Hi all, I am building a ground level 3x5m deck on the back of my house. I thought I would excavate about 500mm of earth to make room for the posts/bearers etc. At this depth, I will probably have hit clay. There will be 2 rows of 3 stumps, for 2 bearers.

My first question is, what is the best way to handle drainage below the deck. I assume if I dig into clay, water will just collect and sit as a large puddle beneath the deck. I have heard a suggestion to just drill a sinkhole a metre or two down in the centre of the understructure. would this work? any other suggestions on a better way to do it?

My second question is: is it worth hiring a laser level to line up all the post and bearer levels? or is it just as simple to do it with a string level or straight-board with a conventional spirit level?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Matt


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