Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 Jan 15, 2009 8:00 pm Hi all, this is my first post here, but I've been lurking a bit trying to fish out as much information as I can.
I have begun planning a pergola and deck at the front/side of out unit. I have bought and read the 'Decks & Pergolas' Contruction Manual, which has answered a lot of questions, but posed a few more! The proposed deck and verandah will be (give or take) 17m square. It will measure 5.3 x 3.2m. The short side will be fixed to the house via a ledger. Bearers running down the long sides. A portion of one 5.3m side will be adjacent (roughly 3m of it) to another existing brick wall. I plan on having a door coming out onto the deck on this side. I have decided to go with Modwood boards (as I can't guarantee I'd be diligent with the appropriate upkeep for a hardwood deck) and the standard length will fit perfectly down the longer aspect with no joining required. I have looked into Kelvaklip fixings and may head in this direction as well. Seems like I'll need 2 x boxes of the top fix type ($165 per box). The Modwood comes in @ $8 /Lm (about $45 per length, requring 36 or so pieces) I been looking carefully at the tables at the back of Allan Staines' book trying to figure out size requirement for bearers and joist etc. Am I able to run continuous span bearers down the 5.3m sides? The tables stop at 3m continuous... so i figured that I'd need extra posts at the halfway point (so roughly 2.6m between post centres). For the joists, given the continuous span of 3.2m, i figured for 190x45mm seasoned F7's. 450mm spacings as recommended for Modwood. I plan on using joist hangars rather than sitting joists on top of bearers. I'm planning on trying to turn it into an indoor outdoor room of sorts due to the fact that it's a 2 bedder and a family soon on the way and maximising living space is paramount. Does this change anything permit wise? I was initially thinking cafe blinds (like everyone else) but was tempted by more 'permanent' options. Should I contruct the deck or the verandah first? I plan on covering with some sort of polycarbonate roofing (close to clear given that the space does not get a lot of light (2 walls and a fence doesn't help). Drainage has occupied my thoughts for a while. I was considering installing a water tank and covering it with a wooden bench of sorts. Given the height of the deck I was thinking about running a drain pipe back under the deck to the existing, which is almost in the corner on the same side as the propsed doorway. I'll try and a attach a scrappy mockup of what I've got inside my head. I guess I need a bit of confirmation of my thoughts before I start really putting pen to paper for the plans. Should I also use a ledger on the door side and just extend it as a bearer to the post and scrap the post by the doorway? Post size: 90x90mm F8 seasoned softwood Footings: 300x300x700mm (using stirrups) I haven't double checked the height of the deck, given that it needs to be 50-150mm below house floor level, but I'm pretty sure it just exceeds the handrail height requirement. Sorry for the long post. Looking forward to some suggestions! Many thanks, Pat. Re: New Decking and verandah planning. Some questions 2Jan 15, 2009 8:39 pm Welcome to the forum...
With the bearer the table stops at 3000mm because that is maximum span in these tables... The continuous means you are running it across at least 2 spans, so yes, over the 5.3m, with one post, and a load width of 1800mm you must run 2/240 x 35's...in F7... I'd suggest looking at the F14 table, where you can run a 225x50... With bearers it's much easier to nail off and fix to 50mm, than 35mm... With your joists, check out the single span, so you'd need 170x 45 F7 seasoned to get the 3200mm... Think of single span as between two points, while continous is supported at both ends, and at least once more in the centre.. Build the deck first, but if you are remember, if you need, take the posts through for the verandah roof... Run a ledger along under the new doorway, and yes you could run it right through the full 5.3m... How are you going to attach the roof to the existing house... Also, if you want the place to look real special, check our solarspan... Brilliant stuff... If you don't like the typical ballustrading, take a look at stainless wire... Magic to keep the open look.... And if you like a beer, or two... Make your handrail then same width, or just under the width of the posts... Plenty of room to sit the ales on!! I've now owner built 2 decks, and used the alan staines book both times! Brilliant.. Ask heaps of questions, and everyone will be more than happy to answer what they can... Electrical Engineer... Don't hold that against me... And keen owner builder... Mainly the building part!! Re: New Decking and verandah planning. Some questions 3Jan 16, 2009 3:32 pm Thanks for the info Chuth! This definitely clears up some questions regarding bearers and joists.
I certainly will remember to continue the posts up for the verandah. Would I need to continue the midspan post up as well? I must admit I haven't given the verandah section as much thought as the decking section at this time. I figured that I'd work my way up in the planning. In answer to your question, yes the verandah will be connected to the roof... somehow. I was going to angle it down away from the house, but this would create a more convoluted drainage solution. If I angled it up away from the house the drainage would be able to run right into the existing downpipe. I'm just a bit unsure as to how it would look. Does anyone have any good suggestions for timber suppliers in Melbourne? 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 1290 Hi, I'll be starting on my verandah repair soon - replace ledger, rafters, roofing iron, flashing etc. (fascia board already done). My question is about the timber ledger… 0 930 1 1338 |