New Zealand (NZ) Deck Design - ROBO Deck Designer

Home ☰

ROBO Deck Designer Videos

Don't forget to subscribe to the ROBO Deck Designer You Tube channel to keep up to date with the latest videos.

Can I use galvanised fasteners for my NZ deck? (1/3/2024)

Can I use galvanised fasteners for my NZ deck? This video covers the topic whether you can use galvanised fasteners for a New Zealand deck. This is a question a user of the ROBO Deck Designer asked recently. Join me as we dive into the New Zealand NZS3604 building code and work out the answer.

ROBO Deck Designer an update on the progress of the planned changes (18/1/2024)

ROBO Deck Designer an update on the progress of the planned changes This video is a continuation of the previous video I did back in October 2022 on the future plans for ROBO Deck Designer. So now over a year later, where are things at? This video provides a progress on what's been happening.

Handrail for steps for New Zealand decks (7/12/2023)

Handrail for steps for New Zealand decks This video is a continuation of the previous three videos on handrail design for New Zealand decks and covers the handrail design when applied to steps. There's a few differences when looking at handrails when it comes to steps.

Is there a safety loophole for New Zealand decks? (25/10/2023)

Is there a safety loophole for New Zealand decks? This video is a continuation of the previous two videos on handrail design for New Zealand decks and discusses a possible safety loophole. I know in the first video I said there would be three videos, but I felt I had to slip this extra video in.

Handrails for New Zealand decks - the infilling of handrails (13/9/2023)

Handrails for New Zealand decks - the infilling of handrails

This video is a continuation of the previous video on handrail posts for New Zealand decks and contains information on the infilling of handrails. This video covers:

1. Codes to follow
2. Restrictions on openings
3. Loadings for bearings
4. Loadings for bearings - top rail
5. Loadings for bearings - infill panel
6. Handrails used on ROBO Deck Designer

Handrail posts for New Zealand decks (2/8/2023)

Handrail posts (balustrades) for a New Zealand deck, everything you need to know about handrail posts

This video covers all about handrail posts (balustrades) for a New Zealand deck. There's more to this than most would think. This video looks at:

1) When do you need a handrail
2) What this video covers
3) Terminology
4) Building codes to follow
5) Technical details & sizing
6) Height of a handrail
7) Different methods of attaching a handrail post to a deck

Tolerances for a New Zealand Deck (21/6/2023)

Its a largely ignored part for building a deck, but in NZS 3604 there are actually building code regulations for the tolerances for building a deck. But what do they, how relevant are they and how easy are they to achieve and measure. This video reveals all.

Braced Piles for New Zealand Decks

This video is to complement the previous video on anchor piles from last year. There's quite a bit behind braced piles, so let's rip into it. The braced piles are for New Zealand decks using the NZ building codes, which in this case is NZS3604.

Bracing for New Zealand decks - understanding the complex building code regulations

Understanding bracing for New Zealand decks is quite difficult. There's a maze of building code regulations to understand from NZS3604. This video is to explain this as easy as possible, as we dive straight into NZS3604 and look at the different clauses that help understand bracing for a deck. We will also include a sample deck, find out the bracing required and how this can be achieved using bracing elements - anchor piles or braced piles.

Exporting drawings out of ROBO Deck Designer into CAD software

Exporting drawings out of ROBO Deck Designer into CAD software is breeze. But how do you actually do it and what file formats are available. This video will walk you through the entire process, so you can edit drawings using CAD software.

Loaded dimensions - What are they? (for New Zealand decks)

Its a important factor in determining the bearer size and spacing for a New Zealand deck, but what actually is a loaded dimension?

To view the video on joists please check out: https://youtu.be/gd_-oH9n4hU

and for the video on bearers at: https://youtu.be/_2BX9kC1Fx0

Merry Christmas from ROBO Deck Designer

Merry Christmas and a happy new year for 2023 to all users of the ROBO Deck Designer.

