Our back deck needed replacing, especially after part of it gave way under hubby's foot, thankfully he didn't fall through it.
We thought it would just be a matter of replacing the deck but we opened up a can of worms.
Steps
Step 1
We removed as much of the old decking as we could while still leaving a path for us to get up and down the stairs. This revealed every second joist needed replacing as well as most of the bearers. Two posts also needed replacing when we found them to be quite soft around the middle.
Every second joist needed replacing
Some areas flaked away
2 posts needed replacing
Step 2
We removed sections at time to fix up or replace, I primed and painted the existing good hardwood joists as well as the new hardwood ones we bought from a local timber yard. I also primed and painted the new posts and bearers ready to go in. I'm afraid I didn't take many photos during the process. In reality this whole thing took over 6mths as we found it all quite daunting at first.
We still needed to keep a pathway so we removed the nails holding the deck to the bad joists and threaded the new ones underneath. We also had a temporary fence between posts to prevent dogs and grandkids from falling through the open deck area.
Removed and replaced sections at a time
Replaced all joists
Step 3
With the hardest part finally done, we were able to move onto laying the deck. We had bought the merbau months previously and had laid it out in the weather for a few weeks to remove most of the tannins etc so it didn't run all over the new paintwork. Some lengths were a little bowed so we used ratchet straps to pull lengths straight against deck spacers.
Protectadeck stapled on
Sun and rain protection while working
Finally making some progress
Step 4
I have a new respect for deck layers, my back absolutely ached while laying this down. I had two drills and an impact driver set up, one with a drill bit, one with a countersink bit and the impact driver with a square drive bit in it. Hubby got hit with the flu just after starting and I couldn't just leave it so continued on my own.
Working our way across
Site fore-girl never far away
Finally made it across to the other side
Step 5
With the deck now laid, I gave it a good scrub with nappysan, rinsed and then applied 3 coats of Timber Protect Decking oil.
oiled and doggo approved
Step 6
Our deck only used less than a litre for 3 coats, so I took the remainder over to our daughter's deck, cleaned it up and it drank over 6 litres with 3 coats, hadn't been done in a long time.
Scrub with Unipro deck wash, pressure washed
3 coats
