Raised decking support / posts - concrete in or metal spike?
Dundonald
Just about to start a decking project in my garden. I haven't built
decking before, but I have spent some time planning my build out so
I'm pretty much set. One question though. I've built good strong
fences before and instead of concreting in the fence posts I have used
metal spikes. I am wondering if something like this http://tinyurl.com/djf3l8
can be used to hold the posts that will support the raised decking
instead of concreting in?
I guess my only concerns are that the spike once positioned and laden
with weight from the decking and use of the decking, the spike could
possibly be pushed deeper in to the earth and consequently allow areas
of the decking to droop, if you know what I mean. Is this a valid
concern or not?
Would be interested to learn if others have used the spikes for raised
decking.
Many thanks.
The Medway Handyman
> Hi,
>
> Just about to start a decking project in my garden. I haven't built
> decking before, but I have spent some time planning my build out so
> I'm pretty much set. One question though. I've built good strong
> fences before and instead of concreting in the fence posts I have used
> metal spikes. I am wondering if something like this
> http://tinyurl.com/djf3l8 can be used to hold the posts that will
> support the raised decking
> instead of concreting in?
No. First of all they are unecessary, secondly they can twist if they hit
stoney ground, and thirdly they could well sink.
I don't know if your deck is freestanding or attached to a building, but in
either case the only reason to concrete in posts is to keep the deck
'square'. If you don't achieve that, then boarding it will be a big
problem.
The support for the joists is achieved either by a cross beam or by using
padstones to support them.
How 'raised' is your decking?
I've built sh*t loads of decks. Happy to give any advise I can.
--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwaydecking.co.uk
TheScullster
"The Medway Handyman" wrote
snip.........
>
> I've built sh*t loads of decks. Happy to give any advise I can.
>
ISTR mention of a gap between deck and house wall that might be worth
repeating here/googling.
Can't remember why it was necessary though. Seem to think it was insect
related.
Phil
OG
"Dundonald" <mark....@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:2224d5ac-6f78-413a...@e24g2000vbe.googlegroups.com...
You can get cement-in versions of spikes
http://www.metpost.co.uk/mp_concrete_in.html
Much better than hammer in spikes.
The Medway Handyman
If you bolt a ledger plate to a house wall above DPC you should leave a 10mm
gap between it & house wall, and a 6mm gap between deck boards & house wall.
Its so you don't compromise the DPC.
--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
Dundonald
<davidl...@nospamblueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> Dundonaldwrote:
> > Hi,
>
> > Just about to start adeckingproject in my garden. I haven't built
> >deckingbefore, but I have spent some time planning my build out so
> > I'm pretty much set. One question though. I've built good strong
> > fences before and instead of concreting in the fence posts I have used
> > metal spikes. I am wondering if something like this
> > support the raiseddecking
> > instead of concreting in?
>
> No. First of all they are unecessary, secondly they can twist if they hit
> stoney ground, and thirdly they could well sink.
>
> I don't know if your deck is freestanding or attached to a building, but in
> either case the only reason to concrete in posts is to keep the deck
> 'square'. If you don't achieve that, then boarding it will be a big
> problem.
>
> The support for the joists is achieved either by a cross beam or by using
> padstones to support them.
>
> How 'raised' is yourdecking?
>
> I've built sh*t loads of decks. Happy to give any advise I can.
Hi Dave sorry for delay (been away with no access to computer). The
decking I have planned is raised about 4 ft. It's about 9 x 8 ft.
Two lengths of the decking will be secured to the house exterior down
one length and the conservatory exterior down another length (all
above the DPC at roughly interior floor level). The joists at those
ends will hang off of the 2 x 4 screwed to the walls. So I guess the
decking will remain squared. But this still leaves a corner and
sufficent support inbetween that corner and respective corners against
the wall. So my plan was/is to support by either spike or concrete
posts. The post can't simply rest on the earth surely?
Dundonald
<davidl...@nospamblueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> TheScullster wrote:
> > "The Medway Handyman" wrote
>
> > snip.........
>
> >> I've built sh*t loads of decks. Happy to give any advise I can.
>
> > ISTR mention of a gap between deck and house wall that might be worth
> > repeating here/googling.
> > Can't remember why it was necessary though. Seem to think it was
> > insect related.
>
> If you bolt a ledger plate to a house wall above DPC you should leave a 10mm
> gap between it & house wall, and a 6mm gap between deck boards & house wall.
> Its so you don't compromise the DPC.
Are you using a padding of some kind inbetween the house brick and the
ledger to maintain the 1cm gap?
The Medway Handyman
A number of 'heavy' washers on each bolt to space it out by 10mm. Provides
a gep between the ledger & wall.
The Medway Handyman
4 x 2 will need support every 6' of span to avoid bounce (assuming joists at
18" spacing) If you went up to 6 x 2 they can go 10' without support. More
timber granted, but less support.
> So I guess the
> decking will remain squared. But this still leaves a corner and
> sufficent support inbetween that corner and respective corners against
> the wall. So my plan was/is to support by either spike or concrete
> posts. The post can't simply rest on the earth surely?
I use wooden posts supported by concrete blocks or slabs or concrete in post
supports
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Post-Accessories/Concrete-In-Post-Support/invt/540561
They all keep the posts off the earth. I'd be inclined to use a concrete in
post support at the corner & slabs/blocks elsewhere as required.
