What did you do today....other than work on your car!?

[Kern Dog]

Me?
Since I have SO much money, I decided to jump in and do THIS:

This section of the deck was looking shabby.

When we bought the place in 2004, there was a hot tub there:

The heater didn't work but the bubbles did!

Since I pulled the hot tub and RE-decked it, it was fine up until about 2 years ago. I never built a deck before then so I just used what I had...Galvanized 16D nails to fasten the deck boards. Nowadays it seems that everyone uses screws. The nails were popping up in a few areas which meant that the structure was flexing and allowing the nails to move around.

 

[eldubb440]

Me?
Since I have SO much money, I decided to jump in and do THIS:

View attachment 1257573

This section of the deck was looking shabby.

View attachment 1257574

When we bought the place in 2004, there was a hot tub there:

View attachment 1257576

The heater didn't work but the bubbles did!

View attachment 1257577

Since I pulled the hot tub and RE-decked it, it was fine up until about 2 years ago. I never built a deck before then so I just used what I had...Galvanized 16D nails to fasten the deck boards. Nowadays it seems that everyone uses screws. The nails were popping up in a few areas which meant that the structure was flexing and allowing the nails to move around.

View attachment 1257578 View attachment 1257575

does Mary approve of your farting in the tub?

 

[Kern Dog]

The supports were fine in 2006 when I redecked it but they rotted away since then.

This was a huge surprise. I don't know what was keeping it from collapsing.
I decided to gut the entire thing and reframe it.

This section was 16" higher than the main deck. I'm going to build it to the same height as the other so it is even all the way across.
I've been working jobs the past few years that sometimes involve remodeling. This often includes reusing stuff that might otherwise get thrown away. This means being more careful on disassembly.

The railing between the posts will be reused...

 

[Kern Dog]

It is funny...This project is like a classic car that has a few bubbles showing under the paint. The more you dig in, the more rust you find.
Also, to a person that has no experience with this stuff, it looks really intimidating. They might wonder how the hell am I going to get this thing built back right?
To me, this is fun.
Lumber is at an all time high so I considered delaying this.
I went back and forth on what I should do. If I waited, the prices could go UP even higher.
If I waited, it seems like the damn thing could have collapsed if I had more than 2 people walking on it! I figured that if/when I sell, the condition would be noticed during the inspection and I'd either have to replace it then myself OR pay through the *** to have a contractor do it. Who knows....they could legitimately quote $15,000 to do this job. I'm looking at almost $2000 in lumber at a minimum. Add to that the labor costs to tear out the old stuff and haul it away...Then rebuild and paint.

 

[kiwigtx]

Do you guys get treated timber? That looks like plain timber to me. Treated stuff should have lasted way beyond what you got there.
Or do you just rely on paint systems to preserve the wood?

 

[kiwigtx]

I just returned from the local gas station....spent $200 today. Prices have come back a little bit....and there was a decent discount this weekend.

 

[Kern Dog]

Do you guys get treated timber? That looks like plain timber to me. Treated stuff should have lasted way beyond what you got there.
Or do you just rely on paint systems to preserve the wood?

Oh, yeah....we use pressure treated on the bottom plates of wall frames. Some do use it on deck framing as well.
This deck is mostly Douglas Fir on top and underneath and this section is the only one that rotted this bad. That is because it is right under the edges of that patio cover. Leaves and other tree debris get in between the boards.... The rain sheds right off and lays on the deck there. It is just like where dirt gets trapped in a metal seam. Add in moisture and eventually, it rusts out.
Under the roof covered areas, the deck 2 x 6s and framing was still nice even with dog hair and other stuff getting in between the boards. The rain water sitting in between is the killer.
The rest of the deck is about 60/40 covered/open.

 

[Hey-O]

Oh, yeah....we use pressure treated on the bottom plates of wall frames. Some do use it on deck framing as well.
This deck is mostly Douglas Fir on top and underneath and this section is the only one that rotted this bad. That is because it is right under the edges of that patio cover. Leaves and other tree debris get in between the boards.... The rain sheds right off and lays on the deck there. It is just like where dirt gets trapped in a metal seam. Add in moisture and eventually, it rusts out.
Under the roof covered areas, the deck 2 x 6s and framing was still nice even with dog hair and other stuff getting in between the boards. The rain water sitting in between is the killer.
The rest of the deck is about 60/40 covered/open.

Always use pressure treated, always.

 

[Kern Dog]

Some also use redwood for the deck boards but HO-LEE crap! Have you seen the prices?
Last Summer I spent $140 for THREE 2 x 6 x 12s!

 

[Hey-O]

Always use pressure treated, redwood, cedar, none of it will out last pressure treated. I've built and rebuilt over a hundred decks in my life time. Mine at my old lake house was a two story deck 30 feet above the lake, all treated. I would roll a sealer on the deck boards every other year. It's still looks very good after 20 years. The deck boards on my boat dock needed rolling every year from the sun and water. Took an hour to roll my dock.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Me?

The heater didn't work but the bubbles did!

View attachment 1257577

Too bad they're fart bubbles.

 

[HawkRod]

https://www.acmetools.com/mr-heater...hop-heater-40000-btu-mh40ng/089301728004.html
I'm sure it would come set up for propane. The one I have is not propane or I would work a deal you would have to take!!

Nice. It's even made by ACME so the Road Runner would feel right at home!

 

[themechanic]

Some also use redwood for the deck boards but HO-LEE crap! Have you seen the prices?
Last Summer I spent $140 for THREE 2 x 6 x 12s!

Have you considered wood alternatives?

https://www.thespruce.com/best-decking-materials-pros-and-cons-2736284

 

[Cranky]

Some also use redwood for the deck boards but HO-LEE crap! Have you seen the prices?
Last Summer I spent $140 for THREE 2 x 6 x 12s!

I remember redwood being pretty expensive in the 60's even!

 

[Fran Blacker]

I remember redwood being pretty expensive in the 60's even!

Heard it new growth redwood isn't as good as old growth. True or False I don't know.

 

[dadsbee]

Grout the ends to hide the cement board and I'm back to cars... or scratch that, corporate tax returns that are due in a week..FFS!

 

[Richard Cranium]

Went to the office for a couple hours, came home and dusted the house for Submit, lunch and then gave the two daily drivers a through washing & vacuuming, went for a walk with Submit at 3:00, adjusted the choke on the 440, dinner and here I am.

 

[dadsbee]

I have my own duster...

 

[DeltaV]

Did some edging and trimming. Mowed part of the lawn. Put down Ortho kill'em all insecticide. Planted three swamp white oaks and five shag bark hickory trees.

 

[GrabberOrange69]

Man, you guys are busy, efficient, beavers.

I went to church, walked the dogs with SWMBO, then cooked steaks.