Decks, Earthquakes & NZS3604

Its one of the most destructive thing any New Zealand deck can face. I'm here standing on the site of the Wellington faultline. Here in the Shaky Isles there are building code regulations in place to help your deck stand up against earthquakes.
For information on understand bracing for New Zealand decks, please refer to the video on Bracing the easy way at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKUyH
To access the ROBO Deck Designer bracing calculator you can find this at:
https://www.robodeckdesigner.co.nz/br
To download a copy of NZS3604, please go to:
https://www.standards.govt.nz/shop/nz

Future plans for ROBO Deck Designer

Where is ROBO Deck Designer heading? Recently I made the the feedback form on the ROBO Deck Designer website as a mandatary requirement. The feedback has been so helpful in planning things for the future. This video addresses the different types of feedback received and how this is being used in the planning of the future of ROBO Deck designer.
To access the ROBO Deck Designer deck design tool you can find this at:
https://www.robodeckdesigner.co.nz.php
To download a copy of NZS3604, please go to:
https://www.standards.govt.nz/shop/nz

Anchor piles for a New Zealand deck

Anchor Piles for a New Zealand deck using NZS3604
Its a critical part in the bracing required for a New Zealand deck. From this video find out if your deck is to used anchor or braced piles. I look at the building codes regulations regarding anchor so you don't get caught out. The topics covered are the maximum and minimum height of an anchor pile, using Damp Proof Course, the depth of the pile, and fixing to the bearer to provide bracing.
For the location of anchor piles, please refer to the video on Bracing the easy way at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKUyH

Joists for a New Zealand deck using NZS3604

As with the previous video on Bearers, finding the right size joist and spacing is quite complicated, it means interpreting the relevant document NZS3604. But this is a massive document, almost 450 pages long and certainly takes a bit of explaining. This video is here to help you understand the New Zealand Building code to help you navigate your way around and choose the right size.

Bearers for a New Zealand Deck using NZS3604

Its a critical component of a deck, but don't get it wrong when choosing your bearer size. Selecting a bearer is a bit involved, it means interpreting the relevant document NZS3604. But this is a massive document, almost 450 pages long and certainly takes a bit of explaining. This video is here to help you understand the New Zealand Building code to help you navigate your way around and choose the right size.

12 Things you probably didn`t know about ROBO Deck Designer

12 Things you probably didn't know about ROBO Deck Designer. ROBO Deck Designer is a an online tool for creating deck drawings, but here's a few hidden little secrets that you probably didn't know about about ROBO Deck Designer.

Nails for a New Zealand (NZ) Deck - Don't get it wrong!

Its a small, but vital part for a deck. But the type of nails specified for a deck are more involved that you may think think. For example did you know there are requirements where stainless steel nails are required? Have you heard that micro climatic conditions can be a factor in nail selection. With this video I show you where the requirements are for decks in the New Zealand building code.

A grand tour of the ROBO Deck Designer website

OK so the online tool for creating deck drawings has been covered by other videos on this YouTube channel. But the ROBO Deck Designer website also provides a ton of other information relating to deck design. Whether it be understanding the various relevant building codes, looking at the different bearer and joist sizes or understanding the design considerations its all there for you. There's also a bracing design calculator which helps understand the difficult topic of bracing as well as links to technical resources.

Building a NZ deck - How bad is the timber shortage

This video covers the current timber shortage in New Zealand. So I chose a deck from the ROBO Deck Designer website a tried to see for myself how hard it was to order all the timbers required for a deck. A must watch for anyone building a deck to gain an appreciation of the timber shortages and how I found where to source the timbers. Please note I am not associated with any timber supplier and offer an independent insight. I start off sourcing timber from two of my local timber suppliers, then I take to Trademe to see if I fare any better. I really hope this video offers you hope and wisdom in searching for decking timbers.

Bracing for decks the easy way

This video covers complex subject of bracing for a New Zealand deck using NZS 3604. By using the bracing calculator on the ROBO Deck Designer website this video shows how to work out:
1) Your required bracing in both lateral and longitudal directions.
2) How this be achieved using bracing lines with anchor or braced piles.
3) Examples of the braced piles used in the bracing.

Please note this video replaces a previous video which had issues with the sound.

ROBO Deck Designer - Creating Siteplans all explained

This video covers the more challenging part of creating a siteplan for a deck drawing using ROBO Deck Designer. This tutorial will go through all the steps in creating a fully working siteplan drawing to go with your deck drawings.

