Decking Renovation
Sector
Residential
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Year
2022
Bespoke Renovations Melbourne
The first stage of decking replacement is to remove the existing decking boards. The deck is cut into sections and removed. This allows access to assess the structural integrity of the structure below. A failing substructure is the main reason decks need replacing. Any damaged timber members will be removed
The second stage of a decking replacement is replacing part of or the complete subfloor structure. The size of the timber members is determined by the span or distance between the stumps or structural points. These bearers (bearing the weight of the deck) are set at the appropriate height using a laser level to ensure the new deck is perfectly level.
Joist timbers are then laid on top of the bearing timber. These timbers are spaced more frequently and are the direct support system for the decking. All of the subfloor system is built using treated timber and galvanized fixings for maximum longevity.
With the structural replacement now taken care of, the decking boards can begin to be laid. As timber decking is a natural product, there can be small variations in the sizes of the boards. The best method to produce a straight deck is to lay every 5th board and fit temporary spacers until the board is screwed off. This method hides the potential millimetre differences in the boards.
This method is repeated until the deck replacement is complete.