deck finished at last

[frank shic]

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.

[David G Baker]

Frank,
When I lived in Antioch CA I built several decks and wood sidewalks using the concrete cross blocks and loved them. I haven't tried them since I moved to Michigan but am planning on doing so before too long.
Great looking deck.

[Don Bullock]

Great job Frank. That looks like a very safe place for your "little one" to play.

[frank shic]

david and don, thanks for the compliments.

in theory, the dek-blocks are great: no need to bore/auger out deep holes to pour concrete piers and the construction is greatly simplied without the need for support beams. however, until they clean out the recesses a little better, i wouldn't use them. do you know how frustrating it is to cut not just once but twice and sometimes three and four times to get the 4x4 post to the right height? maybe i was being too much of a perfectionist but the first time that i set up the deck blocks, it seemed like every time i added a new post the whole thing would rock even more! i'll be using the regular pier blocks with the 4x4 already placed in the middle so i don't have to make so many trips to the chop saw.

don, good eyes! my girls have already gotten to the deck as you can see. it's a great relief to finally have a place where they run around freely without being in danger of getting hit by a passing car (we share a common driveway in the townhome community) or of getting kidnapped. my little buggers could afford to exercise more!

[Bill Huber]

From what I can see it doesn't look like it finished to me.

I don't see the Adirondack Chair and a cooler of Shiner Bock....:D

Frank it is a nice looking deck and with the support you put under it I am sure that it will last a long time.

I am sure you and the kids will really enjoy it a lot.

[Jim Podsedly]

Frank,

Ver nice looking deck.

I have used the dec-blocks to build two decks and have not had the problem of having to clean out the recess. Maybe just a swipe with a gloved hand to sweep away the loose concrete but nothing major.

I was very skeptical of using these blocks but i had a deck in Utah and no visible movement in three years. Sure does beat digging holes and pouring concrete.

Jim

[William Nimmo]

where are the footings?

[frank shic]

bill, it's funny that you mentioned the missing patio furniture. i asked LOML if i could build a hexagonal table to match the deck to which she immediately responded, "no!" i'm still trying to figure out how we're going to transport patio furniture back to our home without an SUV or a truck :eek:

jim, i could have dealt with a simple swipe of a gloved hand. actually, i made SEVERAL swipes before resorting to using a cold chisel on a couple of the blocks. my point is that they should either add a step in their manufacturing process or tell everyone to get a cold chisel and finish off the job.

william, the footings are the dek-blocks.

[David G Baker]

Frank,
I had similar problems the first time I used the blocks because I had them delivered. The second time I spent a lot of time selecting the blocks I wanted and hauled them myself.

[frank shic]

david, thank you so much for commiserating with me! it's nice to know that i'm not the ONLY ONE that's been having this problem.