Employment

 


Brighton Garden Decking Project - including Balustrade and decking staircase down to lower garden area.
 

Timber decking used to separate the high level garden - and 1.5 metre drop - from the lower level garden. (Thereby making the upper level a safe play area for young toddler.

This was a high level decking project with a brief to make the garden safe for child use. As well as the secure deck area, we designed and built a stretch of decking balustrade along from the main deck, at the edge of a wall with a nasty drop down into the lower garden.

 
The decking balustrade was extended along the garden to allow safe use of the upper lawn area.

Balustrades extended beyond deck area to 'enclose' higher level of garden. The complete project at Brighton was carried out using softwood decking and joists. Balustrades were made up on site - not pre made.

There was a drop of several metres down from the lawn area to the garden below - hence the reason for the balustrades.

Incorporating the balustrades in this manner has a pleasing effect and transformed the visual effect of the garden. Together with this, the whole garden was made safe for children's use.

 
Decking steps to lower level of garden. The angle of the staircase, the height of the balustrade, the gaps between spindles, all carried out to building control regulations, although in this case it was not compulsory. 

By building the steps to run down the front edge of the deck - rather than protruding into the garden at right angles - more space is saved. Together with this, the staircase is safer with the deck side completely boxed in giving an enclosed feeling.

 A secure decking staircase led from the deck down into the lower garden.

A purpose made decking gate was included at the top of the deck staircase.

Purpose-made gate at top of steps to ensure that toddlers did not 'escape' from the deck whilst parents are not looking. When making gates to fit into balustrades etc, remember that continual shrinkage and expansion can cause the gate to 'stick'. Make plenty of allowance in the gap of the gate to take this into account. The same is also true of wet weather conditions, when timbers can expand by 2-3 percent.