Platform Decks

How do I make my timber decking safer for my family during the winter? It's getting cold and my timber decking is getting slippery, I have timber decked steps at my back door that are treated and stained. The other day I walked out and slipped which caused me to fall down them. I landed well and was completely unharmed but with family members of all ages soon to be visiting and the older ones likely having a seasonal tipple I want to try and make my timber steps slip proof without changing the look of them too much. Anyone know how?

What size timber should I use for a timber decking base? I want to put decking in the garden. I am confused abbout the size of the timber for the base - what is the correct size ie 3"x2", 4"x2" I've even read 6"x2". Can anyone give me guidance?

Treated pine sleepers as timber decking? Hi. Would it be ok to use treated pine sleepers as timber decking. The decking will be about a meter off the ground and I intend to sand it and paint it in order to get rid of splinters from the sleepers Would this be alright? I have no concern about it sinking in as i have layed about a 50cm foundation for each of the 4 brick pylons i will build.

How much for DIY timber decking? We bought a new house and are thinking of getting a timber decking for our alfresco (i dunno what it is, i think it's a fancy word for veranda). Anyway, how much would it cost for it, it's about 5x5m squared. Just an estimate of the cost or range. And also, is there any maintainance? Will the wood last for a while? And how often does it need to be painted with that polish like stuff which i can't remembers name to keep it's look?

How much does decking timber cost? I am in the UK and i want to build some decking in my garden. How much does pre-treated decking timber cost?

What exactly is H3 and H4 treatment on decking timber, and how harmful is it to your health? I'm currently building decks around my house, and I am using the standard timber for it. It is treated with a green substance, and safety notices are warning me to wear goggles, respirator, overall, and gloves when working with it. I am beginning to wonder what on earth that substance is, and what is going to happen to me if I so much as sit on my deck in years to come. Or am I just panicking? Does anyone know more about this?

What stain should i use on tanalised timber decking? I put down some tanalised decking last summer and used Cuprinol Sprayable Decking Treatment to cover it but in large areas it has already flaked off. Can anyone tell me where i went wrong?

Having my dog on Patio and timber decking? I want to remove the lawn in my back garden - basically as my dog is out in the garden during the day so when I get home he's dirty from the lawn especially with recent wet weather. I am going to patio half the garden and was thinking about timber decking the remainder. Has anyone else done this? Would number 1s and 2s damage the decking? I can't patio the whole thing as there's a big enough slope

wheres the best place to buy cheap decking timber in cape town south africa? I am coming home for a month and i am building a deck for my mum. going to need to sort treated pine decking and poles..where's good?

Is it better to nail or screw decking timber on? Or is it much of a muchness?

Does anybody know how to use timber sleepers for decking? G'day, I am planning on using timber sleepers to create a walkway around my pool, however, I am not to sure how to go about it; ie, How to prepare the surface to lay the timber and the best type of oil to use to prevent the wood from rotting. Thanks,

Where can I buy timber decking, (garden decking) for less than £1.52 per meter? Where is the cheapest place? I need some timber decking, and the cheapest I have found so far is off Ebay at £1.52 per meter inclusive of vat. Where can I get it cheaper than this. I want to find the cheapest place in the UK! - simple as that.

what is this timber tek decking made out of? Thanks for the comment...I really need to know what it's made out of...my husband said it look like it was made of....recycled plastic,saw dust,and paper...but we were just wondering...

I am about to use decking timber for a fence and have seen decking advertised as radius edged. What is this ?

Are joists essential when constructing a timber deck? When constructing a timber deck why do we have to nail the decking timber to joists which sit on top of bearers? Why do we not just nail the timber decking to the bearers? What is the role of the joists???

Building a timber decking I am planning to construct a timber deck in my back garden. I intend placing bearers on concrete pavers as the ground is fairly solid. I am then going to screw the decking timber directly to the bearers (i.e. no joists). Question is what size bearers should I be using? I will be using treated pine and I am thinking 90mm x 35mm but someone mentioned I should be using at least 45mm thick? Any thoughts, tips or advice?

how do you build steps in timber decking? stringers

anyone got any suggestions as to what i can make with some leftover decking timber?

price to install timber decking?

How do I make my timber deck less slippery in wet weather? Out the front of our house we have a timber deck. During wet weather I've disovered that the deck is very very slippery! I'm very concerned as my wife is 4 months pregnant and I dont' want her to take a fall (as I almost did yesterday).

