JediDefender.com Forums
Community => Watto's Junk Yard => Topic started by: I Am Sith on May 13, 2008, 09:50 PM
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Hey guys. This past weekend I started building a deck on our new house. This is the second deck I've ever built (the first was on our last house), but the first where I'm doing most/all of the work by myself. With the last deck, my father (retired bricklayer) helped out a lot with the layout, cuts, labor, etc. as I had never built a deck before. Now he's a bit older and far less physically able to do manual labor. He's still my consultant, but he's not allowed to do more than that...
So here are a few pictures of what's done so far:
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2410.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2466.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2465.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2464.jpg)
The next stage involves attaching the railing posts and the decking. I should have that done over the next few weeks. It's going to take that long because I start my next class this weekend and then it's Memorial Day weekend and we are going camping. I'll keep posting more pictures once more is completed.
Any professional carpenters out there? What do you think so far?
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I'm no pro by any means but I do a lot of home repairs and improvements, and it looks real sharp and sturdy to me right now. Very nice deck and you're lucky to be working with flat land, haha. My girl wants a deck in her back yard and I'm not really sure how I'm gonna do it honestly.
The only flat portion of her back yard is taken up by the pool, so the rest is hillside that encircles and goes above the pool. I'd have to build like 2 or 3 different decks actually, to do what she wants. there'd be one that encircles the pool itself and is flush with the rim of the pool. The next level would be above the pool deck, and then a third level up to a retaining wall from a now unused access road to the hilltop...
Basically she wants it to cover the hillside so we don't have to maintain said hillside, and honestly I have no clue how to do it. Never built a deck and only ever installed one that was pre-built and given to us for around the pool.
Yours, looking outstanding and I wish we had something nice back there but I'm really reluctant to even start what she wants. :-\
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Looks good so far! But where did the staircase go??
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Looks good so far! But where did the staircase go??
If you look off to the left in the second and third pictures you can see it laying on the ground. That's going to be the location once we attach them to the deck.
The only flat portion of her back yard is taken up by the pool, so the rest is hillside that encircles and goes above the pool. I'd have to build like 2 or 3 different decks actually, to do what she wants. there'd be one that encircles the pool itself and is flush with the rim of the pool. The next level would be above the pool deck, and then a third level up to a retaining wall from a now unused access road to the hilltop...
Wow, that sounds like a helluva project :o. Good luck. I would recommend having someone come out and draw you up some plans. It might cost you a little bit up front, but once you have the plan you should be able to work off of it fairly easily, I hope... Keep me posted!
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Basically she wants it to cover the hillside so we don't have to maintain said hillside, and honestly I have no clue how to do it. Never built a deck and only ever installed one that was pre-built and given to us for around the pool.
Be very wary of covering all the vegetation with a structure because that vegetation will then die. Once it's dead, there's very little holding the hillside together. Some good rains and you'll be doing a nice imitation of California during the rainy season. If you go the full deck route, you better be darn sure there's some retaining walls built in that will support the land mass above them.
I love the look of wood decking around pools too, but it rots really rather fast when you do that. So long as you're prepared to replace boards sooner rather than later, go for it. It's an awesome feel around the pool, so much "warmer" than concrete.
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Basically she wants it to cover the hillside so we don't have to maintain said hillside, and honestly I have no clue how to do it. Never built a deck and only ever installed one that was pre-built and given to us for around the pool.
Be very wary of covering all the vegetation with a structure because that vegetation will then die. Once it's dead, there's very little holding the hillside together. Some good rains and you'll be doing a nice imitation of California during the rainy season. If you go the full deck route, you better be darn sure there's some retaining walls built in that will support the land mass above them.
If I' reading right, the pool is at the foot of that hillside, too, so all of that dirt runoff is going to wind up in the pool.
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Excellent looking word so far just getting the frame up. You've already done the hardest part in getting the supports lined up properly and the frame built.
What are you planning on doing with the area under the deck? Is that going to be a sandbox or storage area of some sort?
