Discussion
I'm putting some composite decking down. I laid the first few rows but made the mistake of thinking the house is straight which it isnt. I've looked on YouTube and people suggest using a chalk line. This might sound daft but how do you know the string is straight against the two points?
I relaid the decking again yesterday and thought I had it straight but after around 8 boards it's bowing out. The boards are all straight. They are 2.4m long over a length of 3.6m
Any tips advice please. This should be a simple job!
I relaid the decking again yesterday and thought I had it straight but after around 8 boards it's bowing out. The boards are all straight. They are 2.4m long over a length of 3.6m
Any tips advice please. This should be a simple job!
I'm not getting you - What do you mean "How do you know if the line is straight between two points?"
Measure out the distance of the boards and gaps at both ends. Put a line form point to point and pull tight. secure the board in accordance with the line. So long as it isn't touching anywhere, it will be straight.
Measure out the distance of the boards and gaps at both ends. Put a line form point to point and pull tight. secure the board in accordance with the line. So long as it isn't touching anywhere, it will be straight.
wjwren said:
I'm putting some composite decking down. I laid the first few rows but made the mistake of thinking the house is straight which it isnt. I've looked on YouTube and people suggest using a chalk line. This might sound daft but how do you know the string is straight against the two points?
I relaid the decking again yesterday and thought I had it straight but after around 8 boards it's bowing out. The boards are all straight. They are 2.4m long over a length of 3.6m
Any tips advice please. This should be a simple job!
Are you talking about the boards being Straight or level?I relaid the decking again yesterday and thought I had it straight but after around 8 boards it's bowing out. The boards are all straight. They are 2.4m long over a length of 3.6m
Any tips advice please. This should be a simple job!
Can’t really see much detail on my phone apart from the last board(s)on the right not looking right, are they fitted? Are they bending/Bowing upwards? Or Catching the wall as you fit them at one side of the board stopping them sliding up to your spacer between the boards?
M
The corner of your wall may well not be 90 degrees exactly if that’s what you are trying to set out from.
Don't worry op, you'll get there in the end, it can't end up being as bad as my neighbours decking. Gaps between the boards from install that you could put your fingers through and the "builder" who lived in a caravan at the local pub who turned up pissed most days started from the garden and worked towards the house... A slither of decking at one end and more than a full board the other end this was over a 9m length. Plus the "builder" had put joists at 700mm on centresish so you could feel the bounce as you walked on the decking.. Everything would have been done as cheap as possible as to my neighbour free would be too expensive.
Man maths make a laser level a totally acceptable purchase in this situation.
https://www.diy.com/departments/bosch-cross-line-l...
https://www.diy.com/departments/bosch-cross-line-l...
Not sure if 've got the right end of the stick in terms of exactly what the issue is, but if it's due to the side wall not being perpendicular to the patio door wall then you'll need to trim some boards down to square it up.
If the side wall is less than 90 degrees to the patio door wall then you'll need to trim slightly more off the end of each board as you move away from the door to keep it square on the open end nearest the camera. If it's more than 90 degrees you'll either have to trim the one closest to the house by more than the runout then gradually trim less and less as you move away from the door, or lay them all at full length then trim the open ends back level (with a chalk/laser line) afterwards.
If the side wall is less than 90 degrees to the patio door wall then you'll need to trim slightly more off the end of each board as you move away from the door to keep it square on the open end nearest the camera. If it's more than 90 degrees you'll either have to trim the one closest to the house by more than the runout then gradually trim less and less as you move away from the door, or lay them all at full length then trim the open ends back level (with a chalk/laser line) afterwards.
InitialDave said:
Does it look straight in person?
If so, I'd just crack on, making sure you maintain even gaps.
You can drive yourself mad trying to get things like this right by the numbers.
It looks straight in but the last few boards have to be 'bent' over and pulled in so the gap is equal. Looking down the boards I can see it is obviously not straight.If so, I'd just crack on, making sure you maintain even gaps.
You can drive yourself mad trying to get things like this right by the numbers.
wjwren said:
InitialDave said:
Does it look straight in person?
If so, I'd just crack on, making sure you maintain even gaps.
You can drive yourself mad trying to get things like this right by the numbers.
It looks straight in but the last few boards have to be 'bent' over and pulled in so the gap is equal. Looking down the boards I can see it is obviously not straight.If so, I'd just crack on, making sure you maintain even gaps.
You can drive yourself mad trying to get things like this right by the numbers.
Ie. ||||||||||)) so you are forcing them “straight” against the packers
wjwren said:
It looks straight in but the last few boards have to be 'bent' over and pulled in so the gap is equal. Looking down the boards I can see it is obviously not straight.
You can't adjust the house so you'll either have to live with a larger gap at one or both ends, or take a sliver out of the first board.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff