Timber iQ December 2018 - January 2019 // Issue: 41 | Page 48

FEATURES
When walked over, your deck should not bounce – your tea should remain in its cup and not spill out onto the saucer or the deck.
Continued from page 44
DECKING DOS AND DON’TS
• Do not accept a deck that bounces when walked over.
LEGISLATION GOVERNING TIMBER
DECK CONSTRUCTION
Timber structures must be designed and built in
accordance with the South African National Standards
(SANS) 10163, which governs the structural use of
timber and SANS 10082 ‘Timber Frame Buildings’.
An engineer would make use of SANS 10163 on a
timber decking project.
SANS 10082 is the code of practice for timber structures
and your decking contractor should have a copy of this
document as well as SANS 10043 (Solid Wood Decking) on
hand. The National Building Regulations must also be
strictly adhered to when constructing a deck – or any other
structure for that matter – and will refer the designer,
builder and engineer to the relevant code or regulation for
correct execution of the project.
Decks which are more than 1.5m off the ground should
be designed by an engineer with experience in timber
construction. The Institute for Timber Construction South
Africa (ITC-SA) can help source an engineer with the
relevant experience.
46 DECEMBER 2018 / JANUARY 2019 //
• Balustrade posts should be bolted to the sub-structure
and not nailed, as they will eventually come lose.
• The balustrade should not have any gaps through
which a 100mm diameter ball would fit. Any part of
the deck that is higher than 1m off the ground
requires a balustrade.
• Timber structures should have space of at least 450mm
below the decking for air to flow around the timber. Where
this is not possible, try to keep the timber above soil.
• A timber deck is an attractive addition to any structure
and standalone (on a beach or a boardwalk, for
example) makes for a durable, functional statement
piece. However, timber decking, like all constructions,
should be approached as an investment.
• The homeowner or project manager would do well to
investigate the subject, ask for advice, engage the
services of an accredited professional from design to
final inspection, and ensure proper and regular
maintenance is conducted; the yields on a well-built,
well-taken-care-of timber deck are priceless and offer
invaluable returns well into the future.
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