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I'm no pro by any means but I do a lot of home repairs and improvements, and it looks real sharp and sturdy to me right now. Very nice deck and you're lucky to be working with flat land, haha. My girl wants a deck in her back yard and I'm not really sure how I'm gonna do it honestly.
The only flat portion of her back yard is taken up by the pool, so the rest is hillside that encircles and goes above the pool. I'd have to build like 2 or 3 different decks actually, to do what she wants. there'd be one that encircles the pool itself and is flush with the rim of the pool. The next level would be above the pool deck, and then a third level up to a retaining wall from a now unused access road to the hilltop...
Basically she wants it to cover the hillside so we don't have to maintain said hillside, and honestly I have no clue how to do it. Never built a deck and only ever installed one that was pre-built and given to us for around the pool.
Yours, looking outstanding and I wish we had something nice back there but I'm really reluctant to even start what she wants. :-\
Jesse, when you get to building a retaining wall, be sure your supports are heavily reinforced into the ground. I built a retaining wall for the side of my house on a very slight hill (and I do mean slight), and I used wooden stakes and hammered them into the ground, then lined up the cedar boards of the retaining wall on them. Then I screwed in the stake to the board. I then drilled a hole through the board at two points and then hammered rebar through those holes into the ground. This made the base of the wall very, very solid. Build the retaining wall in a triangular shape, with the base being the widest point. A triangle is nature's strongest natural shape. :) Carpentry lesson there for you.
I hope that makes sense. If you need more help or would like some pics of that particular project, let me know.
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What are you planning on doing with the area under the deck? Is that going to be a sandbox or storage area of some sort?
The exterior posts are going to have a brick veneer around them (nice having a father and brother as former bricklayers) and then the area under the deck will be covered in stone. My wife wants to put peagravel underneath it so the kids have a place to play, but I'd like to avoid the boys digging too much under there (that's why we have a sandbox in our park). I thought about enclosing it, but I've been told by numerous people that it would be very inviting for animals to take up shelter under there. There are skunks in our area so I'd like to avoid them deciding my house is their new home sweet home. Also, there is a window for the basement right there and I'd like to keep it as an escape window if need be. So ultimately, it will just be open with whatever my wife decides she wants for landscaping around the outside.
The finish wood I'm using is the ChoiceDeck composite decking material. Have you ever used it before? Any advice for a beginner? I have all the installation instructions from the supplier, but would also like to hear from someone who has used it in the past.
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Oh, no worries on the matter from me... If I get to building it, it'll basically be supervised by her father/uncle who were either contractors or have done enough of their own decking in their lives to know what to do. I'm thinking at best she'll get a deck level above the pool, and one at pool level, and not everything up to the old road retaining wall. THat would leave more than half the hillside still uncovered. It's also not a terribly large ammount of land...
It's hard to describe building here if you don't live in Western PA, but basically everything is done to hillside. Houses built into hillsides, decks built into them, staircases to get up them...
I should take photos of some of the funnier homes around just my area to show how people have to live here. ;)
The majority of her deck would be around the pool and level. That's also where we'd start anyway. I think once she got that much done she'd be disappointed in what another level is going to cost her.
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I've never used the Choice Deck stuff before, so I'm not familiar with it at all.
I will say if I were building a new deck, I'd use redwood. But that is a personal preference for me as I love the color and love how easy it is to cut and work with. However, it's very, very expensive. I'd use that and then finish it with a weather sealant. You can spray the stuff on, scrub it onto the deck, let stand for a bit, and then rinse it off with water. That's what I've done with the previous deck I've worked on.
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Oh, no worries on the matter from me... If I get to building it, it'll basically be supervised by her father/uncle who were either contractors or have done enough of their own decking in their lives to know what to do. I'm thinking at best she'll get a deck level above the pool, and one at pool level, and not everything up to the old road retaining wall. THat would leave more than half the hillside still uncovered. It's also not a terribly large ammount of land...
