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If deck
is higher than 6 feet, think about hiring a professional
builder.
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After
cutting ends of wood and notching your timber, it now
is left exposed to the elements. You will need to
apply a preservative to these
exposed ends.
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Pay
attention how the water will run off.. Decks can be designed for
this laying them out with a slight gradient.
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Deck
boards should be surface dry. Also there should be a gap
between the deck boards, according to the manufacturers
instructions or at least a gap of ¼ inch.
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Make sure
you use screws that are corrosion resistant. You can use
stainless steel screws for deck board installation.
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If you
need to attach a ledger board to the wall of a dwelling it
is advisable to leave a gap between to ensure ventilation
and enable the wall and ledger to dry.
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Do avoid
splitting boards, by pre-drill pilot holes near the end
of boards .
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To keep
boards dry, its best to lay the boards out on the frame
prior to installing them. This will help them to dry out and
minimizes shrinkage.
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Protect
your wood deck with a preservative in clear or a colored
transparent stain of your choice. Application of the
stain can be done various ways: brushed on ,
sprayed or applied with a pump sprayer. It is recommended
to do this on a yearly basis, or a least every 2 years.
Wood will need this type of maintenance and may even require
pressure washing prior to your next application of stain in
1-2 years.
