Decking frame

Roen

I know, I know. Patios are better.

Someone has to bring the Celtic Tiger back (dear god no) and I plan on doing it one joist hanger at a time.

After moving in here three years back the existing deck was in disrepair. The previous owner neglected it so the damage was done by the time we came along.

Jump to today and it's collapsing in places. I've been given the thumbs up to go for Trex composite.
I'm keen to make the subframe as long lived as the composite. I mean no point in having a 25 year product sitting on a 10 year frame.

Options are
1. A one for one swap out. Just replace the joists, posts and rails, but will they last?

2. Plastic hop ups with either wood or aluminium joists. https://www.rynogroup.co.uk/ryno-support/self-levelling-adjustable-decking-pedestals/

3. Any other suggestions.

Option 1 is handiest and probably cheapest. Might even be able to reuse the frame. I'll know when I rip up what's there.

Option 2 is expensive. Even using wood as the joists on top of the plastic would see approx €900 on to the project. Can't get a price on the alu yet so don't know what that will be.

Option 3 I'd appreciate any input.

And in general does anyone have any tips for increasing a sub frames longevity? Any tips, tricks or best practices for general construction also appreciated.

Deck is approx 22sqm with one step down to a BBQ area on gravel. Entry is by outward opening double doors from the house, a cobble block ramp from the path about the house, or as mentioned from the gravel. Would be looking to have some sort of fencing on it as well.

The site is clay, hangs on to moisture all too well, can keep a mist or fog about itself when it's lifted elsewhere. Damp at least half the year.

Cheers all,
R.

Lumen

As a cheap alternative to those levelling pedestals, how about quinn lite blocks?

They're supposed to be easy to cut with hand saw or circular saw.

Roen

Lumen wrote: »

As a cheap alternative to those levelling pedestals, how about quinn lite blocks?

They're supposed to be easy to cut with hand saw or circular saw.

Cheers.
So from the bottom, ground, block, metal gubbins, post?
Where the metal bit is a post holder or something like that.

Lumen

Have you priced composite "lumber" for the frame?

e.g.

http://www.recycledplastic.ie/product-category/posts-boards/

Calahonda52

what I did was dug out the clay and put in 4" of compacted 804
next 6" concrete blocks on flat
three 4m lengths of galvanised 100 by 100 RSJs

rest was decking joists and hardwood decking

Been there 20 years, bone dry underneath due to plenty ventilation
area c 24 sg m

Roen

Lumen wrote: »

Have you priced composite "lumber" for the frame?

e.g.

http://www.recycledplastic.ie/product-category/posts-boards/

I had years ago for a fencing job. Was going to sink them into postcrete. They're not bad. Off the top of my head approx €70 per 3.6m for a 4x4 post.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Roen

Calahonda52 wrote: »

what I did was dug out the clay and put in 4" of compacted 804
next 6" concrete blocks on flat
three 4m lengths of galvanised 100 by 100 RSJs

rest was decking joists and hardwood decking

Been there 20 years, bone dry underneath due to plenty ventilation
area c 24 sg m

Might be a stupid question. Attaching your joists to the steel RSJs. How'd that work out. Tek screws? Or bolts?
And now I think of it. Do you tie the RSJs to the blocks or do they just sit on them?
Cheers by the way. Really appreciate it.

Calahonda52

Roen wrote: »

Might be a stupid question. Attaching your joists to the steel RSJs. How'd that work out. Tek screws? Or bolts?
And now I think of it. Do you tie the RSJs to the blocks or do they just sit on them?
Cheers by the way. Really appreciate it.

No stupid questions on boards, its in the T&C's!

The weight of the decking was enough
.
IIRC i did loop a strap of that perforated banding under the rsj just to hold it in place but no firm fixings
.
I bedded the rsj in a thin mortar layer but not fixed.

ps. don't forget a slope for drainage

Roen

Cheers Calahonda.

I came across these too. Price really adds up

https://ie.envirobuild.com/collections/substructure/products/plastic-lumber-joist-50x150mm#topcontent

Plastic 2x6. And also plastic 4x4s. By the time you add in the astonishing delivery charge of €300 it's funny money.

How do you find your deck for sound? Does having steel under it make for a clangy walk about?

Calahonda52

No, the weight of 4 *2 framing and the hardwood decking made it very solid

mloc123

https://www.goodwins.ie/products/Metal-Stud-70mm-x-3.0mtr.html?filter_set[]=1413,1418

I wonder would metal studs be suitable, I am not sure what the load capacity is on them

Roen

mloc123 wrote: »

https://www.goodwins.ie/products/Metal-Stud-70mm-x-3.0mtr.html?filter_set[]=1413,1418

I wonder would metal studs be suitable, I am not sure what the load capacity is on them

I'd need a bit longer, approx 4.7 and a bit meters. Wonder could you tie them together somehow or meet them on a post.

Roen

Started busting out the old deck. Joists rotted.
A riot of cobwebs and creepy crawlies abounds.

Looks like I'll be staying from scratch. No reuse of timbers.

Calahonda52

Roen wrote: »

I'd need a bit longer, approx 4.7 and a bit meters. Wonder could you tie them together somehow or meet them on a post.

They are not suitable at all, they are designed for walls which are sheeted, which provides racking

mloc123

Calahonda52 wrote: »

They are not suitable at all, they are designed for walls which are sheeted, which provides racking

It is possible to get aluminium profiles that are used for decking frames, I am not sure where... My neighbour had a company come in and put down composite deck... they used metal framing.

Calahonda52

mloc123 wrote: »

It is possible to get aluminium profiles that are used for decking frames, I am not sure where... My neighbour had a company come in and put down composite deck... they used metal framing.

100%
google
aluminum joists deck
and look at images

Roen

The ryno crowd I mentioned earlier do aluminium frames to go on the plastic.

https://www.rynogroup.co.uk/ryno-support/complete-aluminium-decking-substructure-system/

Roen

Yeah so the subframe won't be much use to me.

GreeBo

^ I'd bring back that circular saw..its drunk

Roen

GreeBo wrote: »

^ I'd bring back that circular saw..its drunk

Just free handing it next to a joist. Construction calls for accuracy. Demolition calls for speed.
Besides that I may well have been drunk.

blinding

Is decking not a haven for Rats if you don’t have Cat / Cats or a dog that will kill Rats .

I certainly wouldn’t have a raised deck for that reason .

Roen

They can be. There was a rat hole there alright but it was always cobwebbed over so no traffic in the past three years.

I might bury some weld mesh out a way to stop them burrowing. That said I'm not overly worried about them.

They did take residence in a wooden shed across the garden alright. Trapped one and brained another. They like to be near food. The grass seed I had was bringing them in I reckon. After I killed the two there was no more destruction of items.

Rats and mice are a reality of life across the planet I guess.

Roen

Anyone know what type of fabric this is? Seems to have done the job over 10-12 years anyways. Will need to replace it as the solution I'm thinking of will need the ground slightly more level.




The entire deck was built on 2x4, joists, wall plate, support posts. Most of the posts weren't even touching the ground. Could have been that with the weight of the boards they would have contacted the ground, but it seems to have stayed together with witchcraft to be honest.

apelstrudel

Did you do decking yet Roen

Also wondering what is best composite board to go for if anyone could help