Pellsons Perceivings

[Old Wombat]

Excellent work, Mr. Pellson!

[zenrat]

Good job mate.
 

[Pellson]

And so very satisfying to finally complete a long-term project - especially when it's longer than you first anticipated..

Now - that's a situation I recognise from my modelling too.. 

[DogfighterZen]

Congrats for finishing that decking! Time to enjoy the fruit of your labor and spend some quality time relaxing on that piece of paradise you've got there.  

[zenrat]

Screws or nails?
Manual or power insertion? (if I built one that size i'd be buying myself a nail gun - regardless of what mrs z says*...).
What timber did you use and what have you sealed it with?

Sorry, but I needs to know.




*apparantly i am not to be trusted!   

[NARSES2]

That's a job well done, now enjoy it   

I hope you've seen that rather mischevious looking dog since you finished the project, looks a rather inquisitive hound   

[McColm]

Great job 

[kerick]

It's awesome having outdoor space like that. Well done!

[Rick Lowe]

That's a job well done, now enjoy it   

I hope you've seen that rather mischevious looking dog since you finished the project, looks a rather inquisitive hound   

IIRC he's a Terrier, so well able to dig his way out of that sort of predicament.

And so very satisfying to finally complete a long-term project - especially when it's longer than you first anticipated..

Now - that's a situation I recognise from my modelling too.. 

Yup, me too...

[Pellson]

Screws or nails?
Manual or power insertion? (if I built one that size i'd be buying myself a nail gun - regardless of what mrs z says*...).
What timber did you use and what have you sealed it with?

Screws, and hidden such. You buy a tool that simultaneously provides the correct spacing between the individual boards while also angling and positioning the screws correctly. Great piece of kit.



The First Screwer isn't such a bad piece either, come to think of it.. 

The timber is Scandinavian pine, impregnated under pressure with some greenish and most likely rather poisonous stuff that will keep the rot at bay for a while, at least. There are better option, like f.i larkwood, but that'll set you back about four times as much as the pine does, impregnation included, and as there's 2-3 ft of separation to the ground underneath, the construction is ventilated enough to last at least 30 years anyway - at which point I won't bother anymore.. 

The dog has managed to escape so far, but it is, technically correct that he should have been able to dig himself out if he hadn't gotten away. He is actually classified a terrier despite being a Minischnauzer. One would have thought only Britain bred terriers, but these count as well, apparently.
Thatsaid, I would have expected the lazy prick just whining until we would have gone to get him out ourselves..
You cannot view this attachment.

[Rick Lowe]

Hopefully your Better Half either:

a) Doesn't read this stuff, or
b) Has a Great Sense Of Humour and is also well-acquainted with yours, or
c) Appreciates the compliment.

Or a combination of the above.

That, or should we send flowers and grapes to the hospital?

But the tool sounds like a good bit of kit, yes.

[McColm]

Danish Oil or Teak Oil applied once a year will prevent the wood from rotting and can be applied with a brush, spray or small roller.

[perttime]

At a previous dwelling, we built a deck out of impregnated pine. We applied some oil every year, as recommended by the building materials store.

[zenrat]

Thanks for the information mate.

I built mine on a treated pine frame (eco treatment as Mrs z says the traditional stuff is loaded with arsenic and only looks green) with Merbau decking.  I spaced the boards using timber or mdf offcuts of the right thickness (spacing calculated to fit a whole number of boards across the largest door opening - towards the top of the picture) and screwed them down with two screws per joist using an electric drill/driver.  As I used hardwood boards (and Merbau is particularly hard) I had to drill pilot holes first and then countersink.  Thank the gods of power tools for the quick change chuck...
It was initially treated with marine deck oil but the supply of that dried up so for the annual recoats I switched to housing deck oil from the local DIY warehouse.  This is a pic just after the 2022 recoat.  Note the unworn patches in the pic where the barbecue and the door mat have protected the finish.
It's nowhere near your acreage but i'm proud of it as it was the first (and so far only) one i've built.

Deck Oiled.  19-02-2022 copy by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[perttime]

DIY places around me seem to sell green tinted treated wood that is relatively safe. They use copper carbonates and "organic substances". When working on the treated wood, you are adviced not to inhale the dust or get it in your eyes, and you should wash your hands before eating.