Decking can be a game-changer when it comes to turning a concrete floor into a warm outdoor area. The right decking selection and installation are essential steps whether your goal is to create a practical dining area, a chic poolside retreat, or a cozy patio. Decking adds comfort and functionality to your outdoor space, in addition to improving its visual appeal.
Selecting the appropriate decking material is the first step in making the project successful. Choices include contemporary composite materials and traditional wood, each with special advantages. Pressure-treated pine or cedar wood decking adds a cozy, natural charm. It is strong and adaptable, allowing you to paint or stain it to fit your style. Composite decking is long-lasting and requires little upkeep because it is composed of a mixture of recycled plastic and wood fibers and is resistant to mold, fading, and stains.
Thoroughly prepare the concrete surface before installing decking. Make sure it is crack-free, level, and clean. The stability and appearance of the decking may be impacted by any flaws. Clear away any dirt or debris with a pressure washer, and use concrete filler to fix any cracks. Give it enough time to dry before moving on.
Achieving a long-lasting and beautiful deck requires careful installation. To start, place a moisture barrier—like a plastic sheet—to stop moisture from penetrating the decking material. Place treated lumber strips or sleepers perpendicular to the decking board installation direction. In doing so, a solid framework for attaching the decking material is created.
- What is the material?
- Requirements for the base for installation
- Concrete base pie
- Tips for choosing
- Is screed preparation necessary??
- Preliminary actions before installation
- Tools for work
- How to install correctly?
- Open and closed method
- Deck and diagonal laying
- Possible difficulties and errors
- How to lay on an uneven surface?
- Average prices
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Useful video
- Video on the topic
- Installation of WPC boards on a concrete base
- Decking or decking board. How long does it last??
- Deck board made of WPC: installation errors, dismantling and correct installation
What is the material?
The word "decking," which means "decoration" or "flooring," is where the term "decking" originated. The most common material is wood-polymer composite, which combines the strength of synthetic materials with the lovely look of wood.
Additional protective agent treatment ensures resistance to temperature fluctuations and humidity changes. It is also feasible to develop long-term resistance to continuous exposure to rain or snow.
Installing deck boards over a concrete screed is not only feasible, but also recommended. A long-lasting structure is produced by such a solution. Simultaneously, the strength properties of the concrete base and the proper application of the outer coating require observation.
Requirements for the base for installation
The quality of the concrete base device has a major impact on the structure’s overall resistance to loads.
The following prerequisites seem to be applicable:
- selection of cement with a strength of at least M200;
- organization of foundation thickness from 10 cm;
- The slab is poured with a slight slope to remove moisture.
The best surface to install decking on is concrete. For the duration of operation, there will be no sagging or deformation of the surface.
Concrete base pie
Installing decking boards on a concrete base is not difficult technologically, but you must set up the proper pie:
- Prepared base. The base must be level and clean. A slight slope is required for proper drainage of moisture.
- Jogs. Metal pipes with a square or rectangular cross-section are used. As a rule, suppliers of decking boards offer suitable design elements.
- Deck board. Standard sizes are 130-165 mm wide, 1.5-6 meters long. The thickness of the product is within 20-35 mm. A variety of color solutions are available.
When the pie is arranged in this way, a structure that is shielded from the effects of extreme heat and humidity is produced. The completed walkway or terrace is stable in the summer and winter.
Tips for choosing
You can obtain a structure with ideal strength parameters and a high load-bearing capacity by using a concrete foundation. It is pertinent when installing supports to fix the roof or installing railings. 50×40 or 33×48 mm options work well for log selection.
When it comes to decking boards, 150x22x1500 mm is a good size option, but you can also choose other sizes. Choosing hollow models that effectively remove moisture during operation is crucial.
Is screed preparation necessary??
Conducting a visual assessment is crucial in determining the necessity of preliminary surface preparation. This is required for both recently built and old concrete bases.
Small cracks and chips need to be fixed. If the cracks are large, they need to be filled in and filled with a cement mixture. Once it has dried, more work is done.
