Timber outdoor decking has risen in popularity due to the value it adds to a home and because of its stunning aesthetic appeal. If you’re a homeowner, you must have at least considered whether this would be a suitable addition to your home, and we’d definitely say it is! Timber decks not only enhance the beauty and value of your home but also serve multiple purposes, doubling as an outdoor kitchen, a space for recreation, and a hub for family gatherings. Another reason timber decks are so highly regarded is because of the material itself; it offers a stunning finish, which makes it a rather versatile option, able to fit into a variety of aesthetics.
So, if you want to invest in outdoor wood decking in Singapore, you must have seen a few people on social media platforms claim that you can save money by doing it yourself. Is this true; can you DIY an outdoor deck and will it be cost-efficient? While we do believe that you can build a deck yourself, the cost-effectiveness, and quality of the deck itself is something that is up for debate. Nonetheless, in this article, we will give pointers and a guide on how to build a deck as well as our opinion on whether it’s really as cost-effective as those social media influencers claim.
The Process of Outdoor Wood Decking in Singapore
As an aspiring deck builder, there are a few things you have to consider before you delve into the deck-building process such as the material costs, permit requirements to build a deck in your area, and investing in safety equipment as well as the necessary tools required for the construction. Therefore, we advise that you consider all these aspects when creating a budget for your DIY project.
If you have the aforementioned bases covered, let’s go through a few crucial steps with outdoor wood decking in Singapore:
- Take measurements and cut the ledger:
Before getting started on your deck, you need a solid foundation for it—this is where a ledger comes in. Using a bubble level, you’ll want to outline the shape of your ledger. Once that’s done, set up your circular saw to work at siding depth and cut according to your outline and your plans on how to build a deck. Accurate measurements are crucial at this point in the construction process.
- Fix the ledger to the house structure:
To ensure that water doesn’t seep through the gaps and cracks of your deck, you will need galvanised metal flashing to secure the ledger. Make sure to cut out your metal flashing to the size of the ledger, then attach the ledger to the cutout with nails. Thereafter, with a drill of your choice, drill a few pilot holes for the lag screws to go in.
- Measure and mark post-footing locations:
Place batter boards (temporary frames) on the outer dimensions of your deck, use a mason line and run it between the two side batter boards. The line should run above the planned location of your footings. These are going to be used to determine the proper location of your deck’s footer and help you learn how to build a deck frame.
- Dig and pour hole footings:
Dig holes where your footing is placed into. To secure the footings once they’re inside the holes, you’ll want to use around 3 inches of loose gravel. Cut concrete tubes out to the measured depth of each footing hole but add 2 inches to each. Insert them into the footing holes.
Prepare concrete in a wheelbarrow and a garden hoe. Once that’s done, pour the concrete down each tube until it reaches the top. Quickly insert J-bolts into each of the concrete tubes while the concrete hasn’t dried yet. Make sure that the threaded side of the J-bolt is upward. Mark out each J-bolt using your plumb bob. After this step, you can remove your mason’s lines and batter boards.
- Attach and fix the posts:
After you’re done with the previous step, you should start attaching your deck posts. This is done by placing metal post anchors over the J-bolts you’ve placed down.
- Cut and install beams:
You can certainly opt to buy laminated exterior grade beams, or, if you really want to do this step yourself as well. You can make your own beam by glueing together a pair of two-by-eights with some strong construction glue and nails.
- Attach header joist:
Attach the outer joists to the ends of the ledger using joist hangers. Position each joist so it runs from the ledger to the beam and slightly past it.
Next, secure the header joist to the outer joists by nailing through the header into them. Be sure to check that the outer frame, including the header and outer joists, is square by measuring both diagonals to ensure they are equal. After this, you should also install the flooring joists.
- Attach floorboards to the deck:
The final step is to attach the floorboards to the deck; Check out how many floorboards you’ll need by dry-fitting them onto the deck and counting from your house to your header joist.
In addition to the aforementioned steps, you would also need to build a staircase for your deck and install a deck railing as well. Now, while there are many guides and YouTube videos that can clarify these steps further, this process is still going to be tedious for even the most experienced deck builders, let alone an inexperienced one. We say this because you could encounter various challenges in following these steps, for instance:
- You may not know where to find your timber supply for your timber outdoor decking project
- Getting the permits for building your outdoor deck can be tedious
- If you’re building your deck on an uneven area, it’ll be difficult to accurately measure and fix the foundation for the deck if you’re inexperienced in construction
- Mistakes are bound to happen if you’re not used to constructing a deck. The issue is, if you make a mistake, you will need to allocate more of your budget to fixing the issue
For these reasons, we would recommend going to a company specialising in outdoor decking in Singapore; this way not only will you ensure that the quality of your deck is premium grade, but it’ll also minimise unnecessary costs and reduce the time you’re putting into the project. If you want a chic outdoor timber deck, consider consulting Nam Soon Pte. Ltd!
Nam Soon Pte Ltd. —Make Your Dream Timber Wood Deck a Reality!
Ready to build your dream outdoor deck? While DIY may seem tempting, a flawless and long-lasting finish requires expert craftsmanship. At Nam Soon Pte. Ltd., we are equipped with an expert team with more than 30 years in the industry as well as close relations with overseas timber mills, ensuring that you get the timber deck of your dreams!
If you want to make this dream a reality, contact us today!
