Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Things I learned while building my first deck:
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wrightsville
05-23-07, 11:29 AM
I received lots of advice from this site so I thought I would give a little back. Here is a link to photos of my deck.
http://community.webshots.com/album/559153847hRHkPN?vhost=community
It is 16’X20’ freestanding treated pine with the lowest point being 15” and the highest 22”
Thanks for all the help!
Things I learned while building my first deck:
1. Wet wood will shrink width wise and length wise sometimes more than you estimate. I layed the decking while the boards were still pretty wet. I definitely could have gotten away with putting the boards a little closer together. Well at least leaves won’t get stuck in the cracks and the decking was put down with screws so I can take a board out if anything important slips through the cracks.
2. Always buy a couple of spare deck boards. I also replaced two boards that shrunk length wise that I thought made the deck look bad.
3. There is a setting on some drills for driving screws. I didn’t realize this until my drill died and I got a new one for the steps. I definitely could have saved a few mangled screw heads with this tool. I also realized when I was through why they have screws with square driving heads.
4. Not all 2X8 are the same. I originally bought all my deck lumber from one supplier, but towards the end I threw out one of the 2X8 skirt boards that looked bad. I bought a 2X8 at Lowes assuming it would be 1 1/2 X 7 1/4 and it was 1 1/2 X 7 1/2. Thanks Lowes….I had to borrow a table saw and saw 1/4” off this new board. (The borrowed table saw did however come in handy when I built the steps).
5. There is a great tool called a board bender. I discovered this tool when my brother-in-law brought it over. To bad I only had about 6 more rows of decking to put down. I had to enlist the help of another to push the slightly warped boards straight for me while I screwed them down until I got this tool. This is a must tool if you are doing the deck by yourself.
6. Stringer steps on a low deck can be a challenge. I was going to just put simple steps on this deck, but since it is so low and required 2 steps it was a challenge connecting the stringer to the deck. I ended up scrapping the original step plan and built box steps with the borrowed table saw. They actually look a lot better than my original plan. I am very happy with them.
http://community.webshots.com/album/559153847hRHkPN?vhost=community
It is 16’X20’ freestanding treated pine with the lowest point being 15” and the highest 22”
Thanks for all the help!
Things I learned while building my first deck:
1. Wet wood will shrink width wise and length wise sometimes more than you estimate. I layed the decking while the boards were still pretty wet. I definitely could have gotten away with putting the boards a little closer together. Well at least leaves won’t get stuck in the cracks and the decking was put down with screws so I can take a board out if anything important slips through the cracks.
2. Always buy a couple of spare deck boards. I also replaced two boards that shrunk length wise that I thought made the deck look bad.
3. There is a setting on some drills for driving screws. I didn’t realize this until my drill died and I got a new one for the steps. I definitely could have saved a few mangled screw heads with this tool. I also realized when I was through why they have screws with square driving heads.
4. Not all 2X8 are the same. I originally bought all my deck lumber from one supplier, but towards the end I threw out one of the 2X8 skirt boards that looked bad. I bought a 2X8 at Lowes assuming it would be 1 1/2 X 7 1/4 and it was 1 1/2 X 7 1/2. Thanks Lowes….I had to borrow a table saw and saw 1/4” off this new board. (The borrowed table saw did however come in handy when I built the steps).
5. There is a great tool called a board bender. I discovered this tool when my brother-in-law brought it over. To bad I only had about 6 more rows of decking to put down. I had to enlist the help of another to push the slightly warped boards straight for me while I screwed them down until I got this tool. This is a must tool if you are doing the deck by yourself.
6. Stringer steps on a low deck can be a challenge. I was going to just put simple steps on this deck, but since it is so low and required 2 steps it was a challenge connecting the stringer to the deck. I ended up scrapping the original step plan and built box steps with the borrowed table saw. They actually look a lot better than my original plan. I am very happy with them.
Wirepuller38
05-23-07, 01:51 PM
Your deck looks great! Awsome job!
There special brackets available for attaching the top end of the stringer to the rim joist.
There special brackets available for attaching the top end of the stringer to the rim joist.
the_tow_guy
05-23-07, 02:18 PM
Nice job! When's the big cook-out? :D
wrightsville
05-23-07, 02:31 PM
Thanks
Need to get a table first to go with my two plastic chairs.
My chair and my grill...what else do I need :)
Need to get a table first to go with my two plastic chairs.
My chair and my grill...what else do I need :)
wrightsville
05-23-07, 02:33 PM
Oh and my pool.....
I haven't turned it over to put water in it yet. Maybe for the big weekend...
I haven't turned it over to put water in it yet. Maybe for the big weekend...
the_tow_guy
05-24-07, 06:19 AM
Chair, grill....COLD BEER! :D