Planning for your decking is one area people spend too much of time because of the finances involved but we can as well prepare our minds for the probable costs by doing a rough estimate ourselves from the plan. This will help you to plan ahead and also save cost.
For the plan above,
Estimation will start from the bamboo studs, other materials can also be used but bamboo is cheaper and commonly used.
BAMBOO- Bamboo are spaced at 0.6m or 600mm or 2ft apart in most construction of normal decking height , so for the plan, we are taken the plan to be a perfect rectangle of 29m by 13m. 29m being the longer side, divide by 0.6m
=48pcs of bamboo studs to span one row of 29m
For 13m ,divide also by 0.6m=22 pcs of bamboo studs to span one row in 13m side.
To know the total number, simply multiply (48 by 22)pcs=1056 pcs
But each length of bamboo from the market can cut 2 pieces, so divide 1056 by 2=528pcs of bamboo.
PLANKS-Wood planks of 1” by 12” are most commonly used in decking, plywood can also be used but for this article we are working on 1” by 12” planks.
We need the planks for the table on which the concrete decking will seat, and to calculate that , consider the size of a plank first, which is 3.6m by 0.3m or 12” by 1” . So surface area of a plank is 3.6m by 0.3m=1.08m2
Now calculate the surface area of our decking from plan which is 29m by 13m=377m2
Now divide 377m2 by 1.08m2 to know the numbers of planks needed=350 planks.
You also needs the planks that will go round the wall and serve as a support for these planks. To do this, calculate the total length of walls, for this sample is taken as 275m, but you need the planks to board at both sides of each wall i.e 275m multiply by 2=550m.
Also divide this length by the length of a plank of 3.6m=153 planks
(The one needed for staircase not included),
Total plank is 350+153=503 planks
2”by3” wood also has to run across the lines of the bamboo studs to support the decking table too.
Assuming the 2 by 3 wood goes crosssectionally under the table along the same path with the bamboo, multiply 13m by 48=624m, divide that by 3.6 =173pcs of 2” by 3”.
For other bracing works on site, is advisable you add half of the sum to the sum above i.e (173/2)+173=260 pcs of 2by3
Also consider paying for nails, binding wire and labour.
IRON RODS-Iron rods can’t be calculated without the structural plan, so this is based on experience and assumptions to give us a close idea of what the reinforcements will be.
The iron rods are laid from one end to the other and crossing each other to form a netlike look which depends on the structural designs . But for our sample, we want to assume the spacing for each rod is at 200mm or 0.2m intervals, calculating for the 13m side,
13 divide by 0.2m =65pcs. Now multiply 65pcs by the length the iron rods are expected to span which is 29m.=1885m
Divide 1885m by 12m (which is length of iron rod in the market)
So you’ll need to buy 157 pcs of either 10mm or 12mm iron rods from the market as the design specified.
For the 29m side ,divide 29m by 0.2m =145 pcs, then multiply 145pcs by the length the iron rods are expected to span which is 13m=1885m
Divide 1885m by 12m(which is length of iron rod in the market). You’ll need to buy 157 pcs of either 10mm or 12mm iron rods from the market as the design specified . Note that we arrived at same result for both sides because we are using perfect rectangle and also adopting spacings of 0.2m for both, in a design spacings varies most time. Allowance must also be left for 0.6m return of these iron rods from the edges when laying them, hence the length ought to be taken as (29m+1.2m) and (13m+1.2m) to accommodate the extra irons needed for the returns.
Luckily, as Kobocitizens we have access to their Rebar Calculator here
Consider paying for binding wire and labour also.