It is advisable to add another layer of screed on top if the quality of the concrete base is too low.
The surface is finally cleared of concrete dust and construction debris. Primer is applied. A layer of waterproofing must be applied to the base to give it extra strength.
Preliminary actions before installation
Measurements are made in the beginning. The area and perimeter of the main surface must be ascertained. When choosing the precise number of decking boards, the structure’s height is also taken into consideration.
The following approximate quantity of materials will be needed for apartment organization:
- terrace board 135 mm wide – 7.4 linear meters;
- mounting clip – 20 pieces;
- guide beam – 3 linear meters;
- rubber gasket – 9 pieces;
- corner in the shape of the end;
- starter clip;
- metal frame when raised up to 10 cm – 4 linear meters.
It is crucial to include a 3-to 5-percent margin for the decking board in addition to performing accurate computations. There must be a margin of at least 7–15% if the shape is complex and could form an oval or diamond.
To ensure success when installing decking on a concrete floor, the right materials must be chosen, and a methodical approach must be followed. Taking durability, upkeep, and aesthetics into consideration, this post will walk you through the process of choosing the best decking material for concrete. Furthermore, it will offer precise, detailed instructions on how to install decking over concrete in a way that ensures stability, durability, and an eye-catching finish. Whether you’re improving an outdoor space, such as a patio or balcony, knowing these tricks of the trade will help you build a long-lasting, stylish deck that blends in with your design and can handle the weather well.
Tools for work
You’ll need the following supplies in order to finish the task successfully:
- Phillips screwdriver or screwdriver;
- construction pencil;
- rubber mallet;
- yardstick;
- drill;
- work gloves;
- building level.
Also, a collection of materials is required. The decking itself, as well as the joists, end strips, corners, and plugs, are required. Additionally, 6 mm x 70 mm self-tapping screws are required.
How to install correctly?
It is essential to pour a concrete screed at the beginning. Selecting cement with adequate strength between M200 and M400 is crucial. Terrace board installation is done after four weeks, after the base has dried completely and acquired the required strength characteristics:
- Log device. It is advisable to install square metal logs. Installation is carried out in increments of 30-40 cm.
- Laying boards. The decking is attached perpendicular to the joists. To ensure a strong fixation, the first lamella is secured using a starting clip. The first board is connected to the clamp, after which the device is attached with clips directly to the joists.
- Final works. The last board is cut to fit the concrete base exactly. Then a strong fixation is carried out using self-tapping screws. But you need to keep the angle to 50 degrees. The connection is closed with an end cap or a special corner.
- At the final stage, the surface is cleaned of residual chips and dust.
You must continue to attach each component with care and precision. It is important to lay joists and boards evenly to avoid the entire structure from being distorted. The boards may distort and the coating may fail altogether if the connection is unstable.
Open and closed method
There are two primary methods for attaching the terrace board to the concrete base: open or closed.
- With the open method the work is carried out by analogy with the installation of a conventional wooden floor. The boards are mounted on screws coated with anti-corrosion material. At the final stage, grout is applied to match the color of the main floor so that the screws become visually invisible.
- Hidden way fixation is the most aesthetically attractive and in demand. In this case, the boards are fastened along the end part without visible elements in the upper part. This also ensures a longer service life of the material, since moisture cannot enter the internal structure of the boards.
Deck and diagonal laying
Boards are mostly used for deck laying. An appealing structure is produced when the planks are arranged parallel to the base. The flooring has the appearance of a ship’s deck once the work is finished.
With the diagonal method, every plank is fastened to the neighboring wall at a 45-degree angle. It will still take a lot of material even with the original solution.
Possible difficulties and errors
You should avoid making the following common errors when installing:
- Laying directly on concrete. This quickly leads to damage to the material, distortions and excessive exposure to moisture.
- Installing wooden joists. This should not be done if you plan to install a durable structure. WPC joists or metal pipes are required.
- Insufficiently strong fixation. In this case, the boards may diverge, a lot of moisture gets into the interior space.
Accurately choosing the thickness of the joists, decking boards, and concrete base is also essential. This can arrange for a resilient and load-bearing coating.
How to lay on an uneven surface?
You will need to install adjustable supports if the concrete screed has noticeable height variations or irregularities. These components are installed in steps of up to 50 centimeters, which increases the formed frame’s strength.
Install the joists from a 60x40x3 mm profile pipe after installing the supports. Installing 50×40 mm WPC joists is also acceptable. Special components that come with the supports are used to fasten these products. Alternatively, perforated metal tape can be used.
Average prices
Whether an open or closed fastening method is selected will determine the final cost of finishing the work. It also considers the possibility of laying boards diagonally or using the deck method.
The installation method selected will determine the overall cost of the work.
- laying boards directly or on deck – 950 rubles per sq. m.;
- installation of decking using the diagonal method – 1000 rubles per sq. m.;
- installation of steps with preparation of the frame – 3000 rubles per linear. m.;
- fixing decorative elements – 300 rubles per linear. m.
The choice of manufacturer, external factors, and internal filling all affect decking costs. The average cost per square meter for a double-sided hollow and lightweight board is 2,880 rubles.
Advantages and disadvantages
Elongated planks with pigment—a concoction of wood flour and fillers—are formed into decking boards. When installed on a concrete foundation, premium decking offers the following benefits:
- increased coefficient of slip resistance due to the formation of a stable base;
- the board cannot heat up when exposed to direct sunlight;
- the surface can handle direct loads of up to 500 kg per sq. m.;
- no mechanical damage appears on the floor;
- resistance to physical impact is maintained;
- the components of the concrete base and decking do not contain harmful substances with toxic emissions;
- ensures relatively low weight of the upper part;
- the service life reaches up to 20 years, but you need to monitor the quality of the base;
- provides increased moisture resistance;
- additional protection against the formation of fungus, mold and rotting processes.
The flooring doesn’t need to be chemically treated on a regular basis. Selecting and applying a superior coating is sufficient. In order to prevent grass growth and deformation, small gaps are left when fastening to concrete.
Regarding the drawbacks, we can draw attention to how labor-intensive the procedure is. You must level the ground or dig trenches before laying. Formwork is necessary for the concrete base, which takes a long time to dry. Because the construction team or artisans are putting in a lot of work, the cost of expenses goes up.
Reviews from users indicate that picking the proper decking board is crucial, but so is adhering to the laid-out instructions on the concrete surface. Make sure to use logs because there will be constant moisture contact and potential negative effects from low temperatures in direct contact with the concrete base. Furthermore, the internal space is ventilated by the logs.
Reviews are available right here.
Useful video
Additional details regarding the installation features in the video:
Your outdoor space can be completely transformed by selecting and installing decking on a concrete floor, which offers a beautiful and long-lasting surface for entertaining and leisure. Choosing the appropriate materials is essential whether you’re building a new deck or remodeling an existing patio. For materials with a classic appearance and feel, like natural wood, or composite decking for minimal upkeep and longevity, go for it.
Preparation is essential when installing decking on concrete. Before beginning, make sure the concrete surface is dry, clean, and level. Use pressure-treated joists or sleepers to build a solid foundation above the concrete. By encouraging airflow, this lessens the possibility of moisture accumulation, which can result in mold or decay.
Think about the arrangement and positioning of your decking boards before installing them. Make sure they line up properly and firmly and arrange them in a pattern that works for your room. For fastening, use coated or stainless steel screws; these will prevent rust and corrosion and prolong the life of your deck.
To preserve your deck’s aesthetic appeal and structural soundness, maintenance is necessary. Keep dirt and debris clean on a regular basis to avoid potential damage and stains. Every few years, protect your wood decking from the weather and preserve its color by applying a stain or protective sealant.
With the help of these pointers, you can choose and install decking on a concrete floor with confidence, adding an attractive and useful outdoor space to your house.