An insight to the daily life of a garden design and landscaping build up on a rear garden located in Exeter, Devon.
Day 16
Coffee
Composite decking mainframe

The composite decking mainframe is taking shape, I want to use as many full lengths as possible so plenty of thought and calculations are required, the joists and double up and sprayed red at every joiner.
Black composite decking walkway

The recycled black decking walkway is installed parallel to the property, a separate detachable manhole hatch will be included to gain access to the manhole cover below.
Decking post hole excavation

As we progress with the construction of the decking frame, another member of the team drops behind us and excavates the post holes with a pair of scissor shovels. The depth of each post hole dig will be 600mm. At this depth I install 200mm of concrete to each base of the post hole and compact the concrete prior to installing the 4×4 treated posts. If concrete is not installed at the post base the liability of the whole decking bouncing into the sub base whilst 15 to 20 people party are very high.
Composite deck supporting legs

Each post is cut at 400mm allowing for the concrete base depth, each cut post loaded out next to each hole ready for installation. I have bolted the double joist frame to the house , feature walling and kitchen block work with Fisher frame fixings 10x140mm, I have also used the 6.0x80mm self tapping Spax screw and 100mm and 150mm Timberdrive
Decking post support

As you see above the finished height of the post is 10-15mm below the top level of the decking frame and concreted in place ensuring the concrete is compacted around the post. I allow the concrete surrounding the posts to cure for 2-3 days before laser levelling the joists into a level position and bolting the joist to the post with 150mm Timberdrives.
Recycled composite decking frame

Garden design and landscaping works in mid flow Exeter, Devon
Raised seating area render wall

The top coat render is applied to the hatch way kitchen, raised seating area walling
External rendered walling looks like an internal wall

Once the render has been applied to the walling, the plasterer will work with the setting time, rubbing the walling up with a plastic float as the render setting time will allow, this is then completed with a sponge finish, should the walling not set with in the working day then we will bring and set the lights out and continue working with the wall until such time that the walling render top coat is completed.
Tomorrows blog: