new merbua decking

[patbick]

Hi People

I am just about to start building a new deck around my house. It will be 2.200mm wide and 15.000mm long and to the right hand side 4.000mm wide and 5.400mm long. It is only going to be approx 200mm off the ground, my intentions are for bearers to lay them at approx 1.000mm apart and joists on the bearers 450mm.
Will this be ok to do or should the bearers be closer or wider ? The decking timber is going to be Merbau 90 x 19,I am just not sure if the bearers are at the right width

[nick_b00]

The answer is: it depends on what timber is used for the joists and bearers and what dimensions those timbers are.

Here are a couple of Timber Qld data sheets, for example only:

http://www.jimboombatimbers.com.au/Residential%20Timber%20Decks%20close%20to%20ground.pdf
http://www.bretts.com.au/_cmsFiles/howtosheets/How%20To_Tech%20Data%20Sheet_Timber%20Deck.pdf

Hope it helps,

Nick

[patbick]

thanks for that Nick

[TermiMonster]

If you go to the renovate forum you will find a lot of info re decks. also, span tables, etc in their 'library'.
I think there's a link on this site, somewhere.

[samchippy]

Like the others said you have to look at the span tables.
I personally like to use 140mm timber for most of my decks bearers, it's easy to obtain and the spans and spacings are usually pretty practical as well.