Michael Murray (HotM) wrote:
SNIP
So; last week I ordered up some timber, a new circular saw, charged up
the batteries and set to it. Here are some (rather disjointed)
thoughts / queries.
Levelling the supporting beams: I found these:
http://www.easyfix.ie/index.php?page...oustic-systems , bought
a load of them, and would highly recommend them for anyone wanting a
fast way to lay a deck over a solid, but uneven base. (just a happy
user).
Interesting. Were they very expensive? How do they help level?
Supporting beams are 2 layers of 2 x 4 over part; dropping to 2x4 over
2x2 (well supported) and 2x4 on their own where the original 'patio'
was highest.
Sorry, just to be clear, by '2 layers of 2 x 4' do you mean effectively an
8 x 2 or a 4 x 4 ?
Drill driver v Impact Driver
I'm a bit of a tool buyer, and have a dewalt 18v Drill Driver / Impact
driver set. The impact was bought with the expectation of using it on
the deck but as the driver seemed to drive the 90mm TurboGolds without
issue and the Impact driver was so much louder (and seemed to suffer
from 'winding up' the screws rather than driving them) I now wonder
what use I will get from it. Drill driver with 2.6Ah batteries did
700- odd screws on (I think) 6 charges. Very impressed. I tried
driving one screw the last few mm with a 'normal' hand screwdriver,
and could barely move it.
I've only got a 14.4v driver & a 12v impact driver. The 12v ID is much
faster than the 14.4v driver, especially on 6 x 90 Turbo Gold coach screws,
but also on the deck screws.
Never tried an 18v driver. Agreed about the noise with ID's, mind you if
you are doing decking commercially the extra noise impress's the client :-)
Edging the deck boards:
I left all the deck boards overhang the end, and cut them all in a
single pass at the end. Resulted in a very nice straight line that
really stands out, I think.
Deffo the way to go, thats how I do all of mine. Faster & neater.
Spacing:
the deck boards shrank noticably over the first night. I laid them
with 3mm gaps as they were quite wet. Gap is now easily 5mm.
Thats what winds me up with the Wickes & B&Q 'how to guides'. They always
mention a gap with no regard for the moisture content of the boards, the
weather or time of year.
Screwdriver bits:
I bought a 10 pack of screwfix PZ3 bits, expecting them to be
consumables on a job like this. I finished with the same one I started
with. Is this normal? (I generally take good care of tools, and don't
willfully abuse them, but thought this was strange.)
Much the same experience, although I use an 8mm nut driver on the coach
screws and now have an autofeed screwdriver with a square drive bit.
Robertson Head?
To those thinking of undertaking building one;
- buy a good screwdriver
Oh yes!
- have extra hands to assist with aligning boards.
Deffo
- plan it well *before* starting
Absolutely
- it took me approx 30 man hours. (two of us; two good screwdrivers
with spare batteries)
'Desmond' & I would have done a 5 x 4m deck in around 2 x 8 hour days and we
build a lot of decks, so you did well.
Any pictures?
--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk