How To Build A Timber Deck - Step By Step
As soon as I saw the internal courtyard and backyard, I knew that we had to build a large deck that wrapped around the back of the house. It’s completely changed the feel of the home.
Al Roberts
When we started renovating this tired 1980’s brick house, we knew the internal courtyard had so much potential. By replacing the old pavers with a timber deck, we’ve turned an underused space into a functional area for entertaining.
Here’s how we did it.
Before
After
Shopping List
We ordered all our decking materials online through Bowens, and everything was delivered straight to our door, which made organising the project that much easier. We wanted a timber that would complement the original red brick, so we spoke to the team at Bowens, who recommended Karri decking. Karri is a Western Australian eucalyptus known for its rich colour, making it a great match for the brickwork. We chose 135 x 19 mm, pre-oiled boards.
We also added a fence along the side of the garden using rough-sawn battens and turned the chicken coop into a cubby using some of the leftover battens.
Step 1. Remove the old pavers
First, we removed the existing pavers to clear the area and prepare the ground for the new deck.
Step 2. Prepare the ground
We hired a digger, scraped back the ground, and then dug out the holes needed for the deck stumps.
Step 3. Build the subframe
We attached the wailing plates to the side walls, added the bearers, positioned the stumps and concreted them into place. Once everything was secure, we installed the joists to create the frame for the decking boards.
Step 4. Install the decking boards
With the frame complete, we laid the boards. We pre-drilled the holes, secured each board using stainless steel decking screws, and worked our way across the deck. Once all of the boards were installed, we trimmed the edges for a clean finish.
It’s hard to believe this is the same space we started with. What was once an underused courtyard is now a warm, practical outdoor area that connects the back of the house and gives us somewhere to entertain.
It’s a great example of how a considered material choice and a few well-planned changes can completely transform an existing space.
Thank you to the lovely team at Bowens for all of their assistance throughout this project.
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80’s Brick House Renovation
As soon as I saw the internal courtyard and backyard, I knew that we had to build a large deck that wrapped around the back of the house. It’s completely changed the feel of the home.