Planning an outdoor timber structure

Planning an outdoor

timber structure

A timber deck, pergola or boardwalk can add immense value to a property, while also serving a great purpose outdoors, say the experts. However, as with anything, there are facts and numbers, do’s and don’ts, regulatory considerations, quality and life-in-service considerations that every property owner must consider before making the final decision.

Robin Schultz Gareth Griffiths

We spoke to the owner of an established business, Contour Decks in Cape Town, who shared a few words of advice, and some great photographs with us.

Why choose a timber structure?

• Timber structures are universal and can be made to fit on almost every property, even decking for an apartment having an outdoor balcony.

• Timber structures are erected to improve outdoor living space, while also providing better access to unusable ground, for example, sloped areas, rocky areas and wet areas.

• Timber structures are equally applicable in a commercial, hospitality or domestic environment.

• A correctly designed timber structure, designed and installed by a known professional should last the life of the property, with minimal periodic maintenance.

• A timber structure can be erected with minimal ‘wet works’ (meaning cement, concrete and brick work) and minimal use of expensive steel structural elements.

• A deck, pergola or garden walkway/boardwalk can add huge value to a property, besides also providing a hospitable carefree outdoor environment.

It must be noted that the construction of a timber feature should be done for practical reasons and under practical considerations; for example, how much foot traffic it will carry and just where in the garden it should be located from a design point-of-view.

Outdoor venue braai area deck with screens Outdoor deck job in progress in high-rise building.

Bosjes - Walkway

Design, planning and municipal permissions, required or not?

A general rule of thumb is that plans are not required for a timber platform lower than 1m off the ground. However, most municipalities in South Africa require that permission be sought from the relevant department or municipal officer (building control officer) to undertake ‘minor building work’.

While plans need not accompany such an application, it should be supported by a basic sketch indicating the size, materials, and position of the structure. There may be a fee involved in doing this submission.

Minor building work is referenced in South Africa’s

National Building Regulations, SANS10400 and the absence of not having prepared plans does not absolve a property owner from adherence with the overall building regulations.

A Macanduba deck

Pergolas These are multiple-use structures which, if correctly situated, can add enormous aesthetic value to a property.

Consider their potential in blocking the direct rays of the sun from inside the house, while actually helping to shade a window of a house in winter. An additional timber screen with the above or stand alone can be used to great effect in masking ugly garden features such as concrete walls.

Another useful timber element is a vertical screen called a brise soleil to shade windows and deflect sunlight reducing heat gain inside the house or building.

Using the correct wood

Garden structures require the use of Class 1 hardwoods in South Africa or softer treated timber, SA Pine, which is usually also coated. While most typical hardwoods used are imported, there are two notable exceptions, both involving the use of alien but endemic hardwoods.

The more expensive options: • Maçaranduba - origin South America • Garapa - origin South America

Frequently used: • Balau - often used in SA and not requiring much maintenance, but subject to quality loss owing to depletion of old hardwood forest reserves in Southeast Asia.

Locally grown hardwoods but native to Australia: • Cladocalyx/Sugar Gum/Eucalyptus - currently harvested from existing forests, which are not being replanted. • SA Pine - Pinus Elliottii, Pinus Patula and Pinus Radiata are all alien species (the latter being the recommended) but locally grown using sustainable forestry methods.

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Useful website references

www.contourdecks.co.za www.timber.co.za www.universaltimber.co.za www.lesserknowntimberspecies.com/ species/massaranduba https://www.wood-database.com/balau https://www.timbacore.co.za/blog/ timbacore-balau-decking https://www.sabiepoles.co.za/pinewood-decking-the-best-wood-to-usefor-timber-decking-in-south-africa

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