What type of timber & screws do I need to use to repair the decking on my jetty? A stepped down area at the end of my jetty (which is subject to tidal soaking) need to have boards replaced because they have become very spongy. I want to repair the area but am unsure what materials to use.

timber decking installers for S.E. England?

how to stop springing in hardwood timber deck joists? I have a hardwood timber deck spanning 3m with 140x45 F17 HWD joists and it is a bit springy, how do I stiffen the deck up and get rid of most of the movement?

looking for a wire system to use as balustrade instead of timber spindles on decking?

Building a Timber Deck? Hi I am about to build a timber deck. My site slopes about 400mm over 4000mm so a slight fall. I want to keep my deck as low as possible to the ground about 180mm at the lowest end. My bearers will be about 60mm off the ground and the joist will be joist hung. I am decking over existing paving and could remove the paving to give me and additional 50mm clearance but i thought the paving would hold less moisture. I have already got 90x50mm hardwood joists and would like to use them. i will use h4 treated pine for my bearers. What preservative can i treat my hardwood with to prevent timber rot. Any help would be great. Thanks Scott

I am looking for Southern Yellow Pine timber. Are there any suppliers in the Nort East of England? The timber is for a fence but decking timber would do the job. I am looking for suppliers anywhere but ideally in the middlesbrough, durham, newcastle area if anyone can help.

How much should a timber deck cost? The deck would measure 5 meters by 5 meters, would need 2-3 steps and be made of hard wood.

I need to clean pine sap off a Timber Tech composite deck, what is the best way.? last fall pine sap drip all over my new Timber Tech deck, it now has turned to white spots on the deck. Thanks for your help.

Australia - How much should I expect to pay to have a timber deck built? Looking for an estimated cost per square metre. Deck will be about 400mm off the ground. Using hardwood (merbue?)

How do you clean a timber deck?

just popped into b and q lookin for timber! A guy asked if i wanted decking ? i was lucky enough to get the first punch in !!!!!!!!!!

what product is suitable to seal an outdoor timber deck? i need to prevent water going through tounge and groove floor on my deck, what type of product would be suitable to seal it?? any help is appreciated

Our ridged timber deck is all slimy and slippery?? What can we clean the deck with? It doesn't get direct sunlight to help dry it out and is a real hazard lately. I'd like to use somethng environmentally/pet friendly if possible. I've tried cleaning it with a pressure washer, but I hate to waste so much water if there's another way...Help!

looking for information on composite decking Trex, Geodeck, and Timber tech trying to decide.?

What is the cheapest composite decking brand? I want to replace my wood porch material with composite decking. I have gotten quote on Trex and Timber Tech brand composite decking. What is the best brand? What is the cheapest brand?

Letting a Timber Deck go Grey? I'm building a timber deck and my wife would like the timber to go grey as she likes that look. Will the deck last as long if I just leave it? Can I still protect the deck with a product and let it go grey? My house is on the water front in Queensland, Australia and cops the harsh salt from the ocean and hot sun in the middle of the day.

i want to build a suspended concrete deck not timber? every site i go into gives me timber and not concrete

i have a deck but need to put new decking on as i want to know if there is a formula? for how much timber to buy, my deck is 10.5m wide by 8.4m long, and i am looking at 100mm by 40mm timber

How to lay decking tiles on concrete? I have small concrete patio area and would like to lay some decking there but I am not sure what else I need apart from the tiles. The area is even so is it a case of gluing them or do I need to lay timber frames?

Building a timber deck, what should my joist spacings be? i am using 19 mm merbau decking, my joists are 90 mm * 45 mm treated pine (a little smaller than a 2 * 4) my joist spans are 1200 mm (4 feet) can someone tell me how far apart my joists should be with this size of hardwood decking

counter levering specs for a timber plat form two meters over water way.? Hi there building a timber deck for a friends house. need to sorce specs on timber sizes and span for this project. size of deck aprox 3m wide by 4m long counter leved 1.8m. concrete piles can be used up to 2m from end of landing?

