The deck was looking pretty shabby after an unsuccessful "deckover" job by us a few years ago. It was built in '86, so it was getting a little long in the tooth and the boss was making noise like it needed to be replaced.
Contractor friend of the wife wanted some crazy money to redo it, and being a cheap bastard, I figured I could just do it myself. The wife wanted some 'wrap around' steps, yet keeping as much clearance as possible so we could still drive the truck between the deck the the trees off to the side.
So, armed with youtube, a chop saw "borrowed" from dad and a plan on a napkin, I came up with this:
I ripped up all the old decking (salvaging what I could for other projects), replaced some rotted joists, framed in those steps (which used to just be off the left side) and made a few cosmetic improvements as I went. That random trim along the back is the way I was hiding some damage to the siding that I repaired. It's flashed and sealed, no water is getting in there anymore.
The old deck had the boards just run to the edge and stop, so you had an exposed unfinished edge. I thought I could improve on that so with some extra framing I put a board along each side, so you get a clean look from the side:
Didn't cost much, just some scrap 2x4 for the extra framing and extra screws, but labor wise... I can see why people don't do it. Still, it looks good to me.
For the steps I didn't want it just to be square on the corner, and wanting some 80s flair, I did this:
The original deck wasn't quite square so this took so doing as an add-on, and I can see dozens of mistakes. Hopefully when it's finished no one will notice. I added a lot of 4x4s and concrete under there, that corner is STRONG.
And one last one, a rare shot of me actually doing work. None of my CA friends think I do anything, but here I am doing my own stunts:
The entire thing is held together with deck screws, not a nail anywhere to be found. Should make repairs easier.
I don't paint, so the wife is going to sub that out in the spring once the wood dries out. I used #2 from BMC, probably should have paid the extra for the good stuff but dad said most decks are built with the #2 so I just took the cheap way out. I've already confessed my wood sins to @Scsmith42 .
Between the replacement replacement joists, hangars, concrete, 4x4s, framing material (mostly from Home Depot since I was figuring out things as I went along), all the 5/4x6 boards from BMC, the huge bucket of deck screws and the 'extend a tailgate' thingy that lets me carry 16' material in a truck with a 6.5' bed, one busted tape measure and an impulse package of chocolate donettes at the register, I'm in this deck $1300.... plus like 12 weekends of labor. Once it's painted/stained/finished, I figure I'll be right at $2k, or several STIs less than the contractor wanted.
Next up, screening in the gazebo.... and hanging that screen door that's leaning against the wall in that first shot.
Contractor friend of the wife wanted some crazy money to redo it, and being a cheap bastard, I figured I could just do it myself. The wife wanted some 'wrap around' steps, yet keeping as much clearance as possible so we could still drive the truck between the deck the the trees off to the side.
So, armed with youtube, a chop saw "borrowed" from dad and a plan on a napkin, I came up with this:
I ripped up all the old decking (salvaging what I could for other projects), replaced some rotted joists, framed in those steps (which used to just be off the left side) and made a few cosmetic improvements as I went. That random trim along the back is the way I was hiding some damage to the siding that I repaired. It's flashed and sealed, no water is getting in there anymore.
The old deck had the boards just run to the edge and stop, so you had an exposed unfinished edge. I thought I could improve on that so with some extra framing I put a board along each side, so you get a clean look from the side:
Didn't cost much, just some scrap 2x4 for the extra framing and extra screws, but labor wise... I can see why people don't do it. Still, it looks good to me.
For the steps I didn't want it just to be square on the corner, and wanting some 80s flair, I did this:
The original deck wasn't quite square so this took so doing as an add-on, and I can see dozens of mistakes. Hopefully when it's finished no one will notice. I added a lot of 4x4s and concrete under there, that corner is STRONG.
And one last one, a rare shot of me actually doing work. None of my CA friends think I do anything, but here I am doing my own stunts:
The entire thing is held together with deck screws, not a nail anywhere to be found. Should make repairs easier.
I don't paint, so the wife is going to sub that out in the spring once the wood dries out. I used #2 from BMC, probably should have paid the extra for the good stuff but dad said most decks are built with the #2 so I just took the cheap way out. I've already confessed my wood sins to @Scsmith42 .
Between the replacement replacement joists, hangars, concrete, 4x4s, framing material (mostly from Home Depot since I was figuring out things as I went along), all the 5/4x6 boards from BMC, the huge bucket of deck screws and the 'extend a tailgate' thingy that lets me carry 16' material in a truck with a 6.5' bed, one busted tape measure and an impulse package of chocolate donettes at the register, I'm in this deck $1300.... plus like 12 weekends of labor. Once it's painted/stained/finished, I figure I'll be right at $2k, or several STIs less than the contractor wanted.
Next up, screening in the gazebo.... and hanging that screen door that's leaning against the wall in that first shot.
