subject: How To Create A Fantastic Outdoor Patio Part 1 [print this page] A terrace is a great add-on to any A terrace is a great add-on to any
home. Not only does it give you the added living room but it
can also be a superb focal point with
your visitors and buddies. A real ice breaker or
conversation starter. If its constructed properly it can also add significant value to your home. Decking
isn't appropriate for all areas though, specially
shaded areas. Whenever constructing a patio you should
always use pre treated softwood or hardwood.
Time to complete job: 2-3 days
Approximate budget: Will depend on on the
sizing of your terrace. Decking boards and
joist ledgers and noggins cost about 10 per 3.6m (12ft), each.
What you need:Pegs and string
Weed-suppressant membrane
Graph paper and pencil
Spade
Joists ledger & noggins 47mm x 150mm (2in x 6in)
Decking boards 28mm x 145mm (1 1/8in x 5 1/2in)
Fine-toothed saw
Hammer & screwdriver
Screws & nails
6mm (1/4in) spacers
Preparing:
Mark out the planned spot and set out your
furnishings to see if it's large enough. Select a location to pick up the sun at the
times of day when you will need to use the patio
- south-westerly facing is generally a good
choice but also think about the outlook, whether you
will be overlooked, and the relevant wind gusts. Steer clear of any drains, underground pipework and cables.
Check to see whether planning permission is needed.
Sketch a scale plan and compute the
resources you will need.
Hint: This guide
describes the development of a
simple rectangular terrace
attached to the house, but you might
contemplate wrapping a deck around the corner of your house,
near a tree, or siting it away from the house entirely.
Once you've got a
gorgeous new deck, you'll have to
memorialize with an patio
bash.
Action 1: Planning the site. Clear away vegetation to prepare the
site, then mark out the area with pegs and line, making certain it's
square. Lie a deck cloth over the
earth to protect against weeds growing up through the deck in
the future. The material can be pegged or weighed down with
cement, paving slabs or grit.
The construction for a patio
ought to be laid onto concrete footings
rather than directly onto the land. You can
often lay down concrete for this or more easily using concrete paving
slabs. If using slabs, position them in a grid structure with
each slab positioned somewhere around
1400mm (4ft 7in) from the next - these will support the wood joists that hold the
planks.
Next, lay squares of bitumen DPC membrane over the concrete floor or paving slabs before laying the deck timbers.
Rule: Use a spirit level to make certain
that the deck delicately slopes away from the
household. For every metre of deck there ought to be a 10mm drop.
Action 2: Hanging a ledger to the house.
Affix a ledger joist to the wall using spacers for ventilation and drainage. This establishes the level for your deck which should be at minimum 150mm (6in) below the damp proof course (DPC).
Fix strongly as the ledger is load-bearing - the perfect method will differ in accordance to your property's construction so seek
help and advice.
Builders in Gloucestershire
Suite B 21 The Plantation, Hardwicke, Gloucester GL2 4SP 0845 094 8278 http://www.builders-in-gloucestershire.co.uk/
