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SUMMER LIVING OUTDOORS Soon, winter weather will give way to warmer temperatures and clear, blue skies, and you know what that means -- it's almost time to get out into your outdoor living space! Decks and patios are consistently popular ways to enjoy the outdoors from the comfort of your own home. It is a privilege to be able to walk outside the back door and be on a secluded deck, surrounded by the trees and plants of your backyard.

POINTS TO CONSIDER There is much to say about the design of a deck. What follows are some key things to consider: At what time of day during each season of the year does the deck get sun and shade? How much privacy will the deck give you from neighbours? What will be the deck’s access from the house? How large should it be? How should the railings be designed? Where should the stairs be placed? Are there any utility lines overhead or below? Should the deck be covered? Will the deck block the light coming in any windows of the house? How will the deck affect the rooms of the house? How are the views?   It is possible to build a deck directly on the ground using loose decking squares on baseboards. It is essential to make sure the base is even and has a good foundation base Place timber supports/joists on your area using a long spirit level. Fill with sand and even up. Carefully water and compact the sand layer, which should be 5-10cm thick. Then level the topmost sand layer with a straight edge between the joist tracks. Finally, remove the joist tracks. The decking modules can now be laid on the flat surface of the sand.

THE RIGHT TOOLS Another one of the most important factors involved in avoiding wood deck installation problems is the proper nail placement. It is recommended to use hot dipped galvanized nails for rust resistant protection. You should use about two nails on each joist. They should be placed ¾ of an inch from the edge and hammered in at an angle. Doing it this way ensures that the nail stays in place and is less likely to work its way out of the wood.Alternatively you can opt for a raised deck, this method is more complicated and needs more planning and forethought. Although the same principles you would concrete posts into a good solid base and work along your frame ensuring that each post is level and evenly spaced apart. Joist would then be attached to the posts either with a mortise joint or butt/flush against. Never the less in all scenarios you would ensure that the posts and joist would be true and level in readiness for the decking planks. Throughout a correct level is essential for a good job!

FINALLY You will need to fit a Balustrade for safety reasons. Balustrades are the ‘safety bars’ structures you get on things like Balconies, coming up to about waist level. These add design and beauty to the Decking structure and you may have to select the one that fits perfectly with the overall structure of the Decking. Visit your local D.I.Y centre and take a look around, you will find that there are lots of helpful, ready made timbers available. Such as ready made steps, screenings and bearers/posts. This definitely makes the project easy, but does increase the overall costs.