Deck with a view: LiteSteel^® beam offers outstanding solution to site access problem

Smorgon Steel LiteSteel^® beam (LSB) has again proved itself the key to solving a difficult access problem in its recent application on a steep bush site in a suburb near Perth WA. Situated at Gooseberry Hill, and overlooking the national parkland of the Darling Range, the outdoor viewing deck utilised LSB as cantilevered bearers with varying lengths of between 3 metres and 6 metres and the length of the cantilever up to three metres.

The deck is the concept of owner builder and qualified engineer Glade Pike who had created a spectacular design for an outdoor viewing deck next to a residential dwelling. However, the very steep site offered a number of challenges, including the need for a large crane positioned on the public road and fitted with a very long boom extension were conventional steel beams to be used for the cantilevered bearers. With the prohibitive costs in that approach, a solution was sought and found in LSB. A narrow and steep access was constructed at one end of the site to allow the use of a Bobcat and the application of LiteSteel beam.

"Two men were able to bring LSB on site and install it using only a Dingo Rough Terrain Tele-Fork," said Glen Manolas, WA Manager for Smorgon Steel LiteSteel Technologies. "LSB offered other excellent benefits including being easier to handle than a conventional steel member, and more economical and durable than a timber beam."

Glen Manolas also said that no welding was required, as LSB could be drilled on site and assembled using bolts. Standard off the shelf timber brackets were tek screwed to the LSB to connect the timber joists and balustrade posts used in the deck.

"Using LSB on this project meant we were able to achieve an easily constructed, cost effective and structurally sound deck. It was a key component in delivering both the structure we wanted – and the superb views from the new deck," said Glade Pike.

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