Deck In A Day

Build a Deck in a Day

The lounging about comes later! For now you need to get busy. This 8m2 deck won’t cost you a fortune and can be built in the equivalent of a day, although you will need to spread out the process to allow for drying times of the cement and the sealants. Once you have completed the deck you can add a roof and sides to create a shaded entertainment area.

For the Deck you Need

Timber beams
Treated poles
Meranti decking planks (grooved for clips)
Beam hanging brackets
Easy-Clip decking system
6 x 60mm smooth shank cut screws
Spirit level, builder’s line and spade
Drill and drill/driver with bit selection
Fischer N8x100Z wall plugs and screws
Concrete mix (in bags – just add water)
Woodoc Steel Wool and Deck Sealer

Constructing the Frame

1. Start off by measuring and preparing the site for your deck. You will need to clean out and level the area. Use a builder’s line to mark out the space the deck will occupy.

2. The deck illustrating this article is attached to existing walls on certain sides. Where there was no support, holes were dug to accept the treated poles to form supports. The supports need to extend above the soil to the required height of your deck.

3. Open the bagged concrete mix and slowly add water, mixing with a spade until the concrete is the consistency of cake mix. Pour this around the poles, ensuring that the poles stay straight and in line. Leave them overnight for the cement to cure.

4. Lay out all the timber beams in the positions where they will be installed to ensure that everything lines up and fits.

5. For this deck we started by attaching the beams for the frame to the existing structure. Use a spirit level as you attach the beams to ensure they stay level. The next step is to attach the beams to the poles.

6. Attach the internal support beams to the support frame using metal hanging brackets.

7. Before installing the decking, apply three coats of Woodoc 35 to the frame. Where possible, also apply the first coat of Woodoc Deck Sealer to the individual planks before assembling the deck so that bothsides of each plank are protected. (Please see ‘finishing and sealing’ for full instructions.)

Assembling the Deck

1. The Easy Clip system makes this process really straightforward. The decking planks are routed with a groove to accept the clips, which are screwed into the beam. The planks themselves do not need to be drilled or screwed into.

2. Start at the back and work towards the front, laying one plank, adding the easy clips, and then putting down the next plank. Once all the planks have been laid you can start at the back and proceed to screw the Easy Clips to the beams.

Finishing and Sealing

1. If you did not do so before laying the planks, inspect the deck now and fill in any knots or rough strips with Alcolin Wood Filler. Leave the filler to dry and then lightly sand smooth.

2. The planks need three coats of Woodoc 73Deck Sealer. (If you applied the first coat before installing them you will only need to apply two more coats now.) Make sure the deck is absolutely free from dust before applying the sealer. Work on one plank at a time, running with the grain from one end to the other with the paintbrush, avoiding overlap marks. Leave to dry overnight. Before applying the next coat use Woodoc steel wool over the entire surface of the deck to remove any residue and allow proper absorption of the next coat. Repeat this process for the third coat.

Now that the deck is complete, you can start putting up the framework for the roof and sides.

For the Roof and Sides

Timber beams
Beam hanging brackets
Fischer N8x100Z wall plugs and screws
Modek polycarbonate
IBR sheeting
Roofing screws and roofing washers
Woodoc 35 Exterior Sealer
Flashing and waterproofing membrane

Here’s How

1. The framework for the roofing was constructed in the same way as the support structure (see ‘constructing the frame’).

2. Apply three coats of Woodoc 35 to all exposed wood.

3. To create a waterproof roof lay the Modek sheets over the entire structure, ensuring they overlap. Fasten the sheets securely to the frame with roofing screws and washers.

4. To complete the weatherproofing, tin flashing was fastened onto the walls to sit on top of the roofing, and finished off with an application of membrane-system waterproofing paint.

Styling

Use trellis and bamboo blinds to transform the structure into a stylish entertainment deck. The trellis was mounted on blocks to fit into the opening at one end, and bamboo blinds were attached to the beam above this. Bamboo blinds were also suspended horizontally beneath the IBR sheeting disguising the sheeting and reducing the glare.