Decking.

[ukracer]

After putting up my work shop I need to put some decking in place to keep the wife happy . However I was hoping to use 5 and 3/4 inch buttons that I already have.

Just measuring up so I can roll my shelves/ welders/sawbench etc out of the workshop when I need space, and I find that when I put the decking on I can only use 2 and 3/4 batons. Is this acceptable.

Much of the decking will be onto flat slabs that are solid but weathered.

 

[addjunkie]

Support you batten at the distances it will be supported in your deck, and stand on it, see how much it flexes.

23/4 inch i assume that will be the thickness to get the deck at the correct level is a tad small in my opinion. Last deck i did was 100 mil beams but supported every 600 mill above an old ungly pation.

 

[ukracer]

Support you batten at the distances it will be supported in your deck, and stand on it, see how much it flexes.

23/4 inch i assume that will be the thickness to get the deck at the correct level is a tad small in my opinion. Last deck i did was 100 mil beams but supported every 600 mill above an old ungly pation.

It won't flex as it's all touching the slabs that have been down for 20 years or so. This is the first part. 4 metres x 5 metres. After that it starts to slope but I can make the bearers thicker if needed. But my plan was to create concrete pads where my cross pieces join to enable me to get a slight fall to allow water to run off.

 

[dobbslc]

Just leave a big enough gap between the boards when you put them down! Bigger than you would think or they will swell up in the rain and flood......
I would say at least 10mm when they are nice and dry.

 

[ukracer]

Just leave a big enough gap between the boards when you put them down! Bigger than you would think or they will swell up in the rain and flood......
I would say at least 10mm when they are nice and dry.

seems like every one lays them across the rear of the house. Is this convention as I thought they would need to run along any fall there might be or is the idea to be dead flat.

I guess with 10mm gaps you don't need to worry about water running off. Lol

 

[ukracer]

 

[123hotchef]

personally I wouldn't want those bearers resting on the slabs directly

 

[addjunkie]

personally I wouldn't want those bearers resting on the slabs directly

I agee of they will end up always wet. I left 6 mil gaps as i used two bits of 5 mill angle iron as spacers.

 

[123hotchef]

id use these possibly

 

[ukracer]

I have no more space to play with. The more I raise it up the more strength I take away from the bearers. It's a catch 22 situation.

 

[ukracer]

I agee of they will end up always wet. I left 6 mil gaps as i used two bits of 5 mill angle iron as spacers.

Is that between the bearers and slabs or between the decking? I can't picture what you are describing sadly.

 

[123hotchef]

between the slabs and the bearers

 

[Jim Davey]

It will rot in months if you place the bearers directly on the paving slabs as it will just trap moisture and never dry out.

 

[123hotchef]

It will rot in months if you place the bearers directly on the paving slabs as it will just trap moisture and never dry out.

agreed but first it will swell up and the door will foul on it then it will rot and drop and become bouncy

 

[ukracer]

It will rot in months if you place the bearers directly on the paving slabs as it will just trap moisture and never dry out.

So I have a big problem then.

 

[Jim Davey]

Why cant it go any higher? Do you have a door opening outwards that will foul the decking or something?

EDIT: Just seen the photos, you don't have much option but to rip up the slabs and dig down for some clearance, either that or buy a new door that opens inwards.

 

[Jim Davey]

You might have to dig up the slabs and remove some soil and re-lay them if so. You can use deeper bearers then and it will ultimately be abetter job, just more work to begin with.

 

[123hotchef]

u could use thinner bearers and have more supports

 

[ukracer]

You might have to dig up the slabs and remove some soil and re-lay them if so. You can use deeper bearers then and it will ultimately be abetter job, just more work to begin with.

Too much for me mate
Lol

I would rather replace the bearers every year than dig that lot up. It's not just soil there is about a foot of hard-core then a layer of sNd and then slabs. and I could not get a digger there.

 

[ukracer]

That's what I was planning to build..