Hello,

I am in the process of building a wooden deck and am now finishing by laying the decking boards. Unfortunately, it seems that the joists the decking boards will rest on are not perfectly straight and are quite bent in several places. I therefore need to even out between the joists and the decking boards to get a level surface. The terrace is 8 x 4 meters, and it is uneven in several spots. Replacing the joists is not an option. To even out the surface, I plan to use 1mm roofing felt that I will lay in strips in layers in the places where it is needed.

Now to the question.

How do I most easily find the highest point on the joists (a total of 18)? I will work from this highest point and then even out. Is there any old trick? Please note that I do not have access to laser measuring instruments.

Best regards
 
Use long passes and shave down the studs where they are too high...
 
If you're planning to even out with 1mm roofing felt, it doesn't seem to be that uneven? Or were you thinking of applying multiple layers on top of each other? In that case, it will flex when you walk. Planer and long spirit level are the way to go.
 
Hello and thank you for your answers.

Planing will be difficult because some beams are very, very close to the ground, and if I start planing, I risk making the bedrock between the beams higher than the beams themselves.

The roofing felt is of the black tarred kind (rather compressed variant), and I had planned to lay it layer by layer. I tried it the other day and it was surprisingly stable. Didn't feel any give, but it could also be because I have 45cm centers between the beams.

So in summary, planing is difficult, and trying to fill in any dips is unfortunately the only option. Any tips on how I can easiest find the highest point on these 18 beams? I have a long level, but I need some ideas on how to proceed to find the highest point.

Regards
 
Rent a rotary laser, wait until it gets dark enough so that you can clearly see the line, and then lower the laser so that the beam is just above the surface. Then the highest areas should be colored by the beam. But there might be some other easier way without a laser.
 
Also think laser will be easiest.
 
A laser is a bit much on a deck, right?? A straightedge or long level makes it straight enough.
 
Hose level works otherwise. One end is mounted at a likely high point. The other is drawn over the surface to see if the level rises above the fixed point.
However, I don't know if it is actually more convenient than a long level. Unless there are long distances between the measuring points.
 
gauge along, kneel at the side and look level with everyone, you should see the suspicious height ridges and then just check with board and level...
 
Thank you all for the responses. I will start by aligning along the studs with a board and spirit level, as Pette suggested. It will take time, but it seems to be the simplest solution. Krawk: I tried using a hose level, but found it difficult to handle over such large areas.

Best regards
 
Or buy a laser instrument that can show vertical & horizontal lines in a sector (Doesn't have to be a rotary laser) a Black&Decker cross line laser costs 879 at Jula, a Mecc 649:-, a Bosch 1440:-
It's super easy (if there isn't too much light) to plane according to the laser line

If you have a hedge that needs trimming, you can use the laser every year!!

Not to mention getting pictures up in rooms at the same height so the wife (who can see that without a laser) is pleased...

You must have a laser... hehe
 
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I am completing my answer. It is of course a regular string used to find high and low points. Afterwards, you can learn more about the situation with the long pass. Use a type of string that does not stretch significantly, like murarsnöre.
 
PST said:
If you then have a hedge that needs trimming, you will use the laser every year!!
.....if the hedge is planted completely horizontally, yes.
 
MathiasS said:
.....if the hedge is planted completely horizontally, yes.
The cross line laser I have (bosch pcl1) can be locked at any angle, which makes it work here. Not that I would set up the laser to cut the hedge... :)
 
Clever. You can't do that on my old Tammoliner.
 
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