Do I need to protect my 5 year old decking? I have decking on my roof terrace in London, which must have been put in about 5 years ago. It is a natural grey timber colour, a couple of inches thick, grooves on the top and looks to be in great condition. There does not seem to be any stain/varnish/etc on it. Can I just leave it, or do I need to do anything to maximize its lifetime?

how much roughly will it cost me to have a timber deck installed, approx 5x5 timber deck?

old timber joists anyone know where we can get some at a good price? we are building some decking at the back of our house,and we need quite a bit,its very expencive to buy new,and as it wont be seen we want to maybe use old timber joists.we are in manchester,so anywhere therbouts would be good where do i get railway sleepers from ....i dont want to get run down by a train lol thanx cath w but i would rather go off recomendation as i have already had a few wasted journeys,people saying they have what i want and when i get there its all rubbish

How do I stop my dogs urinating near back door? I have a small timber deck at my rear door. I constantly hose it down and spray with white vinegar to neutralize the smell. I have also used the products Nil Odor and Urine Off but they continue to wee on this deck as soon as they leave the house. When I am home I shoo them off the decking but it's difficult to always be there to do this. Has anyone had a problem similar to this and how did you solve it? Help me please...

i am looking for detailed construction plans for building timber decks, can anyone help plz?

I was looking at timber in B&Q and the assistant asked me if I wanted Decking? Luckily, I got the first punch in

Do i need planning permission for decking? I'm living in a three story house, the back door is at mid level as is all others in the street and i would like to know if i need permission to build a decking 2 meters out from the back door with timber steps down to patio level.

what alternative materials to timber and concrete can be used to deck an above ground pool?

How long until I can walk on the deck? I am wanting to oil my back timber deck and was wondering how long after it is oiled can it be walked on? We have a cat, will I need to put her inside until it is ready to be walked on?

Building a timber deck, what should my joist spacings be? i am using 19 mm merbau decking, my joists are 90 mm * 45 mm treated pine (a little smaller than a 2 * 4) my joist spans are 1200 mm (4 feet) can someone tell me how far apart my joists should be with this size of hardwood decking

Can chooks be trained to use a latrine area? We have two in our suburban backyard. I believe they're OK for space, but I'd love to stop them leaving politicians (think about it) on our concrete area and timber deck. The vege patch would be great. Optimistic, I know.

Can Australian Timber Oil be used on pressure treated Pine? Also What brand of deck stain is recommended and why? I need to stain my year old deck. It is starting to splinter and crack all over :(

Timber Deck Spec's, I can find spec guidelines but can't find the building requirments / spec for a deck? I'm about to start building a deck 7m wide, 4m long, 3 m high and I need to know the building spec for the posts size and width apart, Joices size and width apart, stumps, and barers etc. It will also have a solid roof so in also need the spec's for the rafters, beams and battens. I have contacted the council as part of the building permit process but they were as helpful as tits on a bull! and said they will assess the plans once submitted.

Whats the best timber for large planter boxes-Outdoor? Australia? I'd like to make some large planter boxes and retainer walls in my garden. What's the best timber to use? I heard treated timber/pine is not good for the soil. If not, what would I need to do to the timber to make it suitable for outdoors? I'd like to add a stain to it, like decking oil or something to make it dark brown but would I need to add something underneath this coat to make it resistant to bugs and rain etc...I'm in Australia if that makes a difference to the types of wood I can get.

When laying out timber bearers for a deck, which side of the bearer should be up given the curve in timber?

how would you go about laying decking on a steep slope? basically i need to lay wood decking which is 10ft long.. but the garden slopes down about 20 degrees. i know il have to fix posts in the ground but how low should i go with the posts and how thick should the posts/base timbers be? i was thinking for posts about 4/4's and base timbers 4/2? any advice please would be great thank you

what is the price for oak, beech, spruce finger joint panels? we are interested in lumber, s4s, timber, deck, flooring, panels, stairs.

ligna decking can anyone tell more about this product .. is it cost effective and length of life ect. cheers? has anyone used this product... can anyone tell me anything about it .. we are thinking of using this timber for our deck ..thankyou have a great day

Cleaning my outdoor deck? What can i use to clean stains off my weathered timber decking ?

How do i get the green mould off my timber decking?

How much for a Timber Deck (Australia)? How much is a reasonable cost for material and labour to build a timber deck. Looking at Merbau timber, prob 90mm wide, and covering an area of 25 sq m. It will go over the top of existing lilydale toppings. Ball park estimates are fine.

can tanalised timber be safely burned in my fireplace? I have a lot of off cuts from a new deck.

