curved decking

[simonm]

I am wanting to put some decking up at home but with a curved edge. Any ideas how this is done?

[Big T]

It depends on how much of a curve it is! Are you having the decking coming to the edge of the vertical board underneath? It is possible to bend 6"x1" timber but do it very slowly and try to choose a piece with little or no Knots in it as it will tend to break where the knots are. To mark out the curve get some white plastic 20mm ish PVC pipe and bend that th the radius you want. Mark with a pencil and jigsaw it off!

[urbandekay]

Why, we are ripping decking out for people, as they realise it is not a good idea?

[simonm]

Its not a good idea if its done incorrectly. Just because its tanalised doesn't mean it will last forever. Most people just rush ot and do stuff on the cheap the raised fecking i did at the end of the garden was creosoted underneath and was sat on brick pillows.

[simonm]

It depends on how much of a curve it is! Are you having the decking coming to the edge of the vertical board underneath? It is possible to bend 6"x1" timber but do it very slowly and try to choose a piece with little or no Knots in it as it will tend to break where the knots are. To mark out the curve get some white plastic 20mm ish PVC pipe and bend that th the radius you want. Mark with a pencil and jigsaw it off!

 

yes the curved timber underneath the decking board has to be load bearing as it will be walked on as you step off the edge. You will have to use your imagination on that 1

[Kenty]

We had decking at our old house, never again, couldn't keep the algae at bay so was like an ice rink when wet. I lost count of the amount of money spent trying to keep it from being slippery. Great in a dry country but awful in a wet country.

[Big T]

Yeah thats what i thought you meant mate, I was abit crap at explaining! lol! It can be done but if the curve is too tight then the wood will snap, soaking it for a week before hand will help but still not guanteed!

[simonm]

We've curved timber before by putting loads of little cuts along the back with the chop saw worked really well but i don't think it would be much good with decking. I will get me thinking cap on.

[Jimbob87]

My old boss once got some curved fence rails for a driveway from a sawmill they had been cut and rejoined somehow. Was a long while ago they looked good though.

 

 

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[chrisj]

I've done it in the past on tight curves (on low level decking) by concreteing timber rounds upright side by side around the curve to support the edge.