Decking... agh! help!

[Mull]

Strange question! If you charge £1000 for a job and spend £400 you make more money than if you spent £500. Also over spec means more labour costs.

Client isn't usually interested in spec. Just finished product and price. I charge less and make more than the over spec man.

 

 

I wouldn't agree, your time is your time no matter what the spec is, higher spec might mean more time, not always.

[muttley9050]

Oh well. I'm not going to argue the point. I'll just continue sunning myself in sunny majorca. And when I return to the UK I will continue to do a quality job with the least expenses and man hours possible because that is the soundest way to run my business for myself and the customer.

[aspenarb]

Postcrete is a rip off, all you need to do if you want quick set is sprinkle a bit of Fondu cement in with the ordinary concrete mix and its off in minutes. We did some decking for the council for wheelchair access around some ponds using that composite plastic/wood. The decking was half in the water and half on land, that concrete was off in minutes even though it was submerged within half an hour. Digging the post holes through the middle of a 200ltr barrel with the ends cut out and leccy pump in the way was not easy but the lads managed:thumbup1: That composite decking seems to be good gear.

 

Bob

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Postcrete is a rip off, all you need to do if you want quick set is sprinkle a bit of Fondu cement in with the ordinary concrete mix and its off in minutes. We did some decking for the council for wheelchair access around some ponds using that composite plastic/wood. The decking was half in the water and half on land, that concrete was off in minutes even though it was submerged within half an hour. Digging the post holes through the middle of a 200ltr barrel with the ends cut out and leccy pump in the way was not easy but the lads managed:thumbup1: That composite decking seems to be good gear.

 

Bob

 

 

What's fondu cement Bob??

[aspenarb]

What's fondu cement Bob??

 

This gear Kevin, we used it mixed with OPC http://kerneosinc.com/pdfs/CimentFonduBrochure.pdf

 

Bob

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

This gear Kevin, we used it mixed with OPC http://kerneosinc.com/pdfs/CimentFonduBrochure.pdf

 

Bob

 

 

👍🏻👍🏻 useful!!

[MooresFT]

Mmm I wouldn't say postcrete is a rip off. Yes it's more expensive, but it's instant. If you can finish a job that day because you don't have to wait for something to go off it's a no brainer!

 

Also, no mixer, no electric, less mess to clean up! Easy to transport and any left overs are easy to deal with.

 

Also, if you have priced accordingly to your spec and get the job then you've made money.

 

I'm definitely a belt n braces man, especially with modern timber, at least of it built like a **** brick house and you have a timber fail it's not a disaster!

[Mark Bolam]

👍🏻👍🏻 useful!!

 

 

It is Kevin, thanks Bob.

Postcrete isn't a rip off.

If you're only putting in one or two posts it's probably the cheapest option.

It's mental to use it on a big job though.

[phil123]

Thanks very much indeed chaps! really appreciate your advice. I have bought the 'Book' (more like a magazine) and am reading it as we speak though theres a lot of technical jargon in there that I don't really understand.

Do I have to use bearers then joists before the boards? can I not simply bolt the Joists to the posts then just screw the boards to those?

 

Thanks again, I Really appreciate it.

[muttley9050]

Either is fine. Depending on the size of the deck it can be easier to get the strength by using one or two bearers/purlins as supports mid span.