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Hi @IronStan001,
The pedestals are typically not fixed in place. They are designed to create a floating deck system, where the weight of the deck itself holds the structure securely in position. This approach works well in most standard conditions, as the combined weight of the decking boards, joists, and framing is sufficient to keep the deck stable.
However, if you live in a cyclonic or high-wind area, additional measures to secure the deck may be necessary to prevent it from lifting or shifting. In such cases, you could secure the deck to the ground at specific anchor points using brackets or ground anchors. This adds stability and ensures the deck remains safe during extreme weather conditions.
When constructing the deck, it’s important to ensure the pedestals are level and evenly spaced to provide uniform support. Ensure the pavers underneath are stable and not prone to movement, as uneven pavers could cause instability.
Floating decks are a versatile solution that avoids permanent attachments, making them an excellent choice for areas where flexibility or non-invasive construction is required. Just be mindful of the specific environmental conditions in your area to decide whether additional anchoring is necessary.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
OK, so I've been tasked by my sister to have a floating deck built over existing pavers. She was suitably impressed that me, an IT pro, could be capable of constructing my own deck that could rival a seasoned tradesperson.
Below is a rough plan of what I have to play with. The 4 posts are an existing pergola that will remain, so I have to work around those. The base itself is as per the bottom photo, pavers that have been grouted. There is a 125mm step down from the door, down to the pavers, which doesn't leave a heap of room to play with.
The first thing I guess I need to decide is the orientation of the joists and the boards. Which option would be better? Joists (solid RED) running back to front and boards (dotted RED) running left to right? Or joists (solid GREEN) running left to right and boards (dotted GREEN) front to back?
Point to note: I don't think those pergola posts are 100% lined up. The distance between the posts closest to the house are different to the distance between the 2 posts furthest from the house (by around 150mm).
Hi @IronStan001,
There's not much difference in which way you decide to run your boards and joists. That's more personal preference and whether the lengths of decking are available to suit. In a single span, you have 5.7m lengths, so you can run the decking in either direction. One school of thought is that the decking should be run in the green direction as it flows better from inside to out.
Please let me know if you have further questions.
Mitchell
One of my issues is that the posts are not 100% in-line. The 2 posts closest to the house are about 150mm further apart than the 2 posts at the other end, which could make laying the joists or the boards tricky. However, I do agree that the boards along the green axis (perpendicular to the door) so it could make the deck look longer than it is.
Assuming I run the boards lengthwise, should I fix the first joist/ledger board to the brick?
Working around the posts will pose some issues, but none that will inhibit installation @IronStan001.
My only concern with having the boards like that is that from inside, you'll see the ends of the boards, and that won't look great. You might like to start them 90mm from that inside edge and run a single board perpendicular to their ends so it looks neater.
Mitchell
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