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The word “terrace” is translated from Latin as “earth”, which reflects the essence of such a structure – a platform built on the ground. In the southern regions, terraces are made open; in our latitudes, it is often glazed and transformed into a veranda. A wooden terrace is the topic of our today’s article.
Types and forms
The terrace is a full-fledged extension to the house, has a foundation, supports or walls, windows and a roof. The cost of construction and the consumption of materials directly depend on the type of future structure and are determined by the features listed below.
Video “How to build a terrace with your own hands”
From this video you will learn how to build a wooden terrace with your own hands.
Location
The adjoining structure stands close to the house, has a common foundation with it, or is an extension.
A separate building is independently located on the site.
The terrace can be multi-level, located above the ground or flush with it. You need to choose based on your own vision.
Terraces are found open or with a fence. The building itself can be fully open and equipped with a canopy, closed and insulated, partially open.
Types of wood for construction
Regardless of the choice of design, the primary task of the owner of the site is to choose the type of tree for construction. The strength and long service life of the building is provided by materials from soft varieties of wood. The most popular of them:
- Pine. A very malleable material from which it is easy to create a part of any shape. It cannot absorb moisture, so it is worth forming gutters in the log house to drain water.
- Spruce. Such building material must undergo mandatory heat treatment before use. Thanks to this, the building will be strong and durable.
- Larch. Most often, its Siberian variety is used. The material is very durable, withstands temperature extremes, high humidity and drought. The tree contains resin, which is known as an antiseptic, which means that it does not need pre-treatment. Experts allow even window frames to be made from larch.
Harder woods can be used to create individual elements. Their disadvantage lies in the complex processing process. If the site owner wants to decorate the veranda with fir or oak elements, then he will have to purchase special tools.
We build on our own
An attached veranda should be erected on the main facade of the building. Otherwise, the terrace will be isolated from the house, and you will need to enter it through the street. The dimensions of the building are determined individually, based on the number of family members and the dimensions of the house. So, 3-6 people can comfortably accommodate on a platform measuring 3×4 m.
After that, a construction project should be done. You can create a drawing yourself, choose from a variety of options in open sources, or order its development in a special company.
Before starting work, you need to purchase material. The main list looks like this:
- rounded wood for supports, beams, flooring;
- material for the roof (if it is provided for by the project);
- cinder blocks for the foundation;
- concrete solution;
- sand;
- gravel and crushed stone;
- impregnation for wood protection;
- fasteners;
- instruments.
Then you should carry out preparatory work with the soil. To do this, the surface must be cleaned of the roots of plants and leveled. The site selected for construction is covered with a mixture of sand and gravel.
Base
For a wooden veranda, a columnar foundation is perfect – this is the simplest and most budgetary type of foundation. Step by step, its construction looks like this:
- First, the surface is marked, then holes are dug up to a depth of 1 m for supports. When creating pits, you must first of all focus on the quality of the soil and the weight of the future structure.
- The bottom of the pits is covered with sand and gravel, and the top is filled with a solution of concrete.
- The supports are built from cinder blocks.
load-bearing elements
The main building material for the frame will be wooden beams. To create the bottom harness:
- Lay roofing material on the foundation and lay logs on it. You can fix them on the surface with the help of steel reinforcement from the foundation.
- Upon completion of the strapping, several transverse bars must be laid in pre-prepared grooves with an approximate step of 1 m. After placing the bars, they should be fixed with long nails.
Rack mounting:
- For the roof supports of the open terrace, it is necessary to install vertical bars at least 2 m long at the corners of the future building.
- The racks are attached to the bottom harness with self-tapping screws, you can additionally strengthen the fasteners with steel corners.
- The upper harness is made of timber, then installed and attached to the racks.
Water proofing
It is important at the construction stage to provide for a slope to the outside so that the water does not stagnate. If the terrace is attached to a brick house, it is worth creating a visor made of galvanized material. When laying the floor, it is necessary to make expansion joints – a gap of 1 cm, which ensures concrete deformation and prevents cracks. In general, cement screed is a strong waterproofing coating.
Wall coverings
Lining is used for lining the inside of the frame, siding or similar material is used for the outside. A layer of hydro- and thermal insulation should be laid between the inner and outer skin. The film is attached directly to the frame, and the insulation is fixed using transverse rails.
The main thing when sheathing is to provide openings for doors and windows.
Roof
The roof frame for the veranda is made of wooden beams. It is important that the roof is sloping, then water and snow will not accumulate on it. You can put any material on the frame: polycarbonate, glass, corrugated board. The choice depends on the wishes of the owner.
Decoration
If the wooden veranda is made in a modern style, it is worth adding metal or glass elements to the room. Wooden furniture is placed in a country-style room and much attention is paid to the choice of textiles, because it is he who will emphasize the individuality of the terrace. The Provence-style veranda is decorated with aged furniture, wicker chairs and white decorative elements. In a Mediterranean-style space, you can put ottomans and sun loungers, and decorate them with many small pillows.
The terrace is a great place for families to relax. A well-mounted do-it-yourself extension made of quality materials will serve the owners for decades.