Decking tiles over part paved, part raised "wilderness"

[mantamark]

Hi everyone, i think part of my quest may have been covered before, but i figured i best ask everything in one thread incase different things have a bearing on each other.

Right, down to it. We have a smallish garden, paved around one edge, with a lawn in the centre, a 8x6 shed in one corner with a 2500L semi submerged pond next to it, then what i like to call the wilderness. I think when the garden was first done, it would have been fantastic. From what i can see, they have dug out the pond & used the soil to create a multi layered raised bed effect.

Alas after many years we have bought this house and the garden is a bit tired & feeling a bit sorry for itself. I have been given the task by the wife to make it a nicer place to sit out and have somewhere to entertain.

My idea was to create a raised deck area stepping up from the existing paving, then i was offered some 600x600 decking tiles, and i though, ah, that will make things easier. so i picked them up, then figured out i would need a frame, and supports, and a base etc etc etc.

So, i have a supply of paving slabs, so i was wondering if i could put two layers over the existing paving to raise the level, then flatten out the wilderness area (remove all plants etc) which, given the fact it is a slow incline, if i use all the soil there it will create a natural step, which is what i want, roughly one deck board on its side high.

My problem is, i think i cant do it the way i want to, or i can, but there is a good chance it will go wrong in the not so distant future.

Before i bore you all (ah nuts, bit late for that) i will show you some pictures of what i have to work with, then i will bore you a little more before you can give me some help!

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/mantamark/Pond%20and%20garden/Iphone001.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/mantamark/Pond%20and%20garden/Iphone002.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/mantamark/Pond%20and%20garden/Iphone003.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/mantamark/Pond%20and%20garden/Iphone004.jpg[/img]

So, there you have it.

Would i be ok to use the slabs to create the elevation on the already paved section? Or would i be better off with posts?

The soil section, once all plant matter is removed, then levelled out, what is my best option to create a base? gravel base with some slabs for the framework to sit on?

Dimensions! I forgot about those.

The Total area is 14m2
The Wild area is 7.05m2
The Paved area is 6.8m2

So its not huge, and in an ideal world i would have it all level, but due to an extension, we dont have easy access to the garden from the front of the house, having to go through patio doors, a single door, then a upvc door to get to the front of the house, so carting all the soil through the house would be backbreaking and would take forever! so my only idea was a dual level.

Though just thinking, i could spread the soil out over the whole area? would that be any easier do you think?

This pic shows the step down to the paved area (130mm)

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/mantamark/Pond%20and%20garden/Iphone007.jpg[/img]

And the following pics show the difference in levels in the area

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/mantamark/Pond%20and%20garden/Iphone010.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/mantamark/Pond%20and%20garden/Iphone011.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/mantamark/Pond%20and%20garden/Iphone014.jpg[/img]

I went to B&Q today to have a look at the framing, and decided to have a play with it..

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/mantamark/Pond%20and%20garden/Iphone022.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/mantamark/Pond%20and%20garden/Iphone021.jpg[/img]

So now i can visualise how it will work with the framing, but need help with the finer details. The following pic shows a section laid out & framed in the shop

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v255/mantamark/Pond%20and%20garden/Iphone026.jpg[/img]

So, massive essay thread over with, hoping i will get some good replies & i will do my best to answer anything i have missed out.

Mark.

[roquevalente]

hello, pretty large essay indeed to work thru, there is 2 basics that you should know when placing a deck:
1) there needs to be a framework underneath to level everything
2) if you want to eliminate weeds then you should put a anti-root cloth underneath.

see for much on this topic of how to build a deck yourself, including spacings of the framework and which sizes wood to use and here is another one pictures on how to build you deck, step by step.

http://www.roquevalente.com/how-to-decking.htm
http://www.roquevalente.com/how_to_build_deck.htm

Good luck!