This includes labour. Use your spirit level to make sure these are level. Therefore the equation now looks like this: 7.5 x 1.5. low deck with weedkiller and lay weed mat. How to upcycle almost any piece of furniture with paint Please enable JavaScript to enhance your experience on the Bunnings site. For example, in our second calculation if we had planned to only have 1 brace then the equation would have been 0.5 x 216 / 1 (number of braces) then our bracing requirement would have been 108 and that would have been greater than the minimum required. When you install a pergola, working to an approved plan can help to ensure the end result is straight and safe. Issue 46 – February 2013. Most pressure treated timber in New Zealand is described as treated wet which means nothing happens to the wood after pressure treatment. So lay your first board 12mm from the house, fix it at every joist with two fixings, leave a gap between board of up to 6mm and if you need to butt join boards leave a 2mm gap and pre-drill the holes at the end. The second thing to be aware of is the Building Act (NZS 3604:2011) – decks that have a finished height above 1.5 metres from the ground require a consent. Before you can build a deck, it’s important to do the groundwork. You can build it so that you have steps leading down onto your outside deck. Kiwi summers naturally lend themselves to getting outside and enjoying the sun, and this includes your outdoor space where you can entertain, play with the kids or just put your feet up and relax. New Zealand Herald . We’ll show you how to sink the stumps and attach the bearers for your foundation. How to install bistro blinds Now the equation looks like this 7.5 x 1.5 x 19.2 = 216, meaning that this deck requires a minimum of 216 bracing units. Bolt your temporary timber guides in place around the perimeter of the decking area. Establish your Finished Floor Level (FFL), which is the height to top … How to set out a deck There are lots of different designs and styles of deck, made from different materials. Read More. Softwood Decks Pine is the most common softwood deck used in New Zealand, other softwoods are Cedar, Macrocarpa or Matai, to name a few. Learn how to paint and prepare different surfaces to get the finish y... Planters 21mm down from our finished height (decking) plus 2x 140mm down (joists and bearers, except brace piles as they are 170mm down). Rather than throwing out old household items, you can restore them with paint. Cut your joins square. Special rules around access routes and deck fixings could affect your deck so check with those who know the rules. At first glance this might appear to be all we need, but in accordance with the NZS3604:2011 5.5(e), we actually must use “bracing greater than 100 BU’s” so we need at least 100 BU’s along string A and string C. For string B and string D, which are running perpendicular to the house, we do the same 0.5 x 216 / 2 = 54. The joist where the other end of the brace will be connected requires a 12kN fixing. Part 6 This will be the crucial height referred to continuously during your build. In this guide we will show how to build a free standing deck which is 4 metres by 5 metres and will be using 100×25 (88×21 actual size) decking. Decks may need to meet other requirements so check your design meets all the NZS 3604:2011 requirements. The reason being is the long points of any cut will almost inevitably warp and distort more than the rest of the cut and you could end up with sharp points sticking up, which will eventually leave ugly gaps. This video will show you how to install lights into your decking. In our example the deck is nearly 4 metres long and 4.8 metres deep. Leaving a larger gap will not affect the way the decking feels underfoot but it will make it much easier to keep clean. Everything you do at the planning stage will make a big difference to the outcome – in looks, functionality and cost. I put my posts in at 1.8mt spacings. There is no requirement specifically for fixing decking slats except for durability. You can place your piles either at the correct depth or cut them off after the concrete has set. Whatever size space you have, check out these great ideas that will get the kids outdoors and active. Wraparound steps visually anchor the deck and tie it to the landscape. All of our stores in New Zealand are open and continue to have a comprehensive range of measures in place to keep team members and customers safe. How to get rid of ants The deck is 7m x3.6m with flush joists and centre bearer. D.I.Y. Building your timber deck close to or right atop ground level offers a number of attractive advantages. If you have air dried your decking then hopefully the timber will never get as saturated as it was during treatment and in summer it shouldn’t dry out too much more. Seek out some inspiration; it helps to be able to show a picture of what you envision … You’d be surprised how easy it is to make this wooden and concrete kitchen island from just a few simple tools and materials. How to build outdoor steps Most decks would be classified as exposed areas so a minimum of galvanised steel nails would be required to meet durability standards. When using pine it is best to avoid all mitre joins of any kind. We will use 4 stainless ceiling ties to meet the 12 kN requirements. Outdoor Living It’s a quick, easy and affordable way to give anything from furniture to fences a new lease on life. Be careful with how many braces you intend to use and what the requirement is. This video will show you how to install lights into your decking. Drive 50×50 (or larger) pegs into the ground as shown. Decking It is quite common that builders will lay wet decking hard up against each other, the objective is to have a gap between each board once the timber has dried. When choosing which way you deck will face, think about how much sun it will get and whether you might need a solid roof to create shade. It’ll also see the most action, so choosing the right benchtop for your kitchen – and budget – is an important decision explains Bunnings Kitchen Designer Ben Carey. Select a datum point (a standard measurement point) _ generally the existing floor level. chicken coop for your backyard. Total height of low level ground level deck. Write down the width, length and height you want your deck to be. The rules very simplistically are half of the bracing units required divided by how many braces you have in that one direction or 15 times the length of the external wall. Almost any deck can be rejuvenated and brought back to life by following some simple steps—the team at Intergrain share how to do this with their range of products. Before you start digging, where you’re going to put your deck, make sure you know what’s below. Don’t forget to treat the cut piles. Leave a 3mm to 6mm gap between boards to allow for swelling and shrinking. pirate ship sandpit in building NZS 3631:1988 New Zealand timber grading rules NZS 3640:2003 Chemical preservation of round and sawn timber. We use cookies to offer a better browsing experience. Learn how easy it is to make an outdoor table with a built-in drinks cooler that can become the focal point for all your get-togethers. DO I NEED CONSENT? Even if your outdoor space is limited to a balcony or courtyard, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on having a garden. Decks that project more than 2 metres from a building must have subfloor bracing (see NZS3604:2011 7.4.2.2). Most utilities have a number you can call to find out where cables and pipes are in your area. Giving your deck a sand is a great way to help give it a new lease on life. Learn how easy it is to make a D.I.Y. OK, let’s get started! Of that 225mm deep we need 25mm of compacted granular bedding on good ground and then 100mm thick concrete base (see NZS3604:2011 section 6 table 6.1). If your decking is within 600mm of cleared ground level then it requires 304 stainless steel fixings (angular grooved nails minimum). ALTHOUGH THE . It would be worthwhile pre-drilling the holes at the end of the boards; if the timber is going to split from the pressure of the screws (nails) then it is most likely to cause damage at the ends. HOW TO WORK IT OUT The rule for decks is half the bracing demand required by table 5.8 (in NZS3604:2011) for light/light/light cladding at 0 degrees roof slope and subfloor structure. Take your favourite ideas from all the amazing spaces people have created before you and incorporate them into your own perfect outdoor living area. We will place our brace piles at opposite corners of the deck. Tuscan Path’s Elaine Foster shares her top tips on how to choose the perfect pot. We will use the smooth side up for two reasons: it feels better to walk on without shoes, and it is much easier to keep clean. Timber may not be within 150mm of cleared ground level without protection (see NZS3604:2011 6.8.3.5). We will use H5 treated 125×125 rough sawn piles (for round options see NZS3605). Leave a 2mm gap between butt joins to allow for longitudinal movement. For rows A & B we will place two holes in between at 1.3 metre centres. If the bottom of your deck frame is less than 6" above the ground or partially buried, you should use pressure-treated wood that is rated for ground contact. If something is too high you can plane off a little from the bottom of the joist or if its too low pack it up with some damp-proof course. In some situations the New Zealand Building Code requires a step down to an open framed permeable deck (your local authority or council will be able to … If you start from the house and work out again you might end up with a partial board being required at the outer edge. If you require any further advice please contact us. We’ll show you how to install the joists that will form a strong foundation for your deck. When you install a pergola, working to an approved plan can help to ensure the end result is straight and safe. Also, a deck that is more than 2 metres wide from the house requires bracing to the sub-structure, which has to be calculated by someone who knows how to do the calculations! The reason for this relates to the floor load requirements for a wet in service subfloor framing requirement and the dimensions of timber commonly available (see NZS 3604:2011 section 6.4(b)). How to Build a simple Ground level Deck in a weekend - YouTube They provide the perfect place for outdoor entertaining, add extra square metres to a home’s floor space, and offer sun worshippers a spot to soak up the sun year round. These regulations cover things like structural integrity, what materials you can use, site setbacks and minimum construction standards. How to install bearers and stumps for a deck While slatted decks can be installed to the level of the internal floor that they are accessed from (particularly where disabled access is required), it is good practice to set the deck level at a minimum of 50 mm below floor level. Part 3 So we need 54 BU’s but the calculation of the length of the wall is 15 times 4 (length of deck) which equals 60. SG8 is the most commonly available stress graded timber and according to the 2kPa load requirements this can be achieved