Is it necessary to stain or seal an ironwood deck? Some suppliers say it is not necessary to stain or seal an ironwood deck because the material is so dense that it weathers well, stain or no stain. Certainly, my first application of Australian timber oil was useless. I like the look of a silvery, weathered deck, so if it's not necessary to stain or seal my deck, I'd rather not. Some suppliers say it is not necessary to stain or seal an ironwood deck because the material is so dense that it weathers well, stain or no stain. Certainly, my first application of Australian timber oil was useless. I like the look of a silvery, weathered deck, so if it's not necessary to stain or seal my deck, I'd rather not. My deck lumber was purchased from Cecco Trading Co., who also refers to their product as "ipe."

What is the easiest way to level ground for hottub sand ,gravel ,salttreated timbers? wont fit on deck.?

Decking Ideas for a Balcony? Hi, I have a concrete balcony base that is 220 x 150cm (7 by 5 feet approx) and I would like to cover it with some decking. To be honest I really dislike decking tiles - I think they look tacky. Instead, I like to buy some timber and lay down a better looking decking. I've done some reading on the net and I think I'm right in saying that I need pressure treated 5/4" x 6" for the actually decking itself. But I'm not sure how I should build a timber frame on top of which the decking will be screwed to. What timer would you suggest for this? Also, I'm concerned about water being trapped by this frame. Of course, I wish the decking to be one piece when it is finished so that I can store it during the winter. How might I finish the decking - varnish etc? Thanks for your help, Barry.

Were you ever in Quebec, stowing timber on the deck?

is there a thinners that could be used with cuprinal teak oil to help penetratoin in multi coat application? i am treating the timber deck of a sixty year old boat

Where on the web is New Zealand Building Code document NZS 3604? Being a law-abiding citizen at times, I want to consult with document NZS 3604, which outlines all standards applicable to building decking according to council regulations and building codes, before I design my deck and order my timber. The web is full of documents entitled "amendment to NZS 3604", but where is the actual NZS 3604? Does it exist? Help! (Did you see the movie "Brazil" by Terry Gilliam? I am beginning to feel like that plumber just before he's losing it).

Merbau Decking Tips: use of Putty? I had a new merbau deck put in 6 months ago. Finally got around to sanding and oiling. The deck is looking rather "grey" and has a combination of some nail heads sticking out, and some recessed into the wood. a) Should I be using a nail punch to put down all the nails level to the wood? b) Should I be using putty to fill in the gaps left by the nails? (I've tried using Intergrain's Merbau putty, and it comes up horible once oiled with Intergrain's Natural Oil ~ the colour of the wood once oiled is different from the putty and it really stands out!) Sanding the deck as is, appears to polish the nails that are protruding. Using putty does not appear to blend well colour-wise one the timber is oiled Holes left by recessed nails (nail gun was used) are black looking tannin stains? Help!! What should I do?? What are "unplated nails"? How can you tell? I remember seeing a few nails, and they have this kind of thread down the length of them. The deck was built by some young-ish contracter, who did seem a bit inexperienced. Claimed that the protruding nails could not be made to sit flush with the deck, since hitting them with a hammer tended to 'bruise' the timber. The idea of oiling first sounds good. I had some impression that the putty wasn't absorbing the oil as well as the timber.. meh What should I do about the protruding nails that tend to get polished during sanding?

does anyone know where on Gold Coast Queensland to buy deck plank hard flooring for a motor cruiser? just wondering if someone knows where to purchase the hard flooring possibly called deck plank. It looks like small pieces of timber or cork (not sure), teak or a bit darker in colour with a high gloss finish and is used in interior and exterior floors of boats and cats.

Need guideance to best composite material for deck? Hello. I am planning to replace my deck with a larger one, and plan to use composite floor and hand rail systems to avoid the hassles of constant maintenance. I'm encountering various products, each claiming to be the best. In my area, we have Choice-Dek, Cross-Timbers, Evergrain, Timber-Tech, Trex and Veranda, mostly. Is there a carpenter/builder/remodeling expert, out there who has built a lot of decks and who would know which of these products to recommend? I know of no other source to poll for this kind of information. Also find Xtendex, and GeoDeck brands in my area.

