How To Build a Deck in Australia
How To Build a Deck in Australia
Adding a deck to your outdoor area can greatly enhance the quality to your additional lounge space for leisure, parties or even embracing Australian weather. Perhaps it is because such a plan is complex
However, our guide will provide a step-by-step approach beginning with the planning stage and ending with the refinishing phase that will help you bypass the mistakes.
For those who enjoy undertaking their home improvement projects alone or for those who are in a position to hire a contractor, this article will guide you when decide on the right choices for your new deck.
How To Build a Deck Australia
Step 1: Planning Your Deck
A. Find out the rules of the Local Council and necessary permissions
There are certain legal procedures that you need to follow before the construction of the deck for this, you must know the juridical specifications in your area. It is important to understand that the regulations are brought forward in relation to safety, access, and Commonwealth matters, and concerns that relate to appearance in residential zones.
Permit Requirements: Certain councils may insist on a building permit for decks that are above certain height or when they meet certain dimensions. As for detailed information, again the best practice is to contact the respective local council or alternatively visit their web site.
Building Codes: Learn the local building codes as they may contain information on foundation, railing height and the material to be used.
Setback Regulations: It is important to know whether or not it does allow a close proximity to property boundaries or other structures.
Consult State Authorities: This is especially so through state-specific agencies such as the Victorian Building Authority, NSW Planning Portal and the Queensland Building and Construction Commission to name just but a few.
B. Draw out your design You also need to prepare the site for construction
Proper planning is one way of achieving practicability and the aesthetics in the design .
Design Considerations: This includes the size of the deck you want, whether it will be square, round, or rectangular and if you want to include things such as benches, planters, or lights on the deck. It is good to think on how the deck will follow the architectural design of the home.
Site Orientation: Think about how the sunlight can move across the house and how the breezes blow as well as the sight lines. This will affect their experience of the deck as well as the material one might decide to use in its construction (since some types of woods are affected by the sun’s ultraviolet rays more than others).
Elevation: When constructing an elevated deck it is important to incorporate some features such as stairs. For low level decks, look at how they have managed to provide drainage to prevent water accumulating.
Planning Tools: A drawing for scale should be on graph paper, or else you can look into several design applications that can give a 3D representation of the plan.
C. Collect Your Tools and Materials
Having proper tools and materials guarantees that a professional can implement his or her plan as required.
Essential Tools:
Circular Saw: Used for easily and accurately cutting decking boards and framing.
Spirit Level: If you want to be sure that the deck surface that you will be installing is flat.
Drill: Used when drilling holes and for fastening screws.
Post-Hole Digger: Very important for preparing good foundations for setting down the deck posts.
Joist Hangers: Originally employed to ensure proper bracketing of the joist with the beam.
Material Selection:
Treated Pine: Cheap and accessible to everybody but may require replacement frequently for prolong use.
Hardwoods: Other timbers such as Merbau are highly durable and resilient to moisture and other harsh weather conditions though usually expensive and may therefore require recoating or re-staining occasionally.
Composite Decking: Resistant to rot and insects, as well as, low maintenance since it is manufactured from the combination of wood materials and plastic; however its initial cost is high.
Quality Over Cost: Buying nice instruments also lets one pay more for the same and therefore comes handy in avoiding buying substandard materials since they are expensive to replace.
Step 2: Site Preparation
A. Clear and Level the Site
As we know, successful implementation of any project largely depends on preparation that needs to be made before work starts.
Clearing the Area:
Debris Removal: We start by eliminating any object which may hinder construction in the intended area. These include leaves, twigs, construction debris and anything else which may infringe on the working area at your site.
Vegetation: .Encroach on the planned deck terrain by trimming or eradicating grass, shrubs and trees that may hinder the construction of the deck in future. You may have to till up some of the toposoil if the site contains sever vegetation.
Rocks and Obstructions: They should also try to find and clear any rock or root that may hinder with the construction of the deck.
Leveling the Ground:
Using a Level: After clearing, make use of a spirit level to determine evenness of the ground after the construction of the weir . Level the platform up as required, filling holes with soil, removing excess soil in the process.
Drainage Considerations: Desire an easier incline (about 2 percent or a rise of 1 to 2 inches every 10 feet moving from your house). This assists in the discharge of rain water round the construction to avoid accumulation which can bring about rot or other water related harm.
B. Include footings relative to the buildings codes
Bearings are similar to footings are part of the structure that transfers the loads on the deck.
Understanding Footings:
Purpose: Piling supports the deck posts and immobilizes them to prevent movement due to the concentration of weight and load hence have to be placed below the supporting posts to ensure the structure doesn’t sink in.
