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A low-level hardwood deck under a verandah is finished with a clear oil for a rich, natural look.
The project
The decking boards and the posts are a timber called Tonka or Brazilian Teak. I absolutely love the stuff.
It's the only hardwood l know of that doesn't leach tannins. That's one of the reasons l've used it – it also holds up the carport, which is over exposed concrete, and l didn't want tannins leaching all over that surface.
The only drawback with Tonka is that it is extremely heavy and hard, which makes working with it a little challenging at times. But the end result is well worth it.
The subframe was 90mm x 45mm MGP10 treated Pine, which l cut down and coated with bitumen paint to help protect it from moisture. These were attached to the concrete with concrete anchor bolts.
Under the treated Pine subframe l attached 5mm plastic window packers spaced at about 350mm to keep the joists up off the concrete.
I used Cutek Extreme clear oil for the finish – no tint was added. The only issue with the clear is that it will fade and you will need to repeat every 12 months if you want to retain that colour.
If you want to see the complete build from start to finish you can check out my video here.
How to build a low-level deck
A low-level deck can pose a range of potential design and installation problems, with challenges around ventilation, drainage, termites and rot. But it doesn't have to be a difficult project once you take the time to understand the basics of how a low-level deck is put together.
Experienced Bunnings Workshop member Adam Woodhams has created a comprehensive guide to building your own low-level deck, which provides an excellent reference for getting started.
Resident D.I.Y. expert MitchellMc has also put together a step-by-step guide and video tutorial showing how to build a floating deck using adjustable pedestal feet.
More inspiration for your decking project
Bunnings Workshop member oninpena used pedestal feet to support part of a low-level composite deck built across a partially concreted area.
Workshop member nishadshah built this low-level deck Wi-Fi controlled lights.
Whether you're building a new deck or rejuvenating an existing one, you can get inspired by the clever and creative Bunnings Workshop community in our Top 10 most popular deck projects and our collection of inspiring low-level deck builds.
Let us know if you need a hand with your deck project – we're here to help.
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