Timber load line for general ships?? If a ship is carrying "SAWN TIMBER" as cargo loaded in containers, and these containers are loaded on top of deck, every voyage... Can u assign a timber loadline for this ship??? or does she have to follow the general loadline?? Questions related to merchant navy examinations

Would you comment on this short story? Behind the red brick house, amidst a land of wheat and grass, in the backyard children chuckled and played until the night would come. “Dufus is an arseface”, a little girl would laugh, reaching for the skies, clear blue and free of clouds. Her body soared high, for a second, two when it would come looping down. The chains rotated where her little hands held on, creaking a softest moan, under the weight of her tiny body. A boy whom she pointed at, sat three or so metres away, sticky sand up to his knees, his hands caressing the mound of grains in front. All the while he looked at her, with the most intensive stare. His lips would part, his tongue would stick out, coyly. ”Shut up smelly” , Dufus called out from the hole he was in. The girl had temporarily forgotten her quarrel with her brother, now focusing on reaching higher with each new swing. Golden hair swayed atop her head, like uncut grass in the wind, exposing the air to the aroma of lavender shampoo. Birds chirped a mating melody in the near distance, orchestrating with the constant tune of the swing. When it reached the peak, Dufus heard a silence, interrupted only by the great big oak tree that towered above the old swing to which it was supported – it’s veiny leaves murmuring a summer tune. Dufus would notice his sister’s glistened lips part wide, forming a sweetest smile as she proceeded down, and so it went… Dufus saw his sisters white satin skirt flapping merrily, revealing the pale innocent skin. How beautiful she looked. Sitting there he allowed his mind to wonder, up her red flip flops, past her grey socks with little pink hearts imprinted at the side, over her light tanned calves, above her smooth legs. And then just before a breath of air would reveal some more a voice called from the house that brought him back to reality. “Lunch is on the table”, it yelled out, piercing his ears. It came from the mouth of a mother’s sweaty face. The droplets of clear perspiration streaming past her wrinkled forehead, falling past the tomato sauce stained apron crashing into the faded timber deck. An earthquake rumbled through them, as the mother’s feet strolled across, past the brown fence, her faintly trembling hands reaching into a cold, blue steel letterbox. Stomping of the children’s feet escalated in the distance. The mother took out a newspaper, her fingers wrapped around the smooth plastic cover, still braced with unevaporated morning dew. She used the nail on her index finger to pierce at the top of the plastic, unrolling the rest with ease. The sound of children’s laughter gained in volume. Hurriedly her eyes thundered to the front page – revealing what she feared the most. She had no time to read the rest – the children were almost at the gates. The mother hurried across the sun burned weed and placed the papers face down onto an old small table next to the entrance door. Her children greeted her, first the girl who kissed her on the cheek, then the boy who missed and his lips connected at the side of hers. They were already at the table, all three. Children sat opposite of her, their now clean hands resting on the vinyl top of the kitchen table. Mother’s hand scooped up some soup from the big iron dish – pouring it into their shining plates. The boy devoured the warm red liquid, his spoon bashing into the base of the plate – the scream rang in mother’s ear. She grimaced – her eyes observed the girl who too drank quickly but much more subdued. They wondered what they had got up to. What they did that made them so hungry. Her mind became confused – the scenarios all raced into her head. She tried to push the worst aside with all her will and strength. But then she knew she couldn’t, a shot of pain went through her stomach as if a blade had pierced and slit her insides. She saw – just like lost time that stare, that look, and that brief wry smile. She wished to scream at God for making her sons this way, instead she just sat there, with a tear in her eye, with a blank stare. She thought of the gun under her mattress. It would not happen this time. Outside the wind picked up. A storm brewed in the skies above – in the skies who moments before were as clear as morning rain. The newspapers thrashed around on the small table next to the door. The pages jumped up and flew into the air. They flapped about, bashing into the windows, scraping at the bricks of the house. A single page danced more than others – it plastered itself on the kitchen glass. The three inside could see it clearly. The cover page, in big black letters splattered across the front, had read: Brother confesses raping his sister – her body found in the river I see the mistakes thanks. Just a first draft - wanted to hear your comments. WIll polish it thanks

Fencing ? Pine verses hard wood? We are building a fence that has panels of wood between brick render piers and are pricing hardwood decking to put between the piers. If we use a top quality timber stain/protector will pine stand up to the same wear and tear as hardwood. And does anyone know if it is possible to use Exterior Ply as fencing panels - does it wear well?

what is this song and if you know can you finish the lyrics? this morning an old song came in to my head, i think we used to sing it at primary school, it goes were you ever in quebec stowing timber on the deck were you ever in quebec riding on a donkey. chorus: hey ho away we go, donkey riding donkey riding, hey ho away we go riding on a donkey.

oz standards for counterleved decks? hi there i am building a counterleved deck need specs for spans and sizes of timbers in this project. deck size and lenghth is negotable, aprox 1,5m.-1.8m counterlever.Width 2.0m by4.5m in length aprox.