Types of Footings: The typical requirement is conventional concrete footings; however, some construction works may contain precast/ post concrete footing or post anchors based on architectural and/or building codes.
Depth and Spacing:
Building Codes: Most designs are different depending on the nature of the soil, climate, and designated load; therefore, contact your local council for directives.
Typical Recommendations: This depth is usually set at 1.2 meter, approximately 4 feet below the ground level to access good soil below the frost level in colder climates. The most common spacing is in proportion to the design though it ranges between 1.2 and 2.4 meters or 4 to 8 feet between each footing.
Installation:
Digging Holes: With the post-hole digger, make holes to the required depth is made. Be sure they are wide enough to accommodate the footing firmly.
Concrete Pouring: During concrete footing constructions, the concrete surface should be flat; the top should be slightly raised, probably two or three inches above the ground to minimize water pooling around the post.
C. Place and Secure Posts
Their posts are the vertical girders and are considered to be the supporting structures of the deck.
Positioning the Posts:
Attachment: After the footings and if using concrete, it will require a certain amount of time before it could harden, place your pillars above this footings. Metal posts should be put in between brackets while the wooden posts should be encased directly into the concrete.
Orientation: Make sure the posts are situated where you planned when you were drawing the deck design. Ensure that they are appropriately displayed and well adjusted in terms of their spacing.
Securing the Posts:
Level Check: Check using a level that each post is vertical in order to achieve a correct alignment of the structure. This should be done properly before proceeding as any out of plum post will distort the whole structure of the deck.
Fixing Method: We recommend installing threaded stainless steel fasteners including lag screws or concrete anchors. If the aim is to use wood the connection should be closely fixed so that they can fully hold each other in position without any possible swaying or shifting.
Final Checks: Align and level all posts after installation of all posts before moving on to more construction processes. This provides a foundation that is fixed enough to help support the entire deck.
Step 3: Building the Deck Frame
The deck frame is a part of construction and serves the basic purpose of holding the structure and also the loads that are to be laid on the deck. When erected correctly, the frame enables the deck to support a load and to handle different weather conditions.
A. Install the Ledger Board
The ledger board is flat member installed horizontally to join the deck to the house. The main duty conveyed by a sheer frame is to transfer loads from the deck to the building.
Selecting the Ledger Board:
Select a treated lumber or a rot-resistant material for the ledger board because it would come with exposure to moisture laden air and rain water.
Attachment to the House:
Lag Bolts or Carriage Bolts: Some of the things that you need to do in the construction project include; Ensure that you use heavy-duty lager bolts or carriage bolts to fix the ledger board on the house. These fasteners are very strong provided that afford maximum support and also guarantee stability for the intended connection.
Locating Studs: Mark the top plates of the house studs you want to drill by first using the stud finder. Make sure that the ledger board is fastened right into these studs tight so as to provide firm support.
Ensuring Level and Flashing:
Leveling: When work reaches the level of the ledger board, use a level to check its levelness. A level ledger board is of proper essence to a level deck or even better a leveled floor.
Flashing: Screw orDefaultValue(strip) metal or rubber flashing to the structure above the ledger board. This helps prevent water from getting behind it and damaging or rotting your home or any part of it. Make certain the flashing goes up and over the top of the ledger with the top of the flashing turned at a downward angle from the house.
B. Beamed and joisted building can also be employed as follows:
The frame is made up of beams which are the horizontal support and joists which are the vertical supports but they have to provide and structure to support the decking.
Constructing the Perimeter:
Beams: First and foremost, you need to install beams to show the outside line of the deck construction using treated lumber or composite material. The perimeter will offer the main support that will hold the surface of the deck.
Square and Level: Also, the size of each corner should measure ninety degrees using the measuring tape, and all sides six feet long (this is called squaring the deck). Remember to level the beams with a level to ensure they are Horizontal.
Installing Joists:
Joist Placement: Screw in the joists across the beams at appropriate spacings, preferably at 450mm (about 18 inch) apart. This spacing provides enough support and weight bearing at the same time on the decking.
Joist Hangers: Joist hanger are metal brackets that should be used to attach the joists to the beams. Joist hangers help to maintain the joists in position and limit changes in direction in one plan or the other.
Bracing for Stability: For even larger deck spans further bracing may be desirable to create additional stability depending on the actual size of the deck required.
Weight Distribution:
Correct Spacing: Due to the desire to give the deck a flat surface, spacing of the joists has to be correct in terms of their capacity to bear the loads. Less space between the floors can result to collapse or sinking after sometime while large spaces may not support or hold extra weight like furniture.
