use Hebel adhesive between joints). We had no choice, as we had to use non-flammable material. Re: is decking cheaper than concrete and then tiles on top? 5Mar 19, 2012 12:25 pm Lot927 ... or extend the deck from the alfresco out to make it larger... Hi Lot927 - did you end up making a final decision on what you're going to do with your alfresco area? Like you, we're considering putting in decking over the concrete slab in our alfresco, and additionally extending the decking past the slab to cover a bigger area. However, I'm having trouble trying to determine whether this will adversely impact the termite protection around the house. Did you ever investigate this aspect of the decking? I'm assuming that since our alfresco will be part of the main concrete slab for the house, the termite protection barrier will run along the perimeter of the alfresco. Or is that a mistaken assumption? Further, if I extend the decking past the concrete slab, then what allowances do I need to make for the termite protection? Or would it be easier to simply delete the concrete slab from the alfresco all together (we haven't started building yet)? A lot of questions I know, but after extensive searching on these forums, I haven't been able to find much information on this. Thanks for any comments. Re: is decking cheaper than concrete and then tiles on top? 6Jun 20, 2012 9:41 pm shakeandbake Lot927 ... or extend the deck from the alfresco out to make it larger... Hi Lot927 - did you end up making a final decision on what you're going to do with your alfresco area? Like you, we're considering putting in decking over the concrete slab in our alfresco, and additionally extending the decking past the slab to cover a bigger area. However, I'm having trouble trying to determine whether this will adversely impact the termite protection around the house. Did you ever investigate this aspect of the decking? I'm assuming that since our alfresco will be part of the main concrete slab for the house, the termite protection barrier will run along the perimeter of the alfresco. Or is that a mistaken assumption? Further, if I extend the decking past the concrete slab, then what allowances do I need to make for the termite protection? Or would it be easier to simply delete the concrete slab from the alfresco all together (we haven't started building yet)? A lot of questions I know, but after extensive searching on these forums, I haven't been able to find much information on this. Thanks for any comments. Ok might be a bit late but I'm doing now exactly what you wanted to do. Firstly keep the concrete on the alfresco it is very easy to deck over concrete, then you can add additional decking over the ground to expand the space. Termites are not an issue just keep the deck 30mm away from the brick work so you can still inspect. To deck over concrete you can use 90mmx45mm H3 treated pine layer on it's side so 45mm thick then drill through and into concrete and dynabolt to the concrete for your frame work, just do the pine lengthways 450mm apart. Then deck over the top with 90mmx19mm merbau or kwila decking using decking nails. To extend out past concrete you will first need to purchase: Metal stirrups for footings Concrete post mix 90mmx45mm h3 pine for joists 140mmx45mm h3 pine for bearers Nails Joist brackets Dig the holes for your footings first then place your stirrups in holes and pour concrete and add water, you will roughly need 1 stirrup per meter so 12m2 prob go roughly 12 stirrups. Once they have set over night you can cut the bearers to length and lay them on the stirrups for my example 12m2 deck 3 bearers will be enough one each side then one down middle. Bolt these into the stirrups using coach bolts Once this is done you now cut the joists to length (as long as distance between each bearer) for my example 10 per side so 20 in total my deck width is 4m so cut them 2m minus 90mm to fit neatly between bearers Now you have 20 cut you nail the joist brackets to the inside of the outside bearers and then to each side of the middle bearer for my example you will need 40 in total space them 450mm apart Once all nailed in slot the joists in to the bracket cradles they simply should drop in then nail through bracket into joist to secure This will now complete your frame which will be 140mm high plus 20-30mm off ground as mounted on stirrups. You then simply cut the decking to lengths and nail with decking nails to the joists to secure I like to frame my edge of decking so I start with the edge cut 4 lengths to frame with 45 degree mitre cuts to fit together then nail on, I then cut my decking length wise to the same length to fit between frame, then I lay the decking out and use a 2mm nail to space each deck board. Once happy with spacing simply nail boards down. If you plan the height right you can either have a step up or down from your alfresco to deck extension or have them both flush Hope that answers your questions. Re: is decking cheaper than concrete and then tiles on top? 7Jun 20, 2012 9:46 pm Also for the original question tiling would be cheaper around $40m2 plus tile purchase price so maybe if tiles were $20 per metre all up $60 per meter. Decking with framing your looking at $80-100 per meter depending on wood costs that's DIY To have someone do it it's anyones guess http://www.betterthansheets.com.au - Why use sheets for curtains in your brand new home use Better Than Sheets Temporary Paper blinds instead! Re: is decking cheaper than concrete and then tiles on top? 8Jun 20, 2012 9:51 pm Ohhh then add concrete for 100mm slab your looking at $45 per meter so to make slab then tile $105-130 per meter pending tile choice so in that case decking would be cheaper but then again may not last as long but will never go out of fashion or date. http://www.betterthansheets.com.au - Why use sheets for curtains in your brand new home use Better Than Sheets Temporary Paper blinds instead! Hi, as per the subject. Does anyone have any recommendations for the best value decking oil (Bunning is close to where I live) for a treated pine deck? Thanks 0 10971 Can someone please offer some advice? Im DESPERATE. 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