It's hard to describe building here if you don't live in Western PA, but basically everything is done to hillside. Houses built into hillsides, decks built into them, staircases to get up them...
I should take photos of some of the funnier homes around just my area to show how people have to live here. ;)
The majority of her deck would be around the pool and level. That's also where we'd start anyway. I think once she got that much done she'd be disappointed in what another level is going to cost her.
Good for you JJ, hell I'd just broken up with her ;)
Looking good Sith mighty professional looking to me. Nice house by the way. Is that a new development you were you live, jeez not a piece of wood with chipped paint on any of the houses around you.
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Good for you JJ, hell I'd just broken up with her ;)
I was gonna suggest that..... but thought better of it lol.
My deck at our new house uses that imitation wood, no splinters no staining and it looks and feels like the real deal! I love it.
I think that may be what you are using Iamsith, if it is, go for it, its great. Just don't spill any grease from the bottom of a smoker or grease from a piece of meat, it might soak in, and stain.
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Is that a new development you were you live, jeez not a piece of wood with chipped paint on any of the houses around you.
Yep, it's about 2-3 years old. The main reason there isn't any chipped paint is due to the wonders of vinyl siding! :D;D Our last house had cedar siding and it was a pain in the ass to maintain.
I think that may be what you are using Iamsith, if it is, go for it, its great. Just don't spill any grease from the bottom of a smoker or grease from a piece of meat, it might soak in, and stain.
Yeah, it's the composite material (wood and polyethylene). Thanks for the heads up about the grease. We were going to put our grill up there. I'll either have to find another spot or have to make sure I have a grill mat underneath it. Then again, I have some clumsy relatives so I should just be prepared for the eventual staining...
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Is that a new development you were you live, jeez not a piece of wood with chipped paint on any of the houses around you.
The main reason there isn't any chipped paint is due to the wonders of vinyl siding! ..... Thanks for the heads up about the grease. We were going to put our grill up there. I'll either have to find another spot or have to make sure I have a grill mat underneath it.
Make sure you put that grill on the outside edge of the deck, away from the house or grease stains will be the least of your worries. I have more than few friends who have charred, warped, or downright melted the the vinyl on the side of their house with poor grill placement.
Maybe I just have stoopid friends.
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Make sure you put that grill on the outside edge of the deck, away from the house or grease stains will be the least of your worries. I have more than few friends who have charred, warped, or downright melted the the vinyl on the side of their house with poor grill placement.
Maybe I just have stoopid friends.
Yet another good point. I have a feeling that I'm going to be storing it in the back corner of the deck where the two sections of the house meet to keep it out of the way, but I'll have to move it once I fire it up... Thanks for the tip.
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My neighbor's deck lit up of fire because of bad grill placement. Lost all the siding on the house too. However, no real irreplaceable damage. It could have been very very bad.
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My neighbor's deck lit up of fire
Lit up of fire???
Really? I don't think I've ever seen that phrasing used by anyone other than people in their 70's and in the Appalachians.
Do you also get up "of a morning" and "take your coffee" so long as the "arthur" doesn't keep you down? Afeared of haints in the dark? Do your tradin' at the Piggly Wiggly?
I kid....I kid....
******* hillbilly...
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Make sure you put that grill on the outside edge of the deck, away from the house or grease stains will be the least of your worries. I have more than few friends who have charred, warped, or downright melted the the vinyl on the side of their house with poor grill placement.
Nope, it has to be the most common thing in the world when siding is involved. I haven't seen a house that I've been to with vinyl siding/deck/bbq combo that doesn't have some collateral damage to it.
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My neighbor's deck lit up of fire
Lit up of fire???
Really? I don't think I've ever seen that phrasing used by anyone other than people in their 70's and in the Appalachians.
I wonder if they had a picture made of it ;)
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Hmmm.. Forgive a guy of a typo....
Lit up ON fire.
