Question

I want to have a go at doing decking myself  I’ve been researching and watching numerous YouTube videos and I really want to have a bash at it has any lady attempted this on their own ? And does anyone have any tips for doing this as cheaply as possible with decking boards not pallets ? Thanks in advance x

Answer 1

Lay a membrain first to stop weeds ect Post schould be a max 6 ft apart use 4x2 timber every 16 inch apart bolt to posts dont screw as will come lose after a few years make sure frame of the floor Also make sure timber treated If you have to do cuts stager them like brick work hope that helps

Comments

@exacting that’s looks fab thank u I will screen shot ur tips x

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Im a landscaper so happy to help

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@exacting thank you  

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This was over a old wall

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That’s fab as we have old concrete steps outside the back door leading off a small slabbed patio so I was going to build up like this but thought I’d try the flat decking at top of garden first lol if that goes okay I will give it a bash !  

Answer 2

Yep I did ours, used sleepers for the base and decking boards from b n q. Was pretty easy as long as you get our base straight and level x

Comments

@hanshaw fab thanks I really want to tackle it . have a large area to do it’s probably about 4 wide and about 5meters depth but I’ve had quotes and they are crazy high and I just think I could do it x

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@syconium we were pretty lucky as I didn’t need to do any cutting as I made the decking as long as the planks were so it was really straight forward x

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@hanshaw x

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@syconium it’s been down a year now so still going strong

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@hanshaw fab thanks looks lovely against that gravel too x

Answer 3

Looks fab was it easy enough to do ? X

Answer 4

Like for a beginner  

Answer 5

As soon as my order from Wickes arrives in a couple of weeks, I'm going to attempt to do my own decking area from scratch.  

Comments

@guillotine2 ooo fab ! Keep us posted ! X

Answer 6

Make sure you lay the boards across the flow of traffic (it reduces the chance of slipping)

Answer 7

We just finished doing ours, I filmed a time lapse if you want a quick view of all the stages.  
https://youtu.be/_6bSWk7-zaI

Comments

@hainan wow amazing thank u x

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@hainan that's amazing

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@hainan that’s absolutely stunning! Well done!  

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@hainan it looks fantastic. What did you build the wall from? Did you stick tiles over the top?  

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@volk it’s made from decking wood and clad with oyster split face tiles  

Answer 8

Didn't have a clue what to do but managed this in front of shed x

Comments

@macrospore looks fab x

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@syconium no before photos but as long as your Base is correct measurements you shouldn't go wrong x

Answer 9

I’ve done quite a few different decks. It’s quite easy as long as you make sure it’s all level, membrane down with pea gravel on it, use post crete for fixing the posts. Use screws and not nails in the decking or it will pop up. Also make sure you put a small gap between each board to allow for the boards to swell.  

Comments

@papist4 wow fab thanks !  

Answer 10

I've not done decking but I have made planters from decking. I'd suggest you drill pilot holes slightly smaller than the screw so it's easier to screw them down, especially if your electric screwdriver isn't too powerful.  

Comments

@cauliflower194 thank u x

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@cauliflower194 mains powered tools ftw!  

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@sol I do have a main powered drill but I have a battery one too lol x

Answer 11

You can absolutely do it yourself. Doing it it bit by bit, I’ve planned all mine, I do have my partner helping but I’d definitely be able to do it on my own if I had to. We’ve gone for composite which is marginally more expensive. Go to your local timber merchant is the cheapest way x

Comments

@canaster yes that’s what I’m planning on doing and I have a hubby but let’s just say he’s not the best at diy and hates gardening lol but he cooks and I don’t so can’t have it all ways I suppose  x

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@syconium haha so true! At least he can do the heavy lifting if needs be x

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Yh he may be up to that lol x

Answer 12

With decking it’s all about what’s actually under the decking, For 4x2 joists you need posts every 600-800 my For 6x2 you can use it every 1. 8 m which saves time and money on posts and postcrete Make sure your posts are at least 500-600 mm deep in the ground and use 100mm posts For the decking boards use a joiners pencil as a gap measure between boards and this way they all will be Parallel. If you are using decking with groves the ends should be screwed in on the second groove in and the rest on the end groove This means it won’t split at the ends and it won’t warp in the middle.  

Comments

@panthea148 thanks ever so much

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No problem and good luck

Answer 13

I extended my decking. I used membrane and concrete slabs and pea shingle and then laid old pallets as a base and made sure they were all level and then screwed decking boards on top. Using free pallets as a base made it cheaper and easier. I did it all myself and it’s still fine after a year. The extended bit is the part with the table on.  

Comments

@rake40433 looks fab thanks x

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@rake40433 did you just put concrete slabs under the pallet corners? Only asking as I'm about to do mine with psllets. Looks lovely x

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@unhitch yes and then pea shingle between the slabs

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@rake40433 thanks. Do you need to put posts in the ground to screw the pallets to or are they ok just going onto of the paving slabs? Just curious as to if it keeps still x

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@unhitch mine are just on slabs and they decking boards screwed on top and it’s very sturdy and is as still as the original decking which is on a normal wooden base. I have my table and chairs on it and they get moved a lot and its been a year since I did it now.  

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@rake40433 thanks didn't know if they had to be screwed to posts or not although the pallets are heavy x

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@unhitch they are really heavy. I used four of them and they are basically just secured together by the decking on top. I’ve had no issues. X

Answer 14

When you lay the decking boards and you cut your first piece, use that to start your next row and every cut ever after starts the next row ect. This way you'll not have the joins in all the same place and no waste at all.