Getting The Best From Your Decking

Let us start at the beginning. How is the decking going to be supported? You will definitely need to make use of concrete footings along with a framework of wooden joists resting on them if you require it to last. I have constructed a small number of decks in my time and to be truthful I sort of guessed at what I should do at the beginning, it cost me dearly at the time. So do not go making the same blooper I did. You have got to make sure that you start with a solid support structure. There may possibly also be building regulations to take into account. Lay a plan out ensuring that the spacing of your concrete supports for the joists will support the decking boards. If the joists are too far apart it could possibly lead to what we call sagging when people walk on it.
The materials you are going to use should also be a major consideration. More often than not decking will be exposed to the weather (most of them are) so the selection of material is essential. The pieces of your deck that is not going to be visible do not need not be as aesthetically pleasing as the decking and railings. But, remember you have got to at this stage of the project use weather resistant wood. Very often people will use pressure treated wood for the supporting structure. This sort of timber is chemically treated to resist those things like bad weather, rot and insects. In my view that is the best pick.
Needless to say you can use the same pressure treated lumber for the actual deck surface if you want to. It doesn't inhibit you from painting it a nice colour. I have done just this many times. It looks impressive and it lasts a long time. There are other alternatives that you may like to think about. There is what the stores call 'composite decking' or what I call fake lumber. The benefit of fake wood is that it lasts eternally. I also think that it actually looks good as well. Another option for you to think about is to use a timber that is naturally resistant to weather such as cedar, or IPE. There are endless possibilities these days. You must also take in to consideration the price tag. This can vary significantly based on what timber you decide to run with. All I can say here is, as you plan your decking area, select the best option for your budget. Remember the look and availability of the material is also significant.
Finally the fasteners. Traditionally decking would have simply been nailed together. This method does still work. But, you absolutely must make sure that the nails are galvanized so that they will be capable of holding up against the bad weather. Obviously nails are faster to use but they will leave small holes in the decking boards. Regrettably, over a period of time they do tend to pop out. This is most likely the main reason why many people choose to use screws for securing the boards down. Screws have the advantage of holding the decking together more firmly and can easily be removed should a repair be required. Again you must ensure that that the screws that you are using are for outside use. The drawback of using screws is that they are a lot more time consuming throughout the fitting up process. They also leave bigger, more visible holes in the decking.
Hopefully by now you will be getting some inkling of what you need to think about when planning your decking. It certainly isn't what I would call a small project. Think things through before you begin. Once you have come up with a plan you will be amazed at just how fast your job moves along. It will almost certainly run smoother and turn out better if you get the planning stage sorted out.