Building a deck (advice please)

[pzkpfw]

Anyone know much about building decks?

I've got a few questions that I'd like to run by someone with more knowledge than me (which probably includes your cat).

Cheers,

(I thought I'd ask the questions after someone says "sure"; otherwise this thread can quietly slip-away...)

[Qkchk:Me]

Ask the resident builder.......... Qkkid

[DingDong]

"sure..."

[crashe]

Anyone know much about building decks?

I've got a few questions that I'd like to run by someone with more knowledge than me (which probably includes your cat).

Cheers,

(I thought I'd ask the questions after someone says "sure"; otherwise this thread can quietly slip-away...)

"Sure" ask away.......

There are a number of builders on this site........ who love to ride m/bikes.

[DingDong]

Im not a builder... but my decks will never fail... overkill with concrete and 6' nails

[pzkpfw]

Thanks.

First up:

My deck is pretty low to the ground; the bearers will be barely above ground level in places.

What would be the best way to support those bearers?

With "short" wood piles; or "long" wood piles in a "deep" hole; or am I better off making little concrete pads at ground level to use Bowmac post/bearer brackets on?

Cheers,

[Crisis management]

Deck building 101?

First, do you need a building consent? If its less than a metre high it's not considered a building so maybe not. Councils have varying requirements about the area of un permited structures i.e. if its small, no permit required, if its big, permit required.
So, check with the local council first.
If you have unpermited work you may be required to remove it, your insurance company may not pay out on an insurance claim and it may become an issue when you sell the place.

Really anal but check now and choose how you go from there.

Rather than try and explain deck building on line go to your local timber merchant and ask for a brochure on deck building. Carters used to have them but I haven't looked for ages.

If that doesn't work PM me and I can talk you thru it.



Do you own a hammer?

[S&S]

Depending on how close to the ground the deck is, I would probably still stick with concreting posts in to put the bearers on & attaching with z nails.

With a string line you can't go wrong.

It can be difficult lining up bearer brackets with uneven ground heights.
Also depends on the design of your deck & construction method.

Contact ITM, best advise for free.

[insane1]

depends on how long you want said deck to last use bowmac they last for ages is it going to be a structural part of house attached to house or seperate from house how large a deck you looking at as crisis managment said larg deck building permit small deck carters/itm /placemakers should help.

[pzkpfw]

Deck building 101?
First, do you need a building consent? If its less than a metre high it's not considered a building so maybe not. Councils have varying requirements about the area of un permited structures i.e. if its small, no permit required, if its big, permit required.
So, check with the local council first.

Definitly less than 1m off the ground. I'd heard rumours of the area limit but searched Wellington City council web site and all they mention anywhere is the building act. And then all I could find in the building act was the 1m thing. So I ignored the permit process. (Possibly a big mistake.)

Does anyone know if Wellington city council has these limits?

If you have unpermited work you may be required to remove it, your insurance company may not pay out on an insurance claim and it may become an issue when you sell the place.

Yep. My first house was on a cross-lease section, and the deck (and carport) the previous owners had built were not on the plan. Was bitten by that when I came to sell.

Really anal but check now and choose how you go from there.

Yes. I should have. Searching the council web site probably not enough.

Rather than try and explain deck building on line go to your local timber merchant and ask for a brochure on deck building. Carters used to have them but I haven't looked for ages.

If that doesn't work PM me and I can talk you thru it.

Yes. I have ALL the brochures and have looked at all the NZ web sites. Also have a B&D Deck building book. (Those Americans use fancy metal fasteners for everything.)

The trick is in the details.

e.g. the placemakers brochure (and Mitre10 website) says you can use Bowmacs instead of piles, and even mentions that it uses less concrete, but it does not say how much concrete to use. (Neither does the Bowmac website).

Do you own a hammer?

Yes.

Have a damn hard time making it work, though. I think the nails must be faulty. They all come out crooked.

Cheers,

[pzkpfw]

depends on how long you want said deck to last use bowmac they last for ages is it going to be a structural part of house attached to house or seperate from house how large a deck you looking at as crisis managment said larg deck building permit small deck carters/itm /placemakers should help.

House has asbestos cladding so no Ledger. Totally free-standing.

Way more than 10 square m. (Which is the only limit I could find mentioned anywhere).

Cheers,

[Crisis management]

Provide some dimensions.... how long, how wide, which side has the house to it (which way does the decking want to run) and how high off the ground (all four? corners)


If you come back with " a lovely curved parabola to match the organic style of the planting" it will all end in tears....

If you access to a fax I will send you a plan to work off (I hate trying to scan stuff).

Pm me fax numbers...

[Kflasher]

Anyone know much about building decks?

I've got a few questions that I'd like to run by someone with more knowledge than me (which probably includes your cat).

Cheers,

(I thought I'd ask the questions after someone says "sure"; otherwise this thread can quietly slip-away...)

Your local library will have a NZ building code "NZS3604" this will have all you need to know, if you stick to the requirments this will pass through council without any problems.

[Crisis management]

One last thought...

Ring the council and talk to a building officer.....tell him what you are planning and ask if a consent is required. Be nice to him, abuse is counterproductive.


They will not (well hopefully not) hunt you down and kill you.

[pzkpfw]

Walked 'round to the council and asked the question.

As soon as they heard it was less than 1m off the ground they didn't care. (So my new plan is to build it out of pasta). I specifically asked about area and they just said "no".

I'll post some more details late tonight: but in essence it's just a simple 4.8m x 11.8m rectangle.

Half over existing concrete, half over grass. Nowhere more than 400 mm above ground level.

Because of the asbestos I don't want a ledger - so it will be free-standing.

Due to a block of concrete I can't move, the bearer near the house (long side) can't be closer than 450 mm at one point.

Cheers,