Need ideas for small outdoor living area

[Calvin91]

Hello, 

I hope I'm posting this in the correct part of the forum. I have the below outdoor space which is roughly 3.6m by 5.6m that I'm looking to spruce up for outdoor living and entertaining purposes. Photos attached for reference

  

I'm planning to:

- Remove the petostroums on the left hand side garden bed 

- Move the garden edging to a straight line to the fence on the left once removing the petostroums

- Paint fence black 

I'd like to somehow both incorporate a floating deck as well as the the seat in this project https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/t5/Featured-Projects/Outdoor-seating-with-planter-and-storage/t...

But not sure if it's realistic to have both? As there would be a step down to the seating along the fence line from the decking. Not sure if I could build the seat on the deck. Or if I just need to choose one or the other 

I'm also really open to any other suggestions on what to do with this area please! 

Thanks

[Dave-1]

Afternoon @Calvin91 

That looks great! It certainly has come together nicely.

Love that privacy! 

Yeah I would wait a bit, you may notice a red stain coming out of the timber after rain. Ive had that with merbau before.

I like Cabot's 4L Natural Decking Oil but you know what. I like the idea of "finding" the oil you are happy with If you have checked out how the samples in store look and like it Then done! 

Thank you for the update!

Dave

[mich1972]

Good morning @Calvin91  I just saw your post pop up and I was reading through. First of all WOW !!!!! Looking at your before photos and to date , that fence is amazing !!! Well done mate. Also , I would love to say that you are getting awesome advice and inspiration from the Workshop Community. I love how they jump in to help out I can't wait to see what happens next and excited to watch the whole progress. Looking at the photos , it looks like a small backyard which is perfect to create something special. Just by removing the Pittosporums opens it up, giving you more space. Good luck mate and look forward to the next installment.

[Calvin91]

Thanks again @Dave-1 wouldn't have even made it this far without your ideas 🙂.

Oh I haven't even looked at any in store just what I found browsing online. The Cabbots is a lot cheaper so would be great if that one does the trick. I'll check it out in store!

Next step will be the rendered seat with planter box which I'm both excited and nervous about trying to tackle haha

[Calvin91]

Current status on progress, next step is the cement sheet cladding and then rendering

A couple of questions:

1) I'm hoping I don't need to use metal angles for the corners of the cement sheeting? I've got some https://www.bunnings.com.au/builders-edge-50mm-x-20m-fibreglass-builders-joint-tape_p0730318 that I was planning to just use for the corners / joints in the cement sheeting giving it's just an outdoor furniture unit and will be rendered anyway. Can I just tape and then what kind of product should I spread / coat over the tape with? Something like https://www.bunnings.com.au/gyprock-csr-2-25kg-less-mess-multi-purpose-joint-compound_p0173344?

2) Instead of the Dunlop render used in the original project, could I 'paint' over the cement sheet with this product to give a rendered effect? https://www.bunnings.com.au/dulux-4l-medium-texture-exterior-paint-4l_p1409809 I see there is also an associated primer, does this need to be applied first or can I get away with using the texture paint straight on the cement sheet?

Thanks!

[Dave-1]

Afternoon @Calvin91 

Woooo you are powering along! It looks great. (would love to see an inside shot as to how you have attached those seat slabs)

As to the question with the cement sheeting, What size sheet are you thinking of using? I would be tempted to have the corner edges sit flush as you can and then use a jointing compound over it. Then paint with that "fake render" perhaps you have mentioned? I would wait for one of the other guys to confirm as they do know more product wise  

I dont think I would use the tape (lifespan is the only reason why) but I havnt used it before either for that matter.

Dave

[JacobZ]

Hi @Calvin91,

Nice work so far, it's coming together nicely.

Unfortunately, mesh tape is not suitable for use on external corners, nor is plaster compound suitable for use outdoors.

You could use the mesh tape on the internal corners, but it would not be suitable on the external corners. As there is no real volume to mesh tape, the render itself would form the protruding edge. If you use a bead, the metal or plastic of the render bead forms that protruding edge, so if it is hit, the bead is hit, not the render, which dramatically decreases the chance of the render cracking and coming off.

If you use beads and render, there is no need to coat anything before rendering.

If you decided to use the Dulux Medium Texture Exterior Paint, I would just but the sheets into each other, seal the seam with No More Gaps Exterior Gap Filler and then paint over the top.

If you use this paint, you will have to use the Dulux 10L Texture Paint Primer beforehand.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[Calvin91]

Hi @Dave-1 thank you

I'm just using some 4.5mm thick James Hardie cement sheets - https://www.bunnings.com.au/james-hardie-2400-x-1200-x-4-5mm-2-88m-hardieflex-cladding_p0711396

What kind of jointing compound would be suitable? Would the one I linked above be ok?

Sure no worries - also keen to hear feedback of others too thanks again for your help and input

[Calvin91]

Hi @JacobZ thanks for your assistance! That makes sense, I reckon I'll just go with trying to butt the sheets as close as possible, seal with the no more gaps and then prime / paint with the dulux products - sounds like it'll be a bit easier than having to use the render beads on the corners and I assume the texture paint is a bit more forgiving than normal render in that it won't come off if it's knocked etc.

[JacobZ]

Hi @Calvin91,

Just to jump in on your questions for @Dave-1.

Unfortunately, the multi-purpose jointing compound you linked to above cannot be used in an outdoor application that would be regularly exposed to weather.

You can use Dunlop 3kg Fibre Cement Jointing Compound as long as there is a coating, such as render or textured paint applied over the top.

Let me know if you have further questions.

Jacob

[Calvin91]

Latest status is all cladded, apart from a little lip I'll do on the inside top of the planter and just finished with the no more gaps 😊

The only query I have is most of the screws are sitting quite flush with the cement sheeting, so can't really be covered over unless I drive them in further but risk going too far or snapping the sheet

Planning to get some painters advice on Monday on whether I can just build up the layer of dulux exterior texture primer and the 2 top coats of the dulux exterior medium texture thick enough that I won't need to worry about the screws and can just paint straight over the top with the dulux products. 

Any thoughts on this?