Does anyone fit decking for a living, or have recently had it fitted? Decided to deck some of the garden and although I will be getting a fair few quotes and hopefully some mates rates ones i'm interested to see what the general rule is for costings. Is it done roughly by sq.metre? I want to cover around 30 square metres in an L shape pattern.

If you've had it done show us ya pics

Chris

 

I do them mate, heres some ideas for you, border pattern may be a bit too optimistic for a DIYer ,some of the mitres are a bit tricky, but they dont need them to look good, if its straight and level it will look fine without the border, im just a flash fucker with too much time on my hands, enjoy....












If you chose to opt for the border the key is in the preparation of the framework underneath as you will need extra carriers in to take the boards, and each boards mitre is an individual scribe and it takes fuckin ages, like this....
, see none of the boards are the same size so you cant be multi cut, I would leave the border out if I was you.
Boards up here are Ł6.20 per 4.2m length, and you need 8 per metre if you buy 5" wide ones, so thats Ł6.20 x 8 = Ł49.60 per metre over 4.2 m length, so its basically nearly 200 quid for a 4.2 square metre section of boards, but the frame work is Ł7.20 a length and you will need about 15 for the above size.

Ask any question you like mate and I`ll talk you through it.

 

the last rise on your 4 step stairs looks a bit small?

 

Looks good mate, I dont think i'll be doing it myself to be honest as i dont have enough time in the day as it is!! What would the average 'decker' charge to fit per sq/metre including base / frame etc?

Chris

 

You just buy the stringers from the timber yard like that, so if i made the top one right the bottom one would have been out, so i thought it would be better to have the small rise at the top

 

I charged Ł1,200 for that top one I think, but i normally go for Ł35 per metre but that includes all the mitred edges and balustrades.

 

Pretty easy to do once you get into it, but lots of headscratching working out the best way to do it if it's you first time. Loads I would have done a little neater on mine, but does the job.

I had upper deck built then did the lower deck myself once I had seen how it was done.

before...



after



looks nice with the little blue LED lights in and chopped and change bits a few times recessing the step and covering a pond we had in the lower deck, so just got to stain it all up. Certainly covered up what was there before!!

 

This is what we did with our excuse of a rear garden!!!!

 

very nice Dave, totally transformed the place.

 

all look very good!! I presume that Ł35 a metre is your labour only?! I quite fancy doing it myself as it would be a good thing to learn. The height that mine needs to be is only about 4 inches off the level of the ground, then another step up to about 8". How would I achieve this height (ie - what size / dimension wood should I use)?. I'm doing a scale drawing at the moment so will post it when its done!

Chris

 

Yep, against regs that, uneven steps are a no no!

Looks nice though!

Should have made the first inital drop down smaller as thats too high, that would have left room to work the next drop right for the steps! Bit of forward planning n all that If you do it all the time, you should know the std measurements you need for drops for steps!

 

Cheers

 

 

The frame dave has pictured should give a guide idea of how to set it out. But I also found looking at guides on the internet helped me see how to build the frame.

Main thing i found was making sure I had the posts in the right place to fix the bracing to, and making sure I had bracing in the right place to fix the boards to, was a bit of trial an error.

Once you get into it it is pretty enjoyable and you want to add more and more lol!!

 

This our decking we got done last week, 3.6m x 3.6m.

 

I always think that decking looks nicer without the 'grooves' i.e upside down. It's no more slippy, easier to clean and looks nicer.

 

i thought the first one looked quite good until we got the close up and you see the nails bodged in half across a groove. if you must use nails, and what's wrong with screws? then at least put them neatly and evenly in the bottom of the groove

 

What thickness posts need to go into the ground, how far apart (to form a grid i suppose) and do I presume it needs to go down about 2foot?

 

I done a bit, I'll throw some pics up later. First attempt the ground was uneven so raised the subframe onto mitre posts and solid blocks. Over time it has sloped in the middle hehe, but impossible to fix without a crane or taking some apart to access the subframe. It has railings and steps up to it. The ground was a bit soft in the first place. Great deals on decking here atm. 16x16 grooved including subframe and 2x50 deck screws €400.

 

Aren't nails a bad idea for decking? I'm no woodwork expert, so feel free to correct me, but surely they're more likely to allow the wood to work its way loose as it expends/contracts and is walked on.

Ours are all screwed down, and 3 years on there's not a single squeak.

Not great pics due to all the kids' junk...

 

yes screws should always be used imo

 

Nails look like they have been put in with a nail gun so there is a fair chance they are ( and they really should be) ring nails. Use tthem for roofing, studwork and flooring so they are fine for decking.

Some of them mitres look a little out though!

Go for hardwood decking if you plan on staying there forever and want it to last. Not cheap though, i bought 2x 4.8m lengths some time ago because i didnt pinch enough from work and it cost me over Ł40!!!

Gavin.

Edit.. it was this stuff but i paid more http://www.edecks.co.uk/shop/product.aspx?pid=158

 

Fuck me does everyone have to find fault in everything?

To be brutually honest, I think all of the deckings look shit except the last one.
They all look too fresh and posey, like this shiny new thing stuck in a wet garden! Maybe if they were stained dark or something dunno.

 

Ha nice try, get back on the other thread and lets re-commence lol

 

And there ring shanks by the way, never had one slip yet?

PMSL at all the peeps who know better

 

That's why I asked, as it seemed odd. Would rather have screws from a practical POV so you can take them up more easily should you need to, but can see that in many circumstances nail gunning them in would be fine.

 

To be fair they're all pics of freshly layed decking, so are always going to look a bit 'obvious'. Still can't see why folk prefer decking groove side up though, it's horrid to walk on with bare feet and looks naff IMO.

 

Dave,
Have you got any pictures of your decking at night with the lights on?

 

I knew someone would say it, but fuck it. Its my trade so ill comment on it.

If someone put pictures up of an engine build and it had issues, and someone like Martin H commented on the issues, not took the piss, commented on them being wrong, no one say anything against him! Its the same situation here so theres nothing wrong with saying it!

I personally think Brannens decks look ok, but theres just the few issues he could have avoided! He said himself hes a flash fucker, but has missed the basics!

 

Yes, sorry pictures are not that great

 

I am having my patio liad in the next few weeks, will be nice for the summer, not really a fan of decking on even level gardens, alright for gardens that are not level

Mike

 

I agree to a certain extent, but in a good sized garden they can break it up a bit. We have natural stone flags on a large area, then quite a bit of grass so kids have somewhere soft to play, then a little decking area - about 4mx3m where the patio table goes for BBQing etc I have built it though with strength to take a hottub when i finally get one!

 

some nice decking here ,done mine 8yrs ago 4m x 5m in pressure treated wood just needs treating twice a year good jetwash off .framework is made of 100mm x 100mm fence posts cut to size and cemented in 12inches in the ground then 4x2 timber stretchers ...

 

what are people using to clean it with?power wash?

 

I just chucked on some decking cleaner, gave it a good scrub with a broom then jetwashed it off. TBH it wasn't too bad as ours is covered.

 

I power washed mine 2 weeks ago used some detergent. Then brushed with brizzle yard brush, and hose again. Looks mint again .