Final Checks:
After setting up the frame, make sure the frame remains level then proceed and screw the decking in place. Fix problem for problem solving to ensure a well rooted foundation for the rest of the information the deck is going to contain.
Step 4: Laying Deck Boards
Once the frame has been established, one is supposed to place the deck boards properly in-place. This step also throws additional area for walking and for using the deck, and it is also serves as a nice touches to the overall look of the landscape outside.
A. Selecting and fitting of the decking material
Choosing of the decking material is very vital since it is made from the outside and should have a good finish as well as last long.
Selecting Decking Material:
Aesthetics and Durability: Pick ones that will blend well with your home and your landscape but most of all select for strong decks.
Popular Choices:
Merbau: This is a hardwood beloved for its uniform dark red-brown colour and with native resistant to both insects and decay. It provides a good outlook though it may need recoating or staining after sometimes.
Composite Decking: Composite solutions for deck services are mostly made from a combination of wooden fibers and plastics which require little maintenance. It does not need to be colored or varnished like wood and has protected features against fading, as well as splintering.
Installation Process:
Laying the Boards: First, it’s appropriate to install the decking boards at right angles to the joists. This orientation also helps to spread loads evenly and also improved the structural of the deck evenly.
Starting Point: Try starting at the house, and then branching out. This method sees to it that the first board is put in line with the ledger board thus giving one a clean look at the junction of the deck and the house.
Spacing Between Boards: Remember to keep a gap of around 4-5mm(1/8 to 1/4 inch) between each of the boards to be used. This gap is crucial for:
Drainage: Others provide an empty space that will enable water to flow in between the boards to avoid accumulation hence facilitating formation of mold or rot.
Wood Expansion: There are changes in size or proportions of wood depending on the environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. This movement is afforded by the gap in order to avoid warping or buckling of the boards in question.
B. Finishing Touches
When the boards are installed, the edges have to be closed and the wood has to be sealed or protected.
Trimming Overhanging Boards:
Using a Circular Saw: Any deck boards which protrude beyond the plane of the frame should be trimmed to do so using a circular saw as in some cases this may not have been done to a smooth finish. This step also gives the deck a polished finish and it a good safety advantage for people to use the deck without the danger of getting cuts from sharp edges.
Sanding Rough Edges:
After some reduction, it is necessary to smooth or sanded all sharp angles or uneven areas. This step prevents formation of splinters and results to a better surface to stage hence reducing cases of slipping.
Applying Protective Sealant or Stain:
Enhancing Lifespan: Since, sealing or staining of the surface of the decking material is very important in enhancing the durability of material.
Benefits:
Water Resistance: One of the aims is the exclusion of moisture penetration that threatens the wood with rotting or decay.
UV Protection: Stains have a safeguard from UV, which means the wood will never fade and turn grey.
Aesthetic Appeal: In fact, a stain can make the wood look even better when it gives the grain and the color of the wood more definition.
How Much Does It Cost to Build A deck on Your Own?
Estimating Costs
Material Costs: Some of the aspects which may make a big difference are the kind of material used in decking out the intensity of the project.
Treated Pine Decking: The cost of external cladding is generally the least, ranging from fifty-sixty dollars per square meter on average. Treated pine also holds up well against decay and is an option quite favored by many homeowners.
Hardwood Options (e.g., Merbau): The more exotic and high quality the timber, a la Merbau, the better the appearance and the more expensive running beyond $120 per sq metre. These woods are very dark and heavy and while they can be expensive compared to other species the costs will be made up for by their durability and appearance.
Fasteners and Sealants: However, aside, from the cost of the decking boards themselves you will also have to consider the cost of screws, nails, brackets and other related fasteners needed for attachment. However, expenses as Sealants and Stains which if you are using wooden furniture will also increase your expenses as these are utility products.
Tool Rentals: Some tools you might need depending on your construction plan; for instance, if you are laying footings you will need a concrete mixer or you may have to rent one, same goes for saw or drills. It has to be considered in the budget because renting tools are very expensive and add up fast.
DIY or Professional Help?
DIY Advantages:
Cost Savings: Doing the work yourself enable you to cut down the labor cost hence reducing the entire cost of the project.
Control and Customization: By taking on the project you can dictate all matters concerning design and the type of material to be used in construction. You can choose on the preferences that you may have and change them later as you desire.
Personal Satisfaction: It feels satisfying when a do it yourself project is complete, people have a feeling of satisfaction that comes with self accomplishment.
Hiring a Professional:
Speed and Efficiency: Professionals are always capable of handling tasks due to the experience that they possess thus can do the project within a shorter duration than a do-it-yourself individual. It can be particularly helpful if you are running out of time.
