If you are planning to create your dream garden and are looking to have a stylish timber deck as the platform for your terraced area, it isn’t as difficult as you might think. Like any DIY project, laying a deck requires a little planning and forethought, and with that in mind, here is our guide to laying garden decking.

• Ground Preparation – Ideally, you would create a floorplan, which shows the actual size of the deck, and you need to remove vegetation and anything else to leave a flat area that is deep enough to accommodate the joists, supports and the layer of decking. It is essential that you have a solid foundation on which to install the framework that will support the deck, and soft ground might require some hardcore, which should be rolled until it is solid.

• Corner Supports – These should be large timbers; 100 x 50mm is ideal and they need to be set in concrete, to ensure solid anchoring. Of course, you will need a spirit level to ensure that the top sections are level, and if the area is large, you will need a few intermediate supports to help spread the load.

• Build the Frame – Once the supports are in place, you can begin to build the frame, using joists that are set at about 500mm apart and are evenly spaced across the entire area. Once these are fitted, you can add short noggins between the joists, which adds strength, while always making sure that the top edge is flush, as your decking will be screwed to these surfaces.

• Laying the Decking – Staggered joints look nicer, and much like brickwork, the stagger makes the framework stronger. Some people nail the decking to the frame, but countersunk screws are preferred, which can be filled and sanded when finished, leaving a smooth finish. If you are looking for timber decking in Brisbane, or anywhere else in Australia, a Google search will help you locate a local supplier and delivery would probably be free.

• The Trimming – Much like the fascia on a roof, your deck needs to be trimmed on all sides, for a neat and tidy finish. Mitred joints look professional and when the trim is in place, you can begin the laborious job of filling the tiny holes.

• Sanding & Preparation – Once the filling is complete, you will need to thoroughly sand down all of the surfaces – if you don’t own a sanding machine, hire one from a local provider, as it will save you a lot of hard work.

• Staining & Protection – The stain would be applied first and only when that is dry can you apply the varnish, which will need 48 hours to fully dry. Obviously, you must try to keep the area dust free during this time and erecting a temporary windbreak is always a good idea if it is windy.

With affordable timber decking available from the online supplier, you can browse the many designs and place your order, which will be delivered in time for the project start date. Make sure you have all the tools you need prior to starting work and a weekend should see the job finished.