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The exterior posts are going to have a brick veneer around them (nice having a father and brother as former bricklayers) and then the area under the deck will be covered in stone.
i was wondering why you had such fancy footers for the posts underneath. that should look really sharp.
i believe in the next few weeks we are going to be starting some kind of deck project. we don't own our house so we are trying to work out something semi portable. it looks like its going to be 4 foot sections put together in a parquet patten. it should be fun.
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Just thought I'd do a quick update before I leave for the weekend. I was only able to get the railing posts onto the front of the deck this week. It's a bitch trying to get any deck work done after I get home from work in the evening. By the time I get done with dinner and the kids get a bath and get in bed, it's 7:30 and I'm chasing about an hour of daylight... Anyway, I'm hoping to put the rest of the posts on the side on Monday, and then it's time for decking!
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2485.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2486.jpg)
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Another quick update as the rain in southern Wisconsin today has slowed down my progress.
Finished the posts last week:
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2501.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2500.jpg)
And started the decking:
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2502.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2508.jpg)
I'm hoping that the rain will stop within the next hour or so. I'd like to finish the decking today if I can and start the railing tomorrow.
The most difficult thing so far has been trying to get all of the boards with the same spacing between them. When you're working alone, it's difficult to push the board you're working on close enough to the board next to it and then have enough leverage to drill the board down. It also makes it tough when you're six feet up and you can't stand on the ground for added leverage. Other than that, the composite material is great to work with. The composite decking screws have something to be desired though. The heads strip pretty easily if you're not putting enough force on them when you are drilling. They took some getting used to. I haven't mangled nearly as many in the last day as I did when I first started.
Hope to have the next update in a day or two if the weather cooperates with me.
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That looks awesome. You're doing a completely BA job on that. It's wonderful looking.
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You're doing a completely BA job on that.
Is that like saying he's building it as awesomely as B.A. Baracus would have?
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It does look great...
Is that like saying he's building it as awesomely as B.A. Baracus would have?
However, if BA Baracus was building it, he'd need a wielder, some sheet metal, a lawn mower engine and two bumpers. BA was the MacGyver of power tools.
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Thanks for the compliments guys. I did get to work on it more yesterday afternoon and almost all day today. I've got one and a half boards left to go with the decking and then we start the stairs... Those are going to be a bitch to attach, however once they are done I'm pretty much in the home stretch with the finish wood.
We should start the brick in a few weeks. My dad is estimating that we'll need about 1000 brick for the entire job. That should finish the deck off pretty well.
More to come...
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You're doing a completely BA job on that.
Is that like saying he's building it as awesomely as B.A. Baracus would have?
I think Brent covered that one for me.
Man, you have to explain compliments to the commoners. ;)
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It's looking outstanding... And I love the material choice. Expensive stuff but worth every penny IMO. If I ever get to ours, it'll be wood for lack of cash. As it is, it's just not in the budget as we need sided and roofed long before we get a deck... And even then I'd rather do more interior work first. My gf's living room is horrendous the way whoever did it before did it. The trim's flush with the wall. ::) Real Bob Villa must've lived there before. >:(
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I've got one and a half boards left to go with the decking and then we start the stairs... Those are going to be a bitch to attach, however once they are done I'm pretty much in the home stretch with the finish wood.
Not using stair stringers? I prefer the metal ones as the wood seem too flimsy. Or are you going with an enclosed 'box' for the stairs?
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Not using stair stringers? I prefer the metal ones as the wood seem too flimsy. Or are you going with an enclosed 'box' for the stairs?
I'm actually re-using the stairs that came with the house. I'm going to be taking the wood stairs off and replacing them with the composite material, but the stringers that were originally used for the staircase will be re-used again. I'll try to take a few before and after pictures and then post them.
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I'll try to take a few before and after pictures and then post them.
We finished pouring the concrete for the landing, placing the staircase, and attaching the railings over the last few days. We managed all this while continually under either severe thunderstorm warnings or tornado warnings. I wasn't able to get any new pictures over the last few days, but I'll hopefully be able to snap a few in the next few days.
