Our son's boss lady is needing a new deck built. He had some pictures of 1 we built for a friend. Well, we got the job, I drew up a plan and materials list. They picked up part of the material from Lowe's on Sunday. Of course, the 20-2x8x12 weren't treated, only got a few of the pickets and half the bags of Quickcrete......in their defense, they had a small trailer and didn't know better...... We started yesterday morning, removing the existing deck... Had that done and the wrong lumber loaded on our trailer by lunchtime. We drove the 35 miles to Lowe's, picked up the rest of the order and correct 2x8x12's. Time to turn this into something nice... It will be a 10'x23' deck with recessed steps... Our son is helping us after he gets off work...3 ringshank nails and 2 3 1/2" screws in each joist. Got half the deck built, joist hangers will be installed when it's off the ground... We were only 1/8" out of square... Put angle braces on... We marked the bricks where the deck is going Kubota and straps moved the section into place... We borrowed a 3pt tractor auger to bore the holes, which we will do today.
Interesting method. I'll admit, locating post holes can definitely be a challenge.....I've re-dug more than I care to remember. Looks good!
I just recently had a friend show me how to setup string for square. Formerly I had been building out off of the first set post. Still have lingering PTSD from a 12x36 I helped build a while back.
Made some good progress yesterday. Started boring the holes...glad we got rain the other day. That yellow clay was still very hard and very sticky. Put about 25# fast set concrete in the bottom and tamped it down. Used the tractor to move section into place, setting the dead legs Fastening deck to house with 3 1/2" screws The Kubota was our 3rd man, those wet 6x6x10' are HEAVY... We got the 2nd section built...steps will go somewhere in the wide area. Boring the holes for the 2nd section. Setting the 2nd section in place... Jeff IV putting on a dead leg We will set more post this morning.
Another day, more time spent with our son. He was a very big help today. Carrying a few 6x6's to the deck Getting more of the post set and nailing on the joist hangers I had to go in to work for 1 1/2 hrs for some equipment training.He got more decking done... A carpenter friend came by and helped draw out the stair stringers. Mr Thomas is a great guy. Jeff then cut the other 2... When I got back, we built the steps... Set them in place to determine spot for the last 2 posts. All posts set now and shaker boards installed We started closing in the stair well. Half the decking done.
She is loving it already and we aren't done. She took her first walk up the steps and on the deck yesterday. She really commented on how it didn't rock like the old one.
Miz Carol and I worked yesterday, as our son had a full day at work. I guess we did OK for some folks. We felt it last night......sore knees, backs and feet... Working on the decking We also got the steps done...leveling the stringer top Completed steps... We also got the deck trimmed to length... We now have to cut post off, install rails and pickets, underpin deck with boards
