Traditional "decking"?

[clunfarm]

Looking for inspiration / ideas... (I should add, everything is unlisted, but we are in an AONB.)

We have a traditionally-styled cart-barn that was incomplete at the time we purchased our house.

In order to complete the waney-edge cladding at the rear, where there is a sizeable drop to some fairly soft ground and a pond, we have had some steel brackets made that will also enable us to have a walkway/balcony on the back of the barn in due course. Photo shows barn before completion of cladding:

Thinking on this, it feels to me that modern timber decking would look wrong against the more rustic oak waney-edge. Can anyone recommend what I should create the deck/balcony/walkway out of that would look "right"?

 

[Flyfisher]

Lovely outbuilding!

I think I'd be considering some sort of wide-planked 'jetty' with slight gaps (half-inch?) between each plank. Unfinished oak would blend in nicely and should be long lasting with little or no maintenance required.

I agree that modern, narrow, grooved decking would look somewhat out of place.

 

[angrybird]

loving the outbuilding
Have you thought of reclaimed railway sleepers for the deck/walkway? I think they would blend in nicely with the barn and would be long lasting if the grounds a bit damp

 

[middi]

Simple. 6"x6" green oak posts at 2 metres intervals as uprights, these to protrude 3 feet ( one metre) above projected finished decking level.
2 (or 3) green oak cross rails to be morticed and pegged ( horizontally) into the "protruding" post for every two metre section. These will form your safety rails with provision for access or steps as required.
2 lenghts of green oak beams ( 6 x3" would be ideal), one to be attached or supported ( horizontally) by intermediate posts against the brickwork the other to be bolted horizontally against the 6x6 upright posts. These will form the base to support the green oak beams/joists ( size depending on span) . On these you require wide ( min 12" x 1" ) oak planks with at least half inch ( 13mm) gap to form your decking base.
This green oak should not be very expensive. Leave it for the elements to work on it and after a couple of years will be perfectly blended into the facade of the barn

Good luck

Middi

 

[MdB]

What is oak like for the ice like layer that pine decking gets in the winter? I'll be looking for a bit of decking for the new extension but the old pine decking is lethal when it's wet.

 

[JohnB]

What is oak like for the ice like layer that pine decking gets in the winter? I'll be looking for a bit of decking for the new extension but the old pine decking is lethal when it's wet.

The oak decking I'm now turning into raised beds was lethal in the wet. It was the only way into the house when I moved in, and it's lucky there were no accidents. If it had stayed I would have covered it with chicken wire.

I'm turning it into garden beds because it's so hard it blunted a set of planer blades, and I didn't dare ask the planer owner to plane any more for me!

 

[MdB]

Thanks - I suspected as much.

 

[middi]

In wet weather ( or winter) use wide perforated matting or anti-slip mesh on the boards.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

What is oak like for the ice like layer that pine decking gets in the winter? I'll be looking for a bit of decking for the new extension but the old pine decking is lethal when it's wet.

Or for that matter, a British summer. Ours is utterly lethal. We've just jetwahed all the flaking plastic paint and grime off it, which has helped a bit. It's been tantalised with green poison, any point using oil on it rather than treatments that just coat it? I should add it was all here when we arrived. :roll:

 

[clunfarm]

Thank you for all of the comments - plenty of food for thought.

Will post something once I have made progress with this. Work on the house, I am told, is the priority...

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Work on the house, I am told, is the priority...

I am similarly blessed with such clear instructions! :lol: