Installing decking
Laying a timber deck is not difficult providing you’re suitably handy with an electric drill, screwdriver, spirit level and saw. Assuming all materials and tools are at hand, it should take anyone good at DIY roughly a weekend to install a small, rectangu
Double-check you have all parts, tools and materials on site. If using timber that’s not pressure-treated, saturate all timbers with two coats of preservative. Lay out the subframe joists on the ground to ensure the deck fits the space.
Clear and level the site to 20cm (8in) below required finished height of decking.
Cover the cleared area with a weedproof membrane before adding a 6cm (3in) layer of gravel, ensuring unrestricted air space above so as to keep the timbers as dry as possible. Assemble the subframe by screwing the joists together using pre-drilled holes.
With a spirit level, find the highest corner of the subframe and, if necessary, insert offcuts to make one side very slightly higher than the other, to create a run-off. Screw deck boards onto the subframe, leaving 6mm expansion gaps between planks to allow for shrinkage in summer heat and expansion in wet weather Saw off excess wood, and paint newly-cut ends with preservative. Fit fascia boards and end pieces to vertical edges.