The areas covered are:

1. Creating your house shape
2. Creating your siteplan boundaries
3. Adding street details to your siteplan
4. Adding in the relationship between your house and siteplan
5. Creating a houseplan when your house shape is not able to be created using the preprogrammed house shapes. The house shape can be added using an alternative method.

Planning a deck in New Zealand in 2022 What you need to know

Planning a New Zealand Deck in 2022 - What You Need to Know

Building a deck this year? Great! This video shows you all the things you need when planning a deck.

The areas covered are:

1. Purpose of deck - what will your deck be used for?
2. Location - available area, height, views, wind & sun
3. Budget - how to calculate the cost of your deck.
4. Building code, building consent & resource consent - Determining if you require building & resource consent and a guide to the building codes that your deck needs to follow.
5. Can you build it yourself? - Limitations on what you can do, and the skill level required when building a deck.

ROBO Deck Designer | adding a new deck | behind the scenes | Part 2

Join me behind the scenes as I add a new deck plan to the ROBO Deck Designer website. To add a new deck this isn't that straightforward and a lot of planning goes into this.

Before any computer code is sorted out, 3D CAD models for the decks are created just to check that the designs are compliant with the New Zealand building codes, primarily NZS3604.

Unfortunately this process didn't go entirely smoothly, and to be brutally honest this was quite difficult and really, highlights the fact that ROBO Deck Designer is an extremely complex website.

For part 2, this video covers the aspects of creating programming code from the 3D models. Again it was quite a huge effort, with things going wrong all the time. But perserverance did pay off, and I finally got there in the end.

To check out how fast it is to create a deck drawing, please check out this video

ROBO Deck Designer | adding a new deck | behind the scenes | Part 1

Join me behind the scenes as I add a new deck plan to the ROBO Deck Designer website. To add a new deck this isn't that straightforward and a lot of planning goes into this.

Before any computer code is sorted out, 3D CAD models for the decks just to check that the designs are compliant with the New Zealand building codes, primarily NZS3604.

Unfortunately this process didn't go entirely smoothly, and to be brutally honest this was quite difficult and really, highlights the fact that ROBO Deck Designer is an extremely complex website.

This video covers part 1 where I create the 3D models. Part 2 will be out in a few weeks time and will cover the coding and testing process. For those that aren't familiar with ROBO Deck Designer, its an online tool for creating high quality detailed deck drawings for New Zealand houses in minutes.

The anatomy of a deck: all the different parts and materials that make up a deck

The anatomy of a deck. This video takes you step by step through the different parts and materials that make up a deck. Each step is clearly shown using diagrams with the different sections. The terminology and building codes here are for New Zealand, but would be very similar for other decks designed in other countries. The sample deck used here is a 1.5m high deck with a handrail, but also decks with pergolas are mentioned.

Join us as we go through the anatomy of a deck.

Online Deck Designer - is it possible to design a deck this way that meets all the building codes?

Can an online deck designer help you create a deck that is both practical and meets the relevant building codes? We look at ROBO Deck Designer where you can be the judge over how fast and usefull the ROBO Deck Deck Designer is.

Can you build a deck yourself?

Can you build a deck yourself? What you need to know about deck building codes, do you have the skills yourself? Do you know what's involved. I'll run through all the different building codes you need to know for deck construction in New Zealand. And while you're there don't forget to check out the ROBO Deck designer website.

Editing a deck drawing using ROBO Deck Designer (V2 redone)

Editing a NZ deck plan drawing has never been easier with ROBO Deck designer. In this video we show you how you can modify your deck plan drawing by changing the length and remove the seating/planter boxes. The changes are all done to NZ (New Zealand) building codes. Please note this video is similar to the previous video, but has been redone with the new styling of the ROBO Deck Designer website.

ROBO Deck Designer (V2 redone)

Designing a New Zealand deck online to NZ building codes using ROBO Deck Designer. This website creates many varieties of deck plans in minutes. The deck designer also allows for site plans incorporated in the drawings. ROBO Deck designer, the fastest, easiest way to create a deck plan. Please note this is version 2 of the design process.

Disclaimer: Whilst this website contains a lot of information on the design of decks which has been produced with the highest level of professional care, ROBO Deck Designer, ROBO Design Solutions or Paul Roberts (the developer of this website) does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information on this website. This website is intended as a guide only, please refer to the New Zealand building code for the appropriate regulations.