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.
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.)
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.
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.