Uh-oh, gotta go, they just posted another tornado warning and the sirens are going off... Gotta head to the basement!
*EDIT*
Sorry about the quick exit. The weather around here has been crazy the last few days. We are still under a severe thunderstorm warning until 10:15...
Anyway, the plan for the rest of the week is to put the balusters on the railings and start replacing the wood on the stairs with the composite material. This is all weather permitting of course. I should get the brick delivered this week and we will start on the brick this weekend.
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We finished pouring the concrete for the landing, placing the staircase, and attaching the railings over the last few days. I wasn't able to get any new pictures over the last few days, but I'll hopefully be able to snap a few in the next few days.
As promised:
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2518.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2517.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2516.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2515.jpg)
I started the balusters tonight too. I got three sections done and will hopefully get at least two more done tomorrow. Once those are done I'll start the stairs. I'm also getting the brick delivered tomorrow so we'll definitely be doing some brick work this weekend! More to come in a few days.
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Wow. Looking great!
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Fantastic work.
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I am totally impressed by this project. One of these days I would love to do the same in my backyard.
Looking forward to seeing the final result!
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Here are the latest images. I finished the balusters last week and started to add the post caps. They only had half the number I need, so there are a few missing in the images. Also, my dad came up this weekend and worked on the brick. You know, for a guy who's been retired for about 8 years and hasn't picked up a brick in that long, he knocked it out of the park this weekend!!! Huge thanks go out to my dad for the work he put in this weekend. Happy Fathers Day again!
Enjoy:
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2523.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2522.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2521.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2524.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2525.jpg)
On tap for this week is to work on the staircase railing. I was able to get all of the wood replaced for the actual stairs, but when I went to go put up the railing I realized that I need to add another post at the top of the staircase. The work will only put me back a few days, but the railing will look a lot better when it's all said and done. Hopefully I'll have some images of the completed staircase to share next week.
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Wow! The brick work is fantastic!
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That looks great. It seems you both had a very productive weekend!!
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Man this deck is coming out Aces! And what a great way to spend father's day.
Yeah it's "work" but it seems you and your dad enjoyed working on it.
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Thanks again for the compliments guys. I'm really enjoying this project. It's taking longer than I would have liked/expected it to, but that's only because I want to make sure everything is just how I want it. That way I'm not sitting around thinking of all the things I want to change or improve.
Man this deck is coming out Aces! And what a great way to spend father's day.
Yeah it's "work" but it seems you and your dad enjoyed working on it.
Yeah, it was a really cool weekend. I was fully planning on just hanging out on Sunday and letting him watch the US Open coverage in HD, but after breakfast he looked at me and said, 'What are you waiting for, we got work to do. Go make me some mortar!' When I mentioned that it was Father's Day he replied, 'No, it's just another day and we're burning daylight... Get moving!' Just another reason why I love my dad; he doesn't have a problem letting you know how he feels ;D.
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That is one big, brown deck.
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Yeah, it was a really cool weekend. I was fully planning on just hanging out on Sunday and letting him watch the US Open coverage in HD, but after breakfast he looked at me and said, 'What are you waiting for, we got work to do. Go make me some mortar!' When I mentioned that it was Father's Day he replied, 'No, it's just another day and we're burning daylight... Get moving!' Just another reason why I love my dad; he doesn't have a problem letting you know how he feels ;D.
Awesome. I wish my dad would have been like that.
Consider yourself VERY lucky to have such a good dad. Especially one who's willing to work on the one day dad's are honored specifically.
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That brickwork looks fantastic with the deck. Very, very nice.
I am assuming from the way they look that the post caps have a light in them? I've never seen any like that...very neat. That will be gorgeous in the evenings.
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Awesome. I wish my dad would have been like that.
Consider yourself VERY lucky to have such a good dad. Especially one who's willing to work on the one day dad's are honored specifically.
