Patio / Deck Timber Flooring at ground level

blackmax · Feb 10, 2008 1:32 pm

Hi Folks,

Need some expert advice on the current trend with new home builders of having timber decking used at ground level on flat sites. (Quite common on display homes in Brisbane at the moment).

What I'd like to know is how are they being built when they are so low on the ground?

Do they dig the ground out, install footings and use traditional posts / bearers / joists? If so, how to they achieve a floor height of less than a foot above the ground? Or do they nail / glue timber planks to a concrete base? If so, anyone had any experience with these types of floors?

Perth_Euro · Feb 10, 2008 4:02 pm

we built our just above ground level.

We dug in posts and trenches for the bearers to sit in. From there up everything was above ground level.

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royalblue · Feb 10, 2008 4:27 pm

I think there is a required minimum clearance beneath the deck. It may vary in different areas, I've heard its about 300mm. So, this may require that the ground beneath is excavated.

Ash.

blackmax · Feb 10, 2008 5:34 pm

Thanks Perth_Euro,

That's exactly the type of deck I'm referring too. Nice pics on your blog about it.

Couldn't tell but did you have individual footings for your posts, or did you run a strip footing perpendicular to your house running beneath the bearers?

Also, what's the name of the flooring planks that you've used?

davinci · Feb 10, 2008 8:14 pm

absolute minimum 150mm of air space under bearer is required
if the deck ground cut out is lower than natural ground level then drainage is required to stop rot etc

blackmax · Feb 10, 2008 9:59 pm

I'm well aware of the building code & regulations regarding raised decks - but the question becomes when is a deck a deck?
Height requirements for decks are usually related to ventilation / drainage / termite protection / access / etc.

But if you look at the current trend of display homes around brisbane they are quite often using timber decks at ground level - none of this 150 / 300 mm above ground business. If you're lucky it's 150mm above ground - Some of the display homes I've seen include Plantation, M3tricon, Adenbrook, etc.

At most the depth allows for timber joists to sit directly upon a concrete base. If this doesn't meet BCA then why are these builders doing it?

And if you have a concrete base & pave above it, how is this different to installing your timber flooring above the concrete base?

Would love to hear from anyone who has built with a project builder and had one of these timber floors installed.

Perth_Euro · Feb 11, 2008 9:03 am

blackmax

Thanks Perth_Euro,

That's exactly the type of deck I'm referring too. Nice pics on your blog about it.

Couldn't tell but did you have individual footings for your posts, or did you run a strip footing perpendicular to your house running beneath the bearers?

Also, what's the name of the flooring planks that you've used?

Individual Footings. They are 600mm posts with a bag of rapidset on each one.

The wood is Red Balau. We went with personal pref of reeded side up.
I oiled it all last w'end. Came up a treat.