Activity: Design a Deck
Alex wants to build a deck for the house.
It should be shaped about like this:
(Choose a different size if you want, maybe to fit a place outside your home?)
Alex can buy some beautiful hardwood, but it is only available in the following sizes:
- Width: 90 mm
- Lengths: 3.0 m, 3.6 m, 4.2 m, 4.8 m, 6.0 m
Please tell Alex how many of each length are needed.
Note: Be Practical! Think about actually using real boards to make this deck.
- Alex can cut the boards into smaller lengths, but not into smaller widths
- Tell Alex if there should be some re-design so the shape fits the boards better (but not by too much or it won't fit the house!)
- You should order extra boards in case some are bad quality, or Alex makes a mistake when cutting
Fill out how many of each length are needed:
- 3.0 m:
- 3.6 m:
- 4.2 m:
- 4.8 m:
- 6.0 m:
Remember to convert units so they match:
3 m = 3,000 mm, 3.6 m = 3,600 mm, and so on.
Extension
Another practical thing: you don't want cuts to line up, so having two boards of 3.0m exactly next to each other is bad:
Staggering Joints: When two board ends meet in the same line across several rows, it creates a weak seam in your deck. Staggering the joints spreads the load across the underlying joists and makes the deck much stronger!
Also try for a different size of deck ... maybe a new and interesting shape?