Ask the expert Jo Behari offers DIY advice
Home improvement guru Jo Behari suggests some simple bank holiday projects
Laying a deck
As the weather gets warmer we want to carry out a few updates in our garden. How difficult is it to lay a wooden deck?
In theory this isn’t a difficult job but you need to be confident with power tools and cutting wood. Hire a circular saw from a tool-hire company and read the instruction manual. Wear safety equipment when using it and practise first on a couple of rough cuts.
Begin by building a base for the decking to sit on using 2in x 4in treated timbers. Cut each joist to the right size and screw together with galvanized screws to make a frame. This sits on the ground providing a level surface for the planks to fix to and stops them being in contact with the ground and becoming wet.
Once the frame is built, cut the decking boards: these should be fixed perpendicularly to the frame. But before you start cutting, think carefully about where to start and how to lay the deck. It
might be a good idea to sketch a plan so you know exactly how many boards you’ll need and their correct length. Then lay out the boards before fixing them in order to make sure they all fit and to make any adjustments.
To fix them in place, make sure you’re screwing them into the frame. You’ll need a countersinking tool on your drill as the screws need to sit just under the surface of the wood so they aren’t a trip hazard. Countersinking tools either come with the drill bit attached or can be a separate bit altogether that you use after making the initial hole. Use galvanised screws to fix each board, positioning two screws at each end of the plank. Make this task easier on your hands by using an electric screwdriver or the screwdriver bit on your drill.