| Terrace Building Tips
Terrace Building Tips
The terrace makes the atmosphere of the house cozy and homely. This is a good place to unwind, like having your first morning coffee and enjoying the birds singing. The terrace is also good for garden parties or grilling and just hanging out with friends. Your feet will not get wet, and you can spend time on a comfortable, soft sofa.
Building a terrace is quite a big undertaking, even if you want to make a small seating area, as the workflow remains the same. What tools do you need and where to start? Below you can read what awaits you if you are planning to build a terrace.
Building a terrace is quite a big undertaking, even if you want to make a small seating area, as the workflow remains the same. What tools do you need and where to start? Below you can read what awaits you if you are planning to build a terrace.
The very first step in building a terrace is, of course, planning. Choose a suitable place near the house where you want to build a terrace. Consider where the winds blow from, how the sun will fall on the future terrace and, of course, how to get to it from home. Think about what size and what shape it should be. Mark future boundaries.
Once the idea is settled, it's time to draw it on paper. This way you can be sure that everything goes according to plan and that you don't forget about sizes or other important things.
Once the idea is settled, it's time to draw it on paper. This way you can be sure that everything goes according to plan and that you don't forget about sizes or other important things.
To build a terrace, standard tools are needed. You will need a hammer, a level, fasteners, a square and, of course, a tape measure. A saw is also useful for work. A cordless drill works well for laying flooring. For pouring the foundation requires its own special tools.
Planning
Tools
The foundation of the terrace can be done in several ways. In our climate, a solid foundation is still important, as temperature changes cause ground movements and boards can loosen or even break in some places. The foundation must be strong enough to support the weight of decking wood, furniture, people, and more.
For a strong and durable foundation, pour a proper concrete pour below the freezing line, i.e. one meter deep. The foundation will become especially strong if it is reinforced.
Another and one of the cheapest options is to make a block foundation, that is. put light and standard fibo or other durable blocks on the ground. In this case, the cushion must be prepared, for example, from gravel.
Since the foundation is the basis of everything, do the work carefully and properly. Make sure everything is level (with a level) and that the measurements are correct.
When preparing the foundation, put in order the entire pillow. Essentially, the entire deck base can be dug up and replaced with sand or fine gravel. Thus, annoying gout and nettles will not grow between the terrace boards.
For a strong and durable foundation, pour a proper concrete pour below the freezing line, i.e. one meter deep. The foundation will become especially strong if it is reinforced.
Another and one of the cheapest options is to make a block foundation, that is. put light and standard fibo or other durable blocks on the ground. In this case, the cushion must be prepared, for example, from gravel.
Since the foundation is the basis of everything, do the work carefully and properly. Make sure everything is level (with a level) and that the measurements are correct.
When preparing the foundation, put in order the entire pillow. Essentially, the entire deck base can be dug up and replaced with sand or fine gravel. Thus, annoying gout and nettles will not grow between the terrace boards.
After the foundation is installed and leveled, the construction of the terrace continues with the installation of the crate, i.e. the frame. As a rule, the crate is made of wood. Deeply impregnated timbers are especially well suited for this, as they resist the weather best and do not rot as quickly. Another option is a planed timber, which must be treated with an impregnating agent. Raw wood is not stored for a long time.
A standard timber has dimensions of 50x100 or 50x150. Much depends on how large the future terrace is, what boards are chosen and whether heavy furniture is planned for the terrace or just a couple of light garden chairs. The height of the crate above the ground should be at least 20 cm.
When erecting a frame, the question always arises of how close the bars should be. The thickness of the decking board plays a role here, as a thin board requires less spacing, while a thicker board can take a greater distance. An example is a 28 mm terrace board, where a step of 400 mm is quite enough.
Just as the foundation had to be level, the batten also had to be absolutely straight. Without this, the construction of the terrace will not be successful. It makes sense to attach the bars to the foundation at least partially. A good tool for this is a metal mounting bracket.
Consider lighting before installing decking. While everything is open, take the opportunity to stretch the wires to the right places. Later, when the terrace boards are already installed, it will be more difficult.
A standard timber has dimensions of 50x100 or 50x150. Much depends on how large the future terrace is, what boards are chosen and whether heavy furniture is planned for the terrace or just a couple of light garden chairs. The height of the crate above the ground should be at least 20 cm.
When erecting a frame, the question always arises of how close the bars should be. The thickness of the decking board plays a role here, as a thin board requires less spacing, while a thicker board can take a greater distance. An example is a 28 mm terrace board, where a step of 400 mm is quite enough.
Just as the foundation had to be level, the batten also had to be absolutely straight. Without this, the construction of the terrace will not be successful. It makes sense to attach the bars to the foundation at least partially. A good tool for this is a metal mounting bracket.
Consider lighting before installing decking. While everything is open, take the opportunity to stretch the wires to the right places. Later, when the terrace boards are already installed, it will be more difficult.
Foundation
Not all boards are suitable for a terrace. Terrace boards are specially designed boards designed for outdoor use. What should you pay attention to when choosing a decking board?
Since the exterior is the first thing you pay attention to in a terrace, we will start with it. The surface may be smooth or grooved. Which one to prefer is purely a matter of personal taste, but there is one thing you should be aware of. Smooth boards can get uncomfortably slippery in the rain and when wet, but are also much more pleasant to walk on bare feet. And grooved decking, again, may collect more dirt, but is safer when wet. Consider which ones match your vision and expectations.
Terrace boards are made from different materials and processed in different ways. For example, pine wood is a popular choice, but very durable larch is increasingly being bought.
Terrace boards must be weatherproofed if you don't want to build a terrace every few years. The impregnated wood has a slightly greenish tint, and over time becomes more grey-brown. Heat-treated wood is brown in color and exceptionally durable. It does not rot and does not swell.
In addition to wood, there are also decking boards made from durable plastic and wood composite, which is a mix of plastic and wood and is also more environmentally friendly than you might think. They are more expensive, but more durable than wood.
The thickness of the decking boards also matters. The thicker the boards, the better they support the weight, so the frame can be pushed a little wider, and the boards themselves can be placed less frequently. The most common sections of the terrace board are 28x95 mm, 28x120 mm and 33x95 mm.
Since the exterior is the first thing you pay attention to in a terrace, we will start with it. The surface may be smooth or grooved. Which one to prefer is purely a matter of personal taste, but there is one thing you should be aware of. Smooth boards can get uncomfortably slippery in the rain and when wet, but are also much more pleasant to walk on bare feet. And grooved decking, again, may collect more dirt, but is safer when wet. Consider which ones match your vision and expectations.
Terrace boards are made from different materials and processed in different ways. For example, pine wood is a popular choice, but very durable larch is increasingly being bought.
Terrace boards must be weatherproofed if you don't want to build a terrace every few years. The impregnated wood has a slightly greenish tint, and over time becomes more grey-brown. Heat-treated wood is brown in color and exceptionally durable. It does not rot and does not swell.
In addition to wood, there are also decking boards made from durable plastic and wood composite, which is a mix of plastic and wood and is also more environmentally friendly than you might think. They are more expensive, but more durable than wood.
The thickness of the decking boards also matters. The thicker the boards, the better they support the weight, so the frame can be pushed a little wider, and the boards themselves can be placed less frequently. The most common sections of the terrace board are 28x95 mm, 28x120 mm and 33x95 mm.
Decking board selection
In the process of laying the flooring, it will be useful to use well-established building practices. It is recommended to leave a gap between the boards wide enough to allow a pencil to be inserted into it. In this case, it is approximately 6–7 mm. It is important not to lay the decking boards too tightly, as the wood needs to be able to expand. When using thicker deck boards, a slightly larger gap can be left. To ensure an aesthetic appearance, it is also recommended to install decking on the sides.
For fixing terrace boards, special terrace screws are the best choice. When using heat treated wood, it is essential to use stainless steel screws to avoid chemical reactions. If you choose other types of screws, make sure they are suitable for outdoor use.
For fixing terrace boards, special terrace screws are the best choice. When using heat treated wood, it is essential to use stainless steel screws to avoid chemical reactions. If you choose other types of screws, make sure they are suitable for outdoor use.
Whether impregnated or heat-treated, decking boards must be maintained regularly. The sun and rain split the wood, fungus and mold get into the cracks, and thus the carefully built terrace is destroyed.
To care for the terrace, choose a dry, preferably slightly overcast day. First, clear your deck of debris. For a deep clean, scrub your deck with a pumice stone, which will also remove dirt that you can't see yourself. Then rinse the deck thoroughly and let it dry a little.
Terrace oil is the most effective way to protect decking. When oiling, make sure that there is enough oil, but at the same time, avoid real oil puddles. The terrace can be oiled at least every second season.
To care for the terrace, choose a dry, preferably slightly overcast day. First, clear your deck of debris. For a deep clean, scrub your deck with a pumice stone, which will also remove dirt that you can't see yourself. Then rinse the deck thoroughly and let it dry a little.
Terrace oil is the most effective way to protect decking. When oiling, make sure that there is enough oil, but at the same time, avoid real oil puddles. The terrace can be oiled at least every second season.
Terrace board installation
Terrace Maintenance
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info@garden-3d.com
+972 53 956-97-29
Wadi Salib 10, Haifa, Israel
