| Timber, or wood, is still the first choice for furniture | | | | costly hardwood, then I would use brass screws. |
| and other home and garden projects like decking. | | | | You will almost certainly need three inch screws and |
| However, there is a large variety of sorts of timber | | | | they should be neatly countersunk, so that the |
| to select from. The first alternative is whether you | | | | screw's head is just below the surface of the wood. |
| will use hardwood or softwood. Hardwood is a lot | | | | You can then plug it or not. Yes with steel screws, |
| more expensive, but it will not rot as quickly as | | | | not with brass screws, but it is really up to your |
| softwood. | | | | personal preference. |
| Both hardwood and softwood are attractive or can | | | | Prepare the area before you begin. It is almost |
| be made to look attractive with a suitable finish. | | | | certainly best to use a concrete or slabbed base. This |
| Softwood normally takes more looking after, but can | | | | should be level and above the normal flow of rain |
| last just as long as hardwood, if it is preserved | | | | water in your garden. If it does get wet, as when |
| properly. If you want to paint the wood, then | | | | you hose it down, the water should fall through the |
| softwood is the better option, because hardwood | | | | boards and then flow away. You do not want it to |
| does not permit paint to soak in very well, but it will | | | | stay under the decking so that mosquitoes can |
| take staining, oiling and thin varnishing. | | | | breed in it. |
| Once you have decided which type of timber you | | | | It is not hard to lay a wooden deck, but it a good |
| are going to use, you can think about which variety | | | | idea to get a set of decking plans to work by. They |
| you want to use. If you are going to use hardwood, | | | | will ensure that you do not miss a stage. They will |
| you have many alternatives, such as teak, mahogany | | | | also give you good hints and tips on which materials |
| or oak et cetera. If you choose softwood the most | | | | to use and how to finish your deck so that it does |
| common timber used is pine. Whichever you | | | | not decay quickly. |
| eventually use, select each length of timber with | | | | Once you have laid your own decking according to |
| care. You do not want distorted, curved lengths of | | | | the plans, you could put an advert in the local paper |
| timber or lengths with an unwarranted number of | | | | and hire your services out to neighbours and locals. |
| knots in it. A good carpenter will inspect each length | | | | Everybody likes the idea of sitting out on their deck |
| in person. | | | | or porch in the evening and once you become a |
| Then you will require something to hold the decking | | | | regular customer at the builders' merchant or lumber |
| down. Nails or screws? Screws are almost certainly | | | | yard, you may meet the criteria for substantial |
| best because they will not come loose if the timber | | | | discounts on materials, which will make your pricing |
| dries out. If you are using softwood, it will be alright | | | | more competitive. |
| to use stainless steel screws, but if you are using | | | | |