DO IT YOURSELF!

Whereas the Dayas chose to use a contractor, Grant Gush of Monte Vista in Cape Town built his own deck in 2016 as part of a bigger renovation project, which included the kitchen and entertainment area.

He selected red grandis hardwood for the surface and structural timber beams (CCA pine) for the support structure. The beams were attached to the support structure below by means of galvanised brackets. As their yard slopes downward away from the house, Grant decided to add a gabion wall to the side of the deck so that the support structure isn’t visible from the garden. “Plus, it gave us the opportunity to add a built-in bench!” he says.

A strong foundation

To keep your deck sturdy, it has to be installed on stumps (posts) and bearers. The depth of the holes for the stumps must be dug according to your plans. After pouring concrete into the holes and planting the stumps, allow the concrete to cure for 48 hours.

You can embed a bolt in the top of each stump or insert a galvanised steel rod to help tie down the deck’s support structure (the bearers).

After you’ve installed the bearers, you need to attach joists; these will form a strong foundation for your deck.

Maintenance

If you want to keep your deck in tip-top shape, most types of timber will need to be treated regularly or when the wood starts to look dry. Grant wanted to keep the natural look of the wood and chose to treat the deck with Galseal oil (available from Somerset Timbers) in the colour Oak, which needs to be reapplied every 12 to 18 months.