What could be more pleasant than a wooden deck to take the time to live fully in your garden? Aesthetically pleasing and easy to install, it is an interesting option to extend the house and create a new living space when the weather is nice.
Contrary to popular belief, a wooden deck is easier to install than a paved or tiled deck. More aesthetic, ecological and integrated, it will blend in much better with the landscape.
Please note that a building permit must be requested for a surface greater than 20m².
Implementation
The location of the terrace depends on the level of sunlight you want, its ideal orientation will be south, southwest. You will then have the possibility to equip it with pergolas or micro perforated canvas in summer. Before building your terrace, take into account the trees in the neighborhood that could provide shade or lose their leaves and fruit and stain the wood permanently. Another important parameter is wind. Choose a protected area, such as between the corner of a wall and the house, to avoid having your deck swept away by the prevailing winds.
Don't forget that your deck should not interfere with your garden, but rather be integrated into it. To do this, install it on one side of the lot or next to the house rather than in the center to avoid the multiplication of small, unusable and unsightly surfaces.
The different structures
You can build your wood deck on various supports.
Often an unsightly concrete slab extends the house, you can exploit it by covering it with wood, thus creating a warm terrace. Simply attach joists directly to the slab, and screw the wood boards to it. It's a job that any good handyman can do, and it won't take you long to do.
If you start directly from the ground of your garden, the preparation of the structure must be careful to avoid future problems: plant concrete blocks every two meters, then spread a polymer wire to prevent the rise of water and the growth of weeds. You will fix the joists on these blocks, then perpendicularly wooden cleats on which the boards will be fixed. For high terraces or terraces on stilts, call in a professional.
The Wood
Exotic woods are ideal for this type of construction. Teak, although expensive, is a "must" for making a deck, it is solid, rot-proof and has its own beautiful characteristic color; ipe is also a brown wood that is very resistant to humidity, fungus and insects, and is a little less expensive. Padauk is currently very popular thanks to its properties and its beautiful coral red color. Its mechanical qualities allow for clip-on or screw-down installation.
All you have to do is make your choice and enjoy your new living space!
