DECKING

Clear and level the ground, lay a weed membrane with some gravel, then build a level frame of joists sitting on a firm base or paving. Space the joists about 400mm apart, leave a gap underneath so air can get round, and check the frame's level and square before you start boarding. Then screw the deck boards down across the joists with a small gap between each one, two screws into every joist.

Space deck joists about 400mm apart for standard boards, or closer (around 300mm) ifyou'relaying the boards diagonally or want it to feelreally solidunderfoot. The closer they are, the less bounce you get and the longer the deck lasts. Just make sure the wholeframe'sproperly supported and level first.

Leave about a 5mm gap between your deck boards,roughly thethickness of a pencil, so water drains through and the wood can move as it dries out and swells. Boards fitted tight together will swell up and lift. A spare screw or an offcut used as a spacer keeps the gaps nice and even down the run.

For standard boards, reckon on about 6.7 metres of decking board to cover each square metre. Measure your area, work out which way the boards run, and add about 10% for cuts and any duff boards. Paint some preserver on the cut ends before you fix them, as that's where water gets in first.

Most decking comes pre-treated, but it still pays to give it a coat of decking oil or treatment onceit'sdown, then top it up every year or two. Do the cut ends as yougo, becausethat'sthefirst placewater sneaks in. A quick clean and re-oil each year keeps the colour and stops it going slippery.