--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
Dundonald
<davidl...@nospamblueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> Dundonaldwrote:
> > On May 6, 7:28 am, "The Medway Handyman"
> > <davidl...@nospamblueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> >> Dundonaldwrote:
> >>> Hi,
>
> >>> Just about to start adeckingproject in my garden. I haven't built
> >>> deckingbefore, but I have spent some time planning my build out so
> >>> I'm pretty much set. One question though. I've built good strong
> >>> fences before and instead of concreting in the fence posts I have
> >>> used metal spikes. I am wondering if something like this
> >>> support the raiseddecking
> >>> instead of concreting in?
>
> >> No. First of all they are unecessary, secondly they can twist if
> >> they hit stoney ground, and thirdly they could well sink.
>
> >> I don't know if your deck is freestanding or attached to a building,
> >> but in either case the only reason to concrete in posts is to keep
> >> the deck 'square'. If you don't achieve that, then boarding it will
> >> be a big problem.
>
> >> The support for the joists is achieved either by a cross beam or by
> >> using padstones to support them.
>
> >> How 'raised' is yourdecking?
>
> >> I've built sh*t loads of decks. Happy to give any advise I can.
>
> > Hi Dave sorry for delay (been away with no access to computer). The
> > Two lengths of thedeckingwill be secured to the house exterior down
> > one length and the conservatory exterior down another length (all
> > above the DPC at roughly interior floor level). The joists at those
> > ends will hang off of the 2 x 4 screwed to the walls.
>
> 4 x 2 will need support every 6' of span to avoid bounce (assuming joists at
> 18" spacing) If you went up to 6 x 2 they can go 10' without support. More
> timber granted, but less support.
Cool, if I use 6 x 2 then I can run each non wall lengths without
additional support other than a 3 x 3 post in the remaining corner?
Actually remembering my plan down one of the lengths I will have steps
down to the lawn so either side of the steps I will be running a post
up in any case to support the hand rail.
>
> > So I guess the
> >deckingwill remain squared. But this still leaves a corner and
> > sufficent support inbetween that corner and respective corners against
> > the wall. So my plan was/is to support by either spike or concrete
> > posts. The post can't simply rest on the earth surely?
>
> I use wooden posts supported by concrete blocks or slabs or concrete in post
> supportshttp://www.wickes.co.uk/Post-Accessories/Concrete-In-Post-Support/inv...
>
> They all keep the posts off the earth. I'd be inclined to use a concrete in
> post support at the corner & slabs/blocks elsewhere as required.
>
> --
> Dave - The Medway Handymanwww.medwayhandyman.co.uk- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
The Medway Handyman
Yup. A 6 x 2 C16 will span 2.95m at 450mm centres.
Dundonald
<davidl...@nospamblueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> Dundonaldwrote:
> > On 12 May, 02:34, "The Medway Handyman"
> > <davidl...@nospamblueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> >> Dundonaldwrote:
> >>> On May 6, 7:28 am, "The Medway Handyman"
> >>> <davidl...@nospamblueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
> >>>> Dundonaldwrote:
> >>>>> Hi,
>
> >>>>> Just about to start adeckingproject in my garden. I haven't built
> >>>>> deckingbefore, but I have spent some time planning my build out so
> >>>>> I'm pretty much set. One question though. I've built good strong
> >>>>> fences before and instead of concreting in the fence posts I have
> >>>>> used metal spikes. I am wondering if something like this
> >>>>> support the raiseddecking
> >>>>> instead of concreting in?
>
> >>>> No. First of all they are unecessary, secondly they can twist if
> >>>> they hit stoney ground, and thirdly they could well sink.
>
> >>>> I don't know if your deck is freestanding or attached to a
> >>>> building, but in either case the only reason to concrete in posts
> >>>> is to keep the deck 'square'. If you don't achieve that, then
> >>>> boarding it will be a big problem.
>
> >>>> The support for the joists is achieved either by a cross beam or by
> >>>> using padstones to support them.
>
> >>>> How 'raised' is yourdecking?
>
> >>>> I've built sh*t loads of decks. Happy to give any advise I can.
>
> >>> Hi Dave sorry for delay (been away with no access to computer). The
> >>> deckingI have planned is raised about 4 ft. It's about 9 x 8 ft.
> >>> Two lengths of thedeckingwill be secured to the house exterior down
> >>> one length and the conservatory exterior down another length (all
> >>> above the DPC at roughly interior floor level). The joists at those
> >>> ends will hang off of the 2 x 4 screwed to the walls.
>
> >> 4 x 2 will need support every 6' of span to avoid bounce (assuming
> >> joists at 18" spacing) If you went up to 6 x 2 they can go 10'
> >> without support. More timber granted, but less support.
>
> > Cool, if I use 6 x 2 then I can run each non wall lengths without
> > additional support other than a 3 x 3 post in the remaining corner?
>
> Yup. A 6 x 2 C16 will span 2.95m at 450mm centres.
Sorry you lost me on the 450mm centres bit, what's that, I'm assumig
spacing between joists?
The Medway Handyman
Yup - the closer they are the longer the span.
derekarms...@gmail.com
The Other John
--
TOJ.