He's great. I know that he and my brother didn't have the best relationship while he was growing up and I think that once I finally showed up my dad had learned a lot from his interactions with my brother. He was a stern father, but he taught me to be accountable for my actions and always do my best. I'm extremely greatful to have him.
I am assuming from the way they look that the post caps have a light in them?
Yeah, they are solar lights. I really didn't want to run electrical to the deck, especially after hearing the stories of what happened to BrentS's neighbors. The lights throw off just enough light to define where the railings are on the deck, but it's not enough light to read by or anything. This was the first time I had seen anything like that as well. I ended up getting them at Lowes if you're interested in getting them for yourself.
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Well, for all intents and purposes, it's done! I still have some very minor things to do before it's really finished (adding spacers under the railings and putting gravel under the deck), but I'm not going to bother taking any additional pictures once I'm done. Here it is:
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2528.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2529.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2527.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2530.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2526.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2531.jpg)
It was a lot of fun to build, but I'm glad it's done. Hopefully now I'll be able to enjoy it!
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That's a thing of beauty. Congrats on its completion.
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Nice work. So when you gonna help me rebuild mine? :D
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Very impressive.
Someday when I'm out of the condo game and have a house, you can build mine too - I pay in VOTC Stormtroopers.
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The deck looks great!!!
Want to come replace my deck??? ;D
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So when you gonna help me rebuild mine? :D
Someday when I'm out of the condo game and have a house, you can build mine too - I pay in VOTC Stormtroopers.
Want to come replace my deck??? ;D
While I can't say that you're the first ones to ask for my assitance (I have three neighbors that have already stopped over and asked for planning/building advice), the more offers I get the more I'm tempted to do this as a part-time gig...
Thanks for all the complements, I appreciate them.
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oh man....i guess i didn't notice in the earlier pics that brick work skirting the underside of the deck...noticed the columns, but not that skirt. That is just incredible looking. You really went all out on this. Gorgeous work!
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Simply awesome. Great job on this. It's nice to see in progress shots too so we see how it's all done along the way. From beginning to end excellent work!
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most impressive, but you are not a contractor yet!. just kidding, very beautiful. pat on your back.are those common houses in your area? I've never seen houses without fences. must be nice to be able to trust your neighbor...
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(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e391/iamsith22/DSCN2531.jpg)
Wow Sith that is really great, thing of beauty.
Now that you're finally done can you let the dog come out and play he looks like he's missed being outside or something.
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That looks fantastic. Excellent work on your deck.
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are those common houses in your area? I've never seen houses without fences. must be nice to be able to trust your neighbor...
Yeah, we are all part of one sub-division/association. The only people that are required to have fences are the ones that have pools. Eveyone else, it's up to you whether or not you want one in your yard. We personally do not because the family behind us has three boys that are about the same ages as my two boys, so they are always running back and forth from yard to yard. We don't want to close that off. Thankfully, our dog knows her boundries as well and she doesn't go in our neighbor's yards unless we are outside with her... The new neighbors to the west of us have a Lab puppy though that is always running around in everyone's yards, so I have a bad feeling that they are going to have to put up a fence sometime this summer...
Now that you're finally done can you let the dog come out and play he looks like he's missed being outside or something.
Yeah, she was locked up a lot of the time while it was being built just so that she didn't fall off the end while the railings were still being put on. She's a lazy dog anyway; she only does a few laps around the yard before she lays down in the grass and falls asleep. It is pretty funny though seeing her laying on the deck too; she likes laying in the sun, so now she's always spralled out on the deck. I'll have to take a picture of her and post it in the pets section...
Thanks again for all the compliments everyone!
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Beautiful Deck. It turned out amazing. That is gonna be one durable SOB with that artificial wood.
It is pretty funny though seeing her laying on the deck too; she likes laying in the sun, so now she's always spralled out on the deck. I'll have to take a picture of her and post it in the pets section...
Thanks again for all the compliments everyone!
My Dog does the exact same thing.