Quality Assurance: Professional help can be beneficial in the sense that whatever construction is done will go down to code and compliance with the law. Pros are aware of these requirements and are thus in a position to avoid some common unnecessary errors due to ignorance.
Peace of Mind: If you have experts working on your project, then the quality delivered will be higher than if you were working with novices or trainees and this could be worth the extra cash especially when investing in a feature like a deck.
What Makes It Good to Have Your Own Deck?
There are a lot of benefits that come with constructing a deck, and these are features that make your life better as well as improve on your home. Here are some key benefits:
Enhances Outdoor Living: A deck takes your living space outside and gives you a spot to lounge, have barbeque parties, or soak in the Australian weather. Whatever it be, be it a BBQ party, or just coffee time, a deck is an ideal place where you can carry out a number of activities.
Increases Property Value: In fact, properly designed decks can add substantial actual value to your home in the event that the time comes to sell your property. People like to have decks at their homes, especially if these roofs harmonize with the styles of the house and the surrounding environment.
Cost-Effective Expansion: As an extension from your home, a deck is cheaper than a full extension and can add the needed space even without remodeling. It lets you garner the advantages of more room with out the complications connected with attaining a new room.
Customizable to Suit Your Needs: Decking can be designed in terms of space, materials, colour, designs and even additions such as benches or plant containers that may be incorporated in the deck construction.
Eco-Friendly Options Available: Opting for sustainable products such as recycled composite decking or timber that meets an eco-certification can ensure that your deck be eco-friendly for you to spend most of your time in your outdoor more sustainably.
Do You Need a License to Construct a Deck of Their Own in Australia?
In Australia, whether you need a license to build a deck depends largely on the size, height, and complexity of the project, as well as the state or territory regulations:
Height Regulations: When your deck is situated above the ground by over a metre, the deck typically calls for a building permit because of issues of guardrails. But lower level decks may be exempt, so always check with your local council.
Size and Location: Some councils have a variety of restrictions with regards to the dimension and in where the deck is going to be constructed. For example, a deck constructed adjacent to other structures sharing the same property or in the direction of the neighboring lots’ property line will need further permission. Always check with your local council for finer details.
State Variations: The rules vary across states:
Victoria: For decks below 800mm in height a building permit is not necessary. Victorian Building Authority – Decking Requirements
New South Wales: Permits are required wherever decks are erected above 1 meter or where the amount of area involves is vast. Balconies, decks, patios, pergolas, terraces and verandahs – Rules for exempt development
Queensland: Permit is required for all decks including elevated and those that are connected to a house. Queensland Building and Construction Commission – Decking Information
Ready to Build Your Deck?
Constructing a deck is challenging work that will be gratifying and enhance the utility and worth of your house. If you get it right on how to select appropriate materials, how to execute it then you will end up with a good looking and long lasting deck.
Looking to enhance youDIY Deck Skills? Check out these courses from Building Institute NSW:
FAQ
1. Where in Australia do I have to get permits to build a deck?
Answer: Normally if your deck is three feet or more above ground level you will need permission because of factors such as railings. The exact nature of such requirements will differ from state to state and therefore one should contact the local council.
2. How long does a deck last in Australia?
Answer: The duration of the deck purely depends on the kind of material used and the frequency of its use or maintenance. Timber decks are expected to last between 15 and 20 years provided the surface has been well sealed and protected. Composite decks are expected to last for 25 years or more because of their resistance to weather elements.
3. Should I seal or stain my deck?
Answer: Indeed, sealing or staining should be carried out on timber decks in order to shield them from moisture, UV and other forms of wears. It also keeps the deck looking good and extends its working life. Composite decks on the other hand do not need any sealing and very occasional washing
4. What safety features are handy in designing my deck?
Answer: These are such things as railings if the deck is above one meter, free from any slipperiness and has good source of light. Make sure that sweet between balustrade conformed to the existing building regulation not to cause any accident.
5. Yet, if the construction of a deck is being questioned, it will take about 5-9 days to complete.
Answer: The amount of time that is taken to construct a deck varies with size and complexity as well as your experience. A small simple deck for instance could take a few week-end while a complex large deck, may take several week or more depending on permits or other adjustments on site.
6. What needs to be done in order to maintain the integrity of the decks?
Answer: The longevity of your deck depends heavily on the frequency with which the deck is maintained. This means washing the deck with a deck cleaner, refinishing timber decks, sealing or staining every 1-2 years and inspect wooden decks for loose boards or nails etc. However, to remove any mold and stains and for the composite decks, use of soap and water can be done at regular intervals.