Building a Deck

[BlackDog]

I'm building a deck on the back of the house. My yard is very small, and my wife wants a "contained" area for my handicapped son to play. We're making this 12' x 16', not huge, but enough for him to play. I'm also making the handrails taller than normal.

I started about 3 weeks ago by renting an auger and making the holes for the footers. Had a buddy help me, because those augers are pretty powerful. Made 4' deep holes. In the evenings following I poured the cement. Last weekend a couple friends came over to help me put up the posts and beams. As you can see we got a few joists in place to hold everything in place. I'm using under-deck brackets for the floor decking, so over the past couple of nights I've cut the rest of the joists and mounted the brackets. Today I will put up the rest of the joists. Tomorrow a friend is coming and we'll do the decking, and hopefully get some of the handrails completed. By Monday I hope to have it finished.

Here's where I'm at right now.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=65&pictureid=2696

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=65&pictureid=2697

[68TriShield]

Thor will love that! :tu

[Skywalker]

Very nice start Warren!!!:tu

[MedicCook]

Looks good so far. :tu

[bvilchez]

Looks real good. My wife and I want a deck built but it would only come up about 6 inches in our yard.

Good luck with the project

[TheTraveler]

:tu

Looking good so far. Some people are only interested in the finished product but I love to see construction as it happens. One of my biggest pleasures when I did construction work was to look back at the end of each day and see the progress we'd made. :)

That may technically be a great place for him to play but I forsee it becoming a great place for a morning cup of coffee and a short smoke too! :D

[kelmac07]

Looking good!!

[RGD.]

:tu

Looking good so far. Some people are only interested in the finished product but I love to see construction as it happens. . . .

Yeah me too! Looking good there. One word of caution though. Be careful about installing those joist hangers ahead of time - your pressure treated wood dimensions will not all be exact. So some of them might be a tad to high and some to low. I use to install a temporary ledger to rest the joists on and then position when nailing.

Don't forget to post more pictures!


Ron

[Steve]

:tu:tu

Looks good!

[alley00p]

Very, nice! :tu

I know your son is gonna love being out there, once dad has it finished! :D

Keep posting the progress pics, Warren! :ss

:dance:

[BlackDog]

Break Time!

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=65&pictureid=2706

[Scothew]

Looks good. :)

[Steve]

Break Time!



:tu :chr :wo

[bigloo]

Thats gonna look when it is done. Build him a play cave or fort beneath!

[nozero]

Very nice. Can hardly wait for final pictures!
:tu

[fxpose]

Looking good! That's a good start.
Speaking of decks, we're in the middle of demolishing our 30 yr old deck, mostly due to termite damage.

[hotreds]

Bravo- looking good. Our deck actually fell down- gonna hafta do something about that!

[BlackDog]

My daughter's boyfriend helped me hang the joists tonight. We got them all hung. Tomorrow I'll get the decking done. I've got 2 guys coming to help, so I hope to get the entire floor done. Maybe some handrails too.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=65&pictureid=2710

[skullnrose]

Looks great and solid!

[BlackDog]

Here's where it's at now. I'm heading out in a few minutes to start laying the deck boards. A couple guys are coming to help. I'll post more pictures later today.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=65&pictureid=2711

[dentonparrots]

Looking great. I'll be keeping an eye on this build...it's not a man cave it's a kid cave!

I agree with Bigloo, making a fort or something underneath would be great and it doesn't have top be done right now, call it an add-on!

[captain53]

You will enjoy that nice space, make sure to take a lot of those Break Times!:tu

[BlackDog]

Here's the last few floor screws going in place. Now all the decking is screwed down. My one friend is 7'1", so he can reach pretty much anywhere. :tu

My son is on BBQ duty, bratwurst for lunch. Then I need to start the handrails.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=65&pictureid=2713

[chippewastud79]

Lookin' good there :tu

[BlackDog]

Here's where I'm at this morning. I have to admit I sort of wore out in the afternoon, didn't get much done with the handrail. So shortly I'll be back at mounting the spindles for the rail. Probably going to have to trim some branches too.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=65&pictureid=2719

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=65&pictureid=2720

[dunng]

Very nice looking! What did you use to attach the floor boards?

[captain53]

Good Progress and looking very nice. :tu

[adampc22]

looking good mate

[joeybear]

I've built many decks and yours looks perfect! I can't wait to see the finished product :)

[kelmac07]

Looking damn good!! :tu

[G G]

Very nice work.:tu

[BrokenSkeg]

Sweet deck job. Great spacing between planks. That'll help keep the crap off the boards.

If I can make one small suggestion. I found out that putting the rail spindles between 2-2x4 head and foot plate instead of attaching the bottom spindles to the deck band makes it easier to sweep the leaves and pine needles off. They don't get stuck and go under the bottom band.
We gots lots of pine needles down south. Just an idea.

[BlackDog]

If I can make one small suggestion. I found out that putting the rail spindles between 2-2x4 head and foot plate instead of attaching the bottom spindles to the deck band makes it easier to sweep the leaves and pine needles off. They don't get stuck and go under the bottom band.
Actually, that's a GREAT idea. Enables you to build the whole rail on the floor, then lift it up and set into place. Plus that sweeping bonus. :tu

Sadly, I'm 1/2 way done with building my rail mounted to the joists. This part is a PITA, and I'll be glad when it's done.

[BlackDog]

The deck is almost done. I've got a few small items to wrap up, but it's safe for Thor to play on now. I have to say, I'm very pleased. This thing is built like a tank. The rest of the house may blow up, but the deck is going to still be there. :tu

Here are the pay-off shots.

Exploring the new deck
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=65&pictureid=2728

Playing trucks
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=65&pictureid=2727

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=65&pictureid=2729

[DoctorBJ]

awesome job man. The kid seems to like it.

[Steve]

Deck looks aweswome! He (and your wife and you) will enjoy that deck for years to come!

I love this shot. Caption "Come on dad, can't you see I'm having fun!"




http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=65&pictureid=2729

[chippewastud79]

Awesome work on the deck and it seems the boy likes it :tu

[dentonparrots]

Excellent work Warren, congrats.

[captain53]

Great Job! Fun out there for everyone. I know your family is very proud.:tu

[Blueface]

Nice job.
I had the pleasure of doing one very similar in dimensions to this one, same height just about.
Fun project.
Enjoyed taking down the wall to make room for a sliding door.
I used metal posts on mine but only used two.

Make sure you treat it with something like Thompsons or a stain.
It will get weather beaten otherwise.
Enjoy!!!

[Smokin Gator]

Really nice...

[kelmac07]

Looks great Warren!! You don't mess around brother!!

[Bax]

Great looking deck! I'll call you when I need one!!!

[DonniePaul]

Nice Work! That deck looks great!:tu