Garden Decking Blogs

Why are we talking about building a deck base in this awful British weather? Don't ask me!

If your garden has not flooded, and you have a weekend spare, then why not prepare you garden for decking. You never know, you may be able to enjoy BBQ next spring. Or perhaps eat your Christmas dinner on the new decking area if you have a nice patio heater, like the Zeus which was recently pitched on Dragons Den.

There is no right or wrong way to build a deck base. The objective is to create a solid level timber structure to fit the decking boards too - simple! What really helps is that the decking base is not seen so it does not matter what it looks like!

Two tools that will help you to do the job properly are:

• Landscaping screws will join timber easily and firm:
• Joist Hangers to butt joint one timber rail to another (rails are sometimes known as joists).

Both tools are easy to use and fast to use.

Use timber posts concreted into the ground to hold the structure in place.

The decking design will depend on the space you have which is a result of how high above the ground the deck is to be. Where space allows use beams to support joists, for example, if your deck is 3.60m wide and you have created a framework supported with Timber Posts and have fixed in place your 3.60m joists, then set at 450mm centres without additional support. At 3.60m long these joists will be too flexible to support the deck in the centre.

This is where a another larger timber rail (sometimes called a beam), set this immediately under and at 90 degrees to you. Set joists at approx every 1.8m in mid position with posts to support the beam. Without too many additional posts you now have a firm deck structure which you may fix your decking Boards to.

According to rightmove.co.uk, who represent 90% of the UK housing market, house prices are set to increase towards the end of 2009. So now is the time to start finishing those jobs you've been putting off for ages, such as fixing fence panels. The good news is that we have four easy ways to help you fix and improve your garden fencing.

Fixing fence panels is easy, here are four simple methods:

• Nail through the side framing batten into post – use galvanised nails to avoid rust stains – size 65 or 75mm long nail front and back separately using 3-4 nails on each face

• Use Panel Fixing Clips – use 3 clips per side for a 6’ 1.8m high fence panel

• Use Slotted Concrete Fence Posts – no fixings are needed as these are H-shape posts, therefore the panel is located in slot. The advantages of this are that the posts last for years and panels can be lifted out and replaced in minutes

• Always use Decking screws for all fencing panels and trellis, particularly when using our Grange Elite Range of fence panel. The AVS range of Carpenter Mate Decking Screws fix easily with a battery screwdriver without slipping as they have a special square socketed head (driver bit provided) and are coated for maximum corrosion protection. They self-drill through timber without splitting.

AVS Top Tip

Why not use Lap Panels for your garden fencing? They are not only cost effective, they are attractive too.

AVS supply lap panels in 4 different sizes, each Lap Panel is 6 foot wide with heights that vary between 3, 4, 5 and 6 feet (these are 915, 1220, 1525 and 1830mm respectively).
As well as variations in size, a range of colours are on offer, these being either a light beige (our pressure treated lap panels), orange-brown or darker brown.(our dipped panels).
It is important to remember when buying a panel that posts come in only 2 colours, light brown (known as green) or dark brown. This type of fencing is simple to erect making it an excellent choice for your garden fencing.

You are thinking of building a garden decking this summer and are not quite sure where to start. Simple start here with a guide that will help you through the maize that decking. There is nothing easier so read on. What is a garden deck in its simplest form? A garden deck is a platform covered in timber which can be either at low level, near the ground or high level, raised from the ground. There are no real rules about what you can and cannot do with decking as long as the space is firm and strong to support the deck boards then you will have successful decking.

You certainly don’t need to be a master carpenter to create a great garden deck, create the base for the deck out of timber fence posts and timber joists. Typically the fence posts can be 100x100 in size or slightly larger if the deck is raised off the ground by more than a couple of feet. Timber joists typically 150x47mm and 100x47mm can then be used to form a level framework on which to lay the deck boards. The timber support posts are normally connected with a beam and the timber joists can be fixed to the beam using joist hangers, other timber connections between the timber joists can be done using landscape screws, our carpenters mate range of landscape screws are ideal for this.

The look and feel of the finished deck will be influenced by the type of deck board you choose, two main types of decking boards are available from AVS hardwood and softwood treated. The softwood treated decking boards are available in grooved, reeded and smooth options. The best method to fix the decking boards down onto the timber joists is to use AVS Fencing decking screws which avoid splitting the timber and normally avoid the need for pre-drilling, unlike nails can be removed if the boards need to be lifted for any reason.

I believe building a timber decking is a job that most people who are fairly practical can easily do and will make a great addition to your garden. All of the decking materials are available from AVS Fencing for building your garden decking, the first step to your garden decking would, I suggest be sketching out a plan of the size of decking you want. Mark it out in the area you have allocated for it then you can check ground levels and get a feel for what this would look like when it is completed within your garden.

On a final safety note if your decking is going to be raised off the ground you will also need to consider balustrading or timber hand railing to prevent people falling from your deck.