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• PRO

  Honey Badger February 12, 2022 at 12:38am

  E=mc2
• PRO

  Andrew Betteridge February 12, 2022 at 5:47pm

  Enough for a Jack Russell to get under it to chase the rats out.
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  Gary Clapham February 13, 2022 at 7:18pm

  60mm to the underside of the decking
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    Tim Bucknall > Gary Clapham February 14, 2022 at 8:00am

    60mm seems much too little, you need air flow through underneath the boards and the joists.
• 

  Tim Bucknall February 14, 2022 at 8:00am

  Enough for air to flow freely, 1 Jack Russell seems about right :-D 

   
  • 

    Gary Clapham > Tim Bucknall February 14, 2022 at 8:23am

    Its 60mm to the underside of the decking joists, not the actual boards
• Public Member

  Catherine Rose February 16, 2022 at 7:40pm

  Thanks for the sensible replies so far. The measurement that I required is from the top of the decking. It will include the height of the decking boards and then the joists and then an air gap. I am unsure of all three measurements at present. The height of the soil is currently at the top of the decking so I need to know how much more soil that I need to remove. I am removing it by hand as unfortunately can not get a digger into the back garden. 
  • 

    Gary Clapham > Catherine Rose February 17, 2022 at 7:39am

    hi catherine, decking joists are normally either 100mm or 150mm, 

    so it would be from the top of the soil + 60mm air gap + joists either 100mm or 150mm + thickness of decking boards Usually 35mm so its either 195mm or 245mm. 

    hope this helps
  • PRO

    Honey Badger > Catherine Rose February 17, 2022 at 1:28pm

    Depends on how you word a question. Lots of variables hence my answer. If you asked what's the minimum joist thickness that you could use I would say 50mm. Using 100mm joists you have adistance  of 1.8m between concrete posts, for 50mm joists you would have to reduce the distance for load bearing. Air flow clearance minimum 50mm, deck boards approx 25mm. When sinking a deck in the ground, the best way to protect it from the soil is dpc against the joists then gravel board. Plenty of info on websites and if your have a good local wood yard they will help you out.
• PRO

  Andrew Betteridge February 17, 2022 at 10:25am

  Last year I had to get my circular saw and cut a trap in a customers decking to rescue the chicks that the mother hen had left behind when another chick wandered off and she went with it.

  I have also cut access traps in decking for the vermin guy to gain access, the comment about enough  height for a Jack Russell to wander about under the decking is a serious one, as many birds and animals may decide to live under it.

  We have just had an issue with rats under our neighbours shed and the box they keep the cushions for the patio furniture in, exasperated by there also being three  bird feeders in the garden,  I actually saw a rat shaking one of the feeders hanging in a bush to get the food to fall out.

  Decking is a haven for vermin, wildlife, domestic animals and birds do you do need to consider access if there's an issue.