frank shic
09-14-2007, 11:28 PM
here's my latest project: a 25 x 16 foot deck to replace the hideously ugly patio that i previously had to live with for the last four years composed of four oddly shaped concrete slabs.
first, i had to bust the concrete apart with a 16 pound sledgehammer. guys, if you ever want to burn some calories, here's a great way to do it!
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w316/frank_shic/deck1.jpg
next, i had some guys i found off of craigslist haul away the debris:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w316/frank_shic/deck2.jpg
finally i get to have some fun building the frame using pretreated lumber and dek-blocks - a TERRIBLE product as the center recess is filled with casting debris making it almost impossible to accurately measure and cut the 4x4 posts to level the deck. i'll definitely be using the regular pier blocks with the pre-attached 4x4 posts in the future:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w316/frank_shic/deck3.jpg
after tearing my hair out for over a week, i finally finish the frame and start the TEDIOUS task of fastening deckmaster rails to the joists:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w316/frank_shic/deck4.jpg
the decking is where the REAL FUN begins as the deck starts to near completion:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w316/frank_shic/deck5.jpg
lastly, i learned another lesson the hard way: DO NOT try staining your deck in the middle of the night while using only a headlamp for lighting or else you will have a number of miserable runs, puddles and streaks in the morning! i'll probably apply a second coat some day...
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w316/frank_shic/deck6.jpg
some other products that were extremely helpful were a pair of proknees which did a great job of protecting my knees from the abuse of leaning on them extensively while crouching over to drill the deck screws through the deckmaster rails from underneath the deck as well as the bowrench which made even STUBBORN boards bend into compliance. a chop saw and an impact driver are also a basic requirement - make sure you've got a battery charged constantly!
the only problem with the deck is that i built it a little more than 1 foot above the ground so that it would be level with my house flooring; as a result, if an adult stands outside, he or she looks much TALLER than the fence itself which previously came up mid-head level. i'm also a little nervous about rain creeping under the patio door but time will tell.
first, i had to bust the concrete apart with a 16 pound sledgehammer. guys, if you ever want to burn some calories, here's a great way to do it!
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w316/frank_shic/deck1.jpg
next, i had some guys i found off of craigslist haul away the debris:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w316/frank_shic/deck2.jpg
finally i get to have some fun building the frame using pretreated lumber and dek-blocks - a TERRIBLE product as the center recess is filled with casting debris making it almost impossible to accurately measure and cut the 4x4 posts to level the deck. i'll definitely be using the regular pier blocks with the pre-attached 4x4 posts in the future:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w316/frank_shic/deck3.jpg
after tearing my hair out for over a week, i finally finish the frame and start the TEDIOUS task of fastening deckmaster rails to the joists:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w316/frank_shic/deck4.jpg
the decking is where the REAL FUN begins as the deck starts to near completion:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w316/frank_shic/deck5.jpg
lastly, i learned another lesson the hard way: DO NOT try staining your deck in the middle of the night while using only a headlamp for lighting or else you will have a number of miserable runs, puddles and streaks in the morning! i'll probably apply a second coat some day...
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w316/frank_shic/deck6.jpg
some other products that were extremely helpful were a pair of proknees which did a great job of protecting my knees from the abuse of leaning on them extensively while crouching over to drill the deck screws through the deckmaster rails from underneath the deck as well as the bowrench which made even STUBBORN boards bend into compliance. a chop saw and an impact driver are also a basic requirement - make sure you've got a battery charged constantly!
the only problem with the deck is that i built it a little more than 1 foot above the ground so that it would be level with my house flooring; as a result, if an adult stands outside, he or she looks much TALLER than the fence itself which previously came up mid-head level. i'm also a little nervous about rain creeping under the patio door but time will tell.