How to install modular decking

Before you do anything else, measure the area you'd like your deck to go and clear space around it. Head to your local Bunnings and pick up your modular decking system and make sure you have enough base and decking pieces to fill your designated space. If you're opting to make the deck yourself, choose the timber and have a team member cut it to size in-store – they'll even deliver it for you (but for this project we're opting for the easier modular system – you'll probably want to do this too).

This bit is surprisingly simple, as the kit comes with ready-drilled holes and pre-cut timber lengths. We used an impact driver drill to attach all our pieces – these are much more powerful than your regular drill (but also nosier – so use ear/eye protection). Attach with baton screws to keep everything in place.

Before you put everything together, make sure it's all going to fit, and that it's all level. This is where the feet you've bought will come in handy – they adjust to the level of your ground. To do this, bang them in with your hammer, and, once they're in place, you can wind them up or down to ensure your deck is level. If your ground is drastically uneven and your legs won't extend far enough down on one side, use pavers or bricks to jack up, then place your feet on top.

We can't stress this enough – no one likes a wonky deck! Once you've attached your feet, use a spirit level to make sure it's all level again. Wait till the bubbles are central, and you're good to go. 

Get your drill out and screw your frames together – create one big deck frame. Don't forget to wear your protective equipment for this bit!

This is the fun part! Lay your deck panels across the beams – they just slot in. It really is that simple! You can either choose to screw them in, or leave them loose and it will still be secure and safe. We decided to stagger the direction of our decking panels to add interest.