I am to build a small deck in our garden and have a couple of questions to ask.
(1) What length of screws/nails do I need for the frsme which will be made out of wood 75mm x 75mm to ensure strong joints (would 100mm be adequate)?
(2) Due to amount of wood to be cut and my manual sawing not being accurate. I have decided that I need to get a mitre saw. I was cosidering this one Mitre Saw from screwfix. Does anyone have this saw and are they good? Also is there any other recommendations and other tools I need to go with the saw?
1. No, I'd use 120mm screws. You'll also want (if you don't already have them) A drill + wood bits and a Cordless drill + screwdriver bits. You could just use nails since this is going to be permenant - much cheaper.
2. If you're buying a mitre saw only for this project, then you could look for offers in Lidl or Aldi where these saws come up from time to time at a fraction of the price. If you're going to use it more often, then go for a good make - Makita, Metabo etc..
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
I have that mitre saw and it's ok but not brilliant, also it's regularly discounted to £99 which is what I paid.
You may be better off just getting a cheap circular saw or something off eBay if it's only for this job. Personally I would use screws, if make a mistake it's easier to correct it.
Don't leave a gap between the boards as most as really wet where they are treated. As they dry out they you will get a nice small gap. If you fit them with a gap it gets much bigger and you can drop things down it.
Also be aware decking is ok in the summer but in the winter they get extremely slippery so look for boards with grip if this is a concern.
You can now get plastic decking which although expensive isn't slippery and needs no maintenance apart from the odd scrub.
If it's only for decking and nowt fancy, have a look at the chop saw from Screwfix. At £49.99 you'll save £50 there which is enough to buy a can of decking oil.
------------- Some days you are the dog,
some days you are the tree.
Also make sure the grooves in the board go across the line of the directionyou will be walking in most, not lengthways, which will totally take away the grip when the boards are wet or icy. We once hired a static caravan where the decking had been fitted to the walkway lengthways to the side of the van, making the grooves useless at aiding grip, and resulting in a few nasty slips and falls during our stay.
Julia
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Topic: Wood Working Questions
