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Replacing a high raised decking with stone
velvet_rose1980
Posts: 26
Hello everyone,
I've read a couple of previous forum chats on a similar subject, but would be grateful for any insight you can give me on my own specific situation. ☺️
I live in a Victorian terrace with a sloping garden, and it has a high decking platform with steps down to the garden.
We have already cleared away all the rubble and soil that was packed underneath it - the aim was to move the steps to the other side, put a door through the breeze block wall (also clad with decking), and create a storage space underneath. It has waste pipes too under there.
However, neither my partner nor I much like the decking, and it's also gone tatty and soft in places.
How difficult would it be to replace the decking with sandstone or quarry tiles, and replace the set of steps with the same? Or can you even lay stone over essentially a cavity beneath? Has anyone used sleepers for steps instead? (Are they more durable than decking?)
In short, has anyone done anything similar??
Many thanks for reading this long post. ☺️
PS Yes, it's a complete state!!
I've read a couple of previous forum chats on a similar subject, but would be grateful for any insight you can give me on my own specific situation. ☺️
I live in a Victorian terrace with a sloping garden, and it has a high decking platform with steps down to the garden.
We have already cleared away all the rubble and soil that was packed underneath it - the aim was to move the steps to the other side, put a door through the breeze block wall (also clad with decking), and create a storage space underneath. It has waste pipes too under there.
However, neither my partner nor I much like the decking, and it's also gone tatty and soft in places.
How difficult would it be to replace the decking with sandstone or quarry tiles, and replace the set of steps with the same? Or can you even lay stone over essentially a cavity beneath? Has anyone used sleepers for steps instead? (Are they more durable than decking?)
In short, has anyone done anything similar??
Many thanks for reading this long post. ☺️
PS Yes, it's a complete state!!
0
Posts
My concern is that I think there would inevitibly be some flexibility in the joists supporting the surface, and I'm not sure how you could seal the joints between the pavers because of consequential movement.
Perhaps others with more experience have some ideas .................
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
You could use a composite non wood decking or a nice hardwood one.
We did a whole flight of decking steps at my daughter's over 6 years ago and they are still in very good condition as they look after them.
We bought the wood from edecks and it has a non slip surface set into the tread as they are used to access the front door in all weathers
The problem with sleepers is making them non slip
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Incidentally, you may want to look at your brickwork...I suspect it needs a bit of TLC.
Good luck.
It would be easier and cheaper to replace the deck and steps with composite decking, such as 'Millboard Enhanced Grain', which is more durable than timber decking and won't go green and tatty.
Even inside on wood floors you leave an expansion gap around the edge, we thought we had left enough on one floor we laid only to come down one morning to find a large bumb in the floor!
I would assume a composite deck wouldn't need this but you would need to check a sellers website for guidence.
You could put exterior grade sterling board over the storage area under the joists. I would think you need an air gap between the decking and board to allow any moisture to evaporate.