Hi it's Alan here from BuildTuff Australia. We're up here in sunny Queensland on the Sunshine Coast
at the site of our latest build. What makes this side of particular interest
is this is an example of TuffBlock uses an intermediary support. What does that mean? That
means that TuffBlock will be used in conjunction with traditional in-ground concrete footings
like what you're seeing today. So we've got an 8x4 metre deck where we're going to use
seven in-ground concrete posts with 36 TuffBlocks so let's go have a look.
One of the first things you need to consider before starting a decking project is site
preparation so prior to this there's a pool here it's now being filled with some
decomposed granite with a top layer of sand nice and tightly compacted and we're ready to go. When
used in conjunction with traditional in-ground concrete footers you can combat shifting ground
whilst benefiting from reduced materials and labor leading to quicker install times.
So this particular deck build we're looking to build an 8x4 metre deck
coming away from the house to create a wonderful backyard oasis. Dynabolted in is the ledger board
working away to seven in-ground concrete posts and we're going to use 18 joists to fill it up
before putting our deck materials on. One of the most important considerations you
need to take in mind when building a deck in particular low level decks or decks that are
close to the ground or in contact with the ground is your timber selection. I'm going
to take you through some of the durability class considerations you need to think of
when building. Now this is a Queensland build so they need to follow the QBCC guidelines.
The three most important classifications to remember are H3 H4 and H5. H3 treated pine
is suitable for above ground use only whereas H4 and H5 can come in contact with the ground.
So in this instance they've used H4 for the joists and H5 for the posts. Now due to the homeowner's
proximity to the beach they've gone to extra steps to ensure the life of their deck that starts with
using stainless steel joist hangers, 316 stainless steel with 316 stainless steel nails. In this
particular instance for the posts has used hot dip galvanized fasteners. They've gone to an extra step
of using a zinc coating to protect against corrosion now to achieve the maximum life of your
deck you really want to consider sealing all your cuts. Now that includes your joists and your posts.
Now in this particular instance whilst there are a number of different waterproofing systems
they've used a bitumen paint sealant and this should help them achieve the absolute maximum
life of the deck. With all the preparation now complete we can begin to lay our joists.
The joists have been laid out at 450 centers with two TuffBlocks per joist being used.
Be sure to check your span tables to work out how many intermediaries you'll need per joist
All right so we're midway through the project. Right now so if you see here we've got the seven
in-ground concrete posts with a joist running straight to a ledger board at the house and
TuffBlock's a perfect example of how it can be used as an intermediary device. It's spanned
over 1.4 with 450 mil centers so the 18 joists are covered by 36 TuffBlocks and it's as I
said a perfect example of how TuffBlock can be used with a traditional in-ground concrete footing.
TuffBlocks are the perfect solution for low profile deck builds and with the right ventilation
and termite protection can build as low as 165 millimeters. Now let's see how it turned out
the homeowners have chose composite boards which are a great choice given the location of the build
and this should prevent warping weathering and fading over the long term well that's another
successful build and we're delighted for the owners in their new backyard oasis so next time
you're thinking about building a deck consider how TuffBlocks can be used in combination with
traditional methods to give you peace of mind and to free up your time on your next
project