June 7 - 13, 2015: Issue 217

 Repairing Damaged Decking Boards

Cold weather is a great time to attend to all those repair jobs around the home that will save you big bucks long term. Many a small deck repair can turn into a big deck repair or even replacing the whole verandah or deck itself if left too long. Woods exposed to exterior conditions, and especially those on damp sides of hills or close to the water, will rot if not maintained properly and even those that are will deteriorate over time and need replacing. Some area of your deck will be subject to more wear and tear than others, and replacing these boards before they get worse, or cause those on either side, in taking up the slack, to get to a point where they too need replacing.

When you do lift a board up, ensure the battens and piers beneath are still fine too, there’s no point fixing the surface if what you will refix new decking to has rotted.

When choosing the timber try to match it to existing and be aware you will need to re-stain the boards around the new so you have a uniform finish. If you’re unsure what timber you have, cut out one of the to be replaced sections and take it with you. There are many woods treated especially for exterior use available which can be used to suit your particular conditions. Blackbutt and Spotted Gum have a natural fire resistance for example, while many of the Treated H3 Decking in pine means this plantation timber is termite and fungal resistant.

As you will be cutting random-length replacement boards, buy the longest boards you can carry back home; this will cut back on waste. Buy galvanized or stainless steel nails or screws long enough to penetrate the joists by at least 3.5cm. The length of the fasteners depends on the thickness of your decking.

Makita 3pce 18V Li-Ion Combo: , $469.00, • Includes cordless hammer drill driver, impact driver, mobile coffee maker, 2 x 1.5Ah batteries, charger and moulded case.

To begin, determine which planks you'll need to completely remove and which have damaged segments that mean you only need to replace that section. Mark those sections clearly using chalk and/or a carpenter’s pencil.

Make sure you are wearing protective goggles and a dust mask prior to beginning to cut any boards.

Cut the section of bad board free from the joists at both ends with a jigsaw. Cut alongside the joist using a circular saw of a circular set the exact depth thickness of the wood. Angle the saw blade a few degrees so the new board will butt the top edge of the old board tightly. Chisel out the centre of the cut out, working toward the edges. Then square off the edge at the cutting line ends using a sharp, wide chisel. 

Makita 1200W Circular Saw: $99.00• 185mm, • 5200RPM., • Carbide-tipped saw blade, • Aluminium plate base, • One-finger trigger switch, • Rear dust exhaust port

Carpenters recommend that you cut out pieces that span at least two joist spaces. This keeps the new boards from splitting as they age. When replacing the new boards place them so the growth rings face down. This will stop the grain from splitting open or collecting water as readily. 

To ready your new boards for installing, measure thrice and cut once! For a really clean cut, identify the top side of the board, flip it over, and make the cut. The bottom of the board gets a cleaner cut because circular saw teeth cut from the bottom up. When you cut a board, don't leave a knot at the end. 

To get a tight joint between old and new boards, angle the jigsaw slightly when cutting out the bad board so the bevel on the remaining deck board is longer at the top.

When fixing the new board Drill pilot holes, and make sure you’re then nailing the new fasteners into the joists or battens.

Sand, stain and finish the boards as required to protect them and to blend the new into the surrounding area.

_________________________

Johnson Brothers Mitre 10  currently have Blackbutt Decking at $9.90 per l/m and Premium H3 Treated Pine Decking at $3.15 per l/m.
The Tax Time Tool Blitz is also currently running with some great deals on Makita, DeWalt, Bosch and a wide range of support gear for doing your home projects.  June is a good  time to purchase that item you’ve held off acquiring or replace those that are worn out.
The Online Catalogue is HERE

The  name “Blackbutt” comes from the regular appearance of a blackened base on the trunk of the tree, caused from fires. Blackbutt primarily grows in the coastal regions of southern NSW and up to south east QLD. It has a quick growth rate and is easily regenerated, making it a popular species for plantations and a readily available timber on the east coast of Australia. The heartwood colour ranges from a yellowish brown to light brown, with a fairly straight grain and even texture with gum veins sometimes present. Blackbutt has a very good fire rating and is one of the 7 timber species found suitable for bushfire prone areas by the Building commission of Victoria. Their fire retarding properties meet Australian Standard AS3959, and so can be used in bush-fire prone areas.

Products advice is available from the trained friendly staff at Mona Vale and Avalon Johnson Brothers Mitre 10. 

Click on logo to visit Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 website

www.johnsonbros.com.au

Previous DIY Pages:

Decking Timbers  Caring For Your Deck Decking Finishes  Privacy Screens I Privacy Screens II  Privacy Screening Hardwoods  Autumn Paths and Lawns  Insulation Batts Plasterboard  Ventilation - Edmond's Ecofan Blackboards for Children and Home Spring Lawn Care Shade Sails & Watering  Basic DIY Tools DIY Tools - Power Drills Recycle Your Trampoline into An Air Bed  How to Build Your Own Backyard Cricket Pitch Christmas Lights Displays around House and Garden Summer Mildew - Refresh, Renew How to Fix Things That Drip and Bump in the Night Time To Plant Winter Vegetables – Raised Garden Beds Layout Orgainsing Your Tool Shed Make Your Own Weathervane Installing A Garden Watering System  Decking Oils  How To Make Garden Compost  How To Winter proof Your Lawn How to create Shabby Chic effect on Timber Furniture How to Build Your Own Raised Garden Bed  Growing Your Own Winter Vegetables  Winter Heating Guide Prepare Your Yard For Winter Eradicating Noxious Weeds From Your Yard How to Fix Furniture Finishes Part I How to Repair Scratches, Dings, and Dents of Furniture Surfaces - Part II Winter Draughts Fix  Classic Wooden Tool Carrier Spring Garden Checklist Part I  Install Your Own Skylight  Retaining Walls for Saving Soil and New Spring Garden Beds  DIY Summer Salad Garden Native Plant Garden for A Fairy Arbour Renewing Short Flight of Exterior Stairs Deck Maintenance DIY Summer Tasks You Can Do In Time to Get to the Beach  Garden Ponds for Attracting Birdlife, Dragonflies and for the Soothing Sounds of Water  The Salt Air Factor: Maintenance and Protection Creating an Outdoor Dining Arbour, Gazebo or Patio - Part I Creating an Outdor Dining Arbour, Gazebo or Patio Part II  Autumn Garden Tasks  Autumn DIY Jobs: Waterproof Your Home Checklist  Dealing With Dampness Inside the Home  Fixing Your Fence 

______________________

John and Bob Johnson - The Johnson Brothers Profile  John William Alfred Johnson - The Eulogies for those who could not attend Mass

Copyright JBH Mitre 10, 2015. All Rights Reserved .