High Level Deck

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Composite Decking Deck25

High Level Deck

General

When designed and built correctly the High Level Deck can add significant value to a property.

High Level Decks can trasnform a fine property into a exceptional property: residential or commercial.

High Level Decks require professional expertise. Firstly, an understanding of the topography is important: certain types of ground conditions require substantial ground preparation to support vertical coloumns. For this type of project it is important to commission a site survey and involve a structural engineer at an early stage.

Vertical Support Columns

A decision has to be made to (a) use galvanised steel or (b) large section hardwood or semi-hardwood columns. In the Glencar project (see Case Study: Lake View House) above, large section Douglas Fir beams, treated to Hazard Class '4' were used to support the deck structure. The beams were plastic coated before being concreted up to 1.4m into the ground.

Bracing

Deck bracing locks the vertical columns together. Bracing is very important. Diagonal bracing is essential to prevent any lateral movement. Bracing also ensures that the column structure and therefore the overall column, purlin, joist structure, work as a unit, dramatically increasing the structures overall strength and rigidity.

Bracing also ensures that if, for example one column was undermined / damaged that the structural integrity is retained.

Purlin Structure

This type of purlin structure serves 2 purposes (a) it acts a a high level bracing for locking the vertial columns together (projecting out from the building) (b) to carry the joists for the Deck25 decking. Two 14mm diameter engineering bolts lock a 225 x 47mm tanalised treated C24 grade Scandinavian pine on each side of the vertical columns to form each purlin element. Each purlin set runs parallel to each other at 2.1m apart.

Joist Structure

The joist structure rests on top of and is secured to the purlin structure.

Lengths of 175 x 47mm, HC4, tanalised pressure treated, C24 grade Scandinavian pine are spaced at 300mm centres (250mm spacing between the joists) substantial bridging is inserted and fixed between the joists.