Decking/Veranda questions for Victorian house
Decking/Veranda questions.
I知 building a deck under the front veranda/roofing (which I知 also extending but that痴 another thread), which currently has stone pavers in place. On the weekend I dug some soil out to return the ground to its natural level (had been built up 9+ inches) a few years back, this gives me around 300mm from the top of the deck to the ground.
My questions are:
1). I知 planning on running the bearers (100x100 or 90x90) away from the house, given that is the direction I want the decking running. The current veranda support posts are at a spacing of 3m, therefore I知 planning on having a bearer every 1.5 meters. The spacing between the house and edge of the decking is 1.8 meters. So I could attach one end of the bearer to the house (on a bearer on the stump, etc) and the other end will be supported by a cemented in metal bracket or to the side of the veranda support 1.8 mtrs out from the house. The bearer will be supported approx 100mm above the ground. Is this sufficient, or should I either support the bearer on a support say 200mm out from the house (instead of the house), or add an additional support half way between the house and the edge of the decking?
2). Is there going to be any difference between using 90x90 bearers & 90x45 joists or 100x100 bearers & 100x50 joists? As using the 90x will give me an additional 20mm of ground clearance.
3). In keeping with the character of the house (Victorian) I知 not planning on spacing between the decking, which I assume should be fine so long as the gradient is sufficient to allow any water to drain off? I think I was once told a fall of 5mm every meter, so approx 9mm over the width of the deck?
4). I will probably run the deck around a 90deg corner, around the side of the house for a few meters. It would be easier to following the same direction of the decking; however it would look much better if I changed direction of the decking at the corner to match direction of the deck (so it runs out from the house the whole way around). I will probably just do this and change direction at 45 degrees in the corner.
5). I知 undecided on decking material yet; however it will most likely be merbu (I知 not really sure what was used on Victorian veranda痴). Is merbu, etc termite resistant?
6). Are there any advantages/disadvantages between using treated pine or hardwood bearers/joists?
Thanks,