by using 140×70 (hard to get) at 1.3 metre centres or 140×90 (two pieces of 140×45 is what we will use) for our bearers. Having a detailed deck plan will also help you understand exactly which materials you will need. As we are leaving our joists uncut, when we get to the edge of the deck we might be able to trim the joists to match a full board width. In order to work out your requirements, the rules are stated in section 5.5 of NZS3604:2011. At the bottom of table 5.8 (in NZS3604:2011) soil class deep and very soft and earthquake zone 4 give us a multiplication factor of 1.5. The perfect benchtop will add style to any kitchen. A common question is how close can H3.2 deck bearer be to the ground when installed over timber piles? Your deck will be an important addition to you backyard, so work out how you want it to look so it matches the rest of your home. We will place each row of piles 2.35 metres away from each other (excluding brace piles which will be explained further on). project. Bunnings Greenlife buyer Katie explains the basics of how to grow sunflowers and shares some tips on how to care for them. Each of these provide 120 bracing units, so technically our deck could have had only 1 of these in each direction and it would have met all of bracing requirements (even in the single brace calculation) but we want to make sure our deck is never going to move so will put in a couple of pairs. Seal the bases, add a 100mm layer of gravel then check the posts are plumb. Think about the floor levels of your deck. Try to think about it like this: you will need to brace the deck in each direction to ensure that it is stable and will not wobble. Or there are low-level decks, which are the same level as your floor and can give you more space. We’ll show you how to sink the stumps and attach the bearers for your foundation. NZS 3604 Timber-framed buildings requires that the top of a timber or concrete pile must be at least 150 mm above the ground, which determines the clearance between the bottom of the bearer and the ground to be a minimum of 150 mm. Learn more here. These are easily fitted to your deck. Set the finished deck level below this datum point. Pets & Wildlife We’ll show you how to measure and run string lines to mark the height of your deck and position of your stumps. Our brace piles need to be 140mm taller than the rest of our piles to allow for bearer connection. PLANNING The most important step to start with is to plan, plan and plan some more! What we have done here is give some examples of different aspects of building a deck and try to point out where to look for information. I’m using 140x45 H3 treated pine bearers. Our second pair of braces will be connected to the bottom of a brace pile and then onto a joist (the one that we used the 12kN fixing on). We’ll show you how to measure and run string lines to mark the height of your deck and position of your stumps. Holes for bolts must be at least 90mm from the end of your brace and bolted with a M12 bolt and a 50x50x3 washer(see NZS3604:2011, 6.8.4). When laying your decking start attaching the board from one end and work your way down. pirate ship sandpit. They also provide access from all directions, freeing up traffic patterns and spreading out wear and tear on the lawn. Good preparation is the secret to any successful D.I.Y. Planning to build a deck The planter box allows the owners to plant small shrubs or trees to soften the look of the timber fence. The other thing to consider is what’s on top of the ground. We hope this guide has helped out understand the fundamentals of deck building. • Place profiles at least 600mm back from the corner. In reality you have to work this out at the beginning of your project in order to design your piles correctly. Timber- framed … You can use 100×75 or 100×100 for bracing. bolt it on edge with 10 mm galvanised bolts to each support baluster, ensuring that the baluster is plumb. To install an outdoor deck, you’ll need a solid foundation. building are set out in NZS 3604:2011 . After your piles have set, measure down from your selected datum line and mark your piles. Normally timber is very accurately machined and only alters in size due to moisture content. • Measure out the approximate position of the corners of the deck with a peg or stake. Use one fastener per post as these are just temporary. ... indoor outdoor flow in their homes. These need to be nailed together at 180mm centres in two rows, 45mm from each edge from alternate sides (see NZS3604:2011 2.4.4.7). Learn more here. After your piles have been cut to the correct height, you will need to knotch your brace piles in preparation for connection to bearers. Outdoor Living If you have your profiles still set up you can measure down from a line as you lay the joists and check that they are all the perfect height. off together by nailing a board to the deck as a guide for your circular saw. Get inspired. Outdoor Living In most cases it is difficult to get them at exactly the correct height so it is easier to cut them afterwards. Although the design requirements for both are generally the same, there are some differences to consider The design requirements for decks attached to a building are set out in NZS 3604:2011 Timber- framed buildings section 7.4. These measurements are important to keep in mind before you start drawing up your plan. Giving your deck a sand is a great way to help give it a new lease on life. A low level deck adds to your property’s landscaping and usually doesn’t require a building consent. 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