The house we are staying in (well squatting if you ask my parents) has a short decked path way at the front. This deck must have been laid when the house was built, and that must have been a while ago. It was loose, broken, creaking and bouncing all at the same time. After a large cracking sound was heard the other day as I floated across it, I decided it was time to re-surface it.
It was a simple task. I measured the current decking wood to see if there was a similar size replacement (90mm x 22mm) which I discovered there were two. The choice was treated pine or Merbau, I went the Merbau, it has a nice reddish/brown colour, is strong and hard wearing.
I am un-imaginative at times so I just replicated what was there already,removing the old boards and replacing with the new. I was going to rip the whole old deck of but decided I was likely to get bored, it rain or I get called to work and didn’t think only half a deck would be appreciated by the family. Previously the wood was held down by nails, this has been replaced by stainless steel decking screws. I left the boards long to cut the shape at the end.
Years of watching Better Homes and Gardens had paid off with setting out the spacing. It is really simple, two nails to get an equal gap each side, magic.
A few hours later and was done. With a Jig Saw I trimmed the edges to the desired shape. Now the deck is firm, and looking good, all it will need is a coat of oil each spring and it will last forever (well at least long enough for my house to be built, me move out and be a long way away).
