Raised decking project

[les chicken]

The back of our house has 5 steps down to small patio type area, another step to the next area and another step down to get to the garden. Helen complained that the areas were too small, uneven and was fed up walking up and down the steps especially if we were having a barbeque.

So the project is to build a deck to level it up, 8.5 metres long 4 metres wide for 4metres then 3 metres wide.

Frame work taking shape, 6x2 tanalised structural grade and 4" posts for support.

Posts showing cutouts for frame to rest on as well as being screwed

Lucky the forewoman not very happy with her kennel balanced by the steps.

Steps being constructed.

Note the forewoman checking progress

Getting there, the problem with the construction was lucky being able to get down the garden. With bridges and tunnels she was not a happy dog for a while.

Boss checking progress again.

Access to the wheelie bin and side entrance, with a little gate to keep lucky in.

The posts are secured with 3 x 10mm coach bolts and the handrail with pocket screws. The rails with 40mm 18gauge using a B&Q compressor and nail gun. The decking with 65mm ring shank paslode nails.

Finished off with a table and chairs. The table is 25 year old mahogany that was once window frames and the chairs are oak left over from another project and the slats used to be a kitchen ceiling. All wood reclaimed and free.

All finished and being used in this spell of nice weather.

Les

 

[Mcluma]

very nicely done,

great project,

and always nice to use the tools (shows the wife why you spent all that money :lol: )

 

[Adam]

Looks very professional. One question though - its high up - do you end up overlooking your neighbours gardens at all? Any privacy issues?

Adam

 

[Nigel]

Very nice Les a proper job
Many happy barbeques ccasion5:

Nigel

 

[Gary M]

=D> =D> =D>
top knotch Les,
did you secure the posts in any way to the paving or just rely on the weight holding everything ?

 

[ByronBlack]

Mr Chicken - I salute you! Very posh, a grand job!

 

[tim]

Les - looks great - very well done.

One question though - its high up - do you end up overlooking your neighbours gardens at all? Any privacy issues?

Perfect for display barbequing and long range cat spotting for Lucky!

Cheers

Tim

 

[Chris Knight]

Les,
That is a very substantial job - well done, looks great and I bet Helen is happier now!

 

[Shadowfax]

Top job! Well done.
What's next, then? Or has she not told you yet?

Cheers.

SF

 

[Fecn]

Very nice Les - Decking I'd be proud of!

 

[les chicken]

Not really a privacy problem. The decking raises our level to the same height as next door whom we get on well with. The next house down the road are extending by 3metres single story this year, so the privacy will return without blocking the sun.

We are very lucky where we live in that the neighbors are all brilliant and there are no issues.

The posts just sit on the old concrete and paving. By cutting out notches for the frame to sit on as well as screwing and bolting it is very firm and also not being attached to the house there are no movement issues.

Les

 

[Vormulac]

Wow! That looks like a tremendous amount of work very well done! =D>

V.

 

[Paul.J]

Somebdys been watching Tommy Walsh and Groundforce. :wink:
Lovely job.
Watch those steps though when they get wet.Very slippy
Paul.J.

 

[woodbloke]

Les - great job...as someone else has said, watch those steps when the sky melts I wonder if you can get any non-slip grippy sorta stuff to put on them which is weather proof. Just pondering - Rob

 

[nickson71]

nice work there ..... very well executed

........ but I would complain if my next door neighbor did that in term of invasion of privacy.

Mind you when something like this happened to my sister the local planning office said that there nothing she could do about it.

 

[wizer]

Looks fab Les, very nice indeed.

Having been to Les's house I think that maybe the pics show the proportions all wrong. It doesn't look to high to me, but I guess that is because I have seen the garden with my own eyes. Never the less it looks very snazzy and you'll enjoy cocktails on the deck in the summer!

 

[les chicken]

Thank you for all your kind comments. We spoke to the neighbors before we started the project and all were very happy. The attached house of the semi which we levelled to because of the hill and steps are really good friends and we can now have conversations face to face.

Lucky our dog goes there for her holidays when we go on ours. We also have a gate in the fence which we sometimes leave open for the neighbors dogs and ours who have great fun running in and out and chasing each other, while we sit and have a barbe and or a beer.

Life is very pleasant when you get on well with your neighbors.

Les