I’m DIYing my way through life to save money and learn new skills. My passion is making things, such as furniture, home decor, home renovation projects… basically I’m ready to build anything. lol
Let’s MAKE some cool stuff 👊
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Good job. I built my son's deck -- about half the size -- with two stairs and a railing. Saved my son about 8 or 9 thousand dollars. I got a hug out of it. :)
snakes? rodents? rural folk use 1/4-inch glvenized steel hardware cloth. Stapled around the base. Don't like the look? Spray a little lat-black rustoleum every few years...
Everyone crying about the planer and bandsaw price. I have a 10HP 24” planer that I bought from a high school wood shop for a few hundred dollars. Before I purchased that, I used a router sled to flatten anything larger than my 12 planer could handle. My shop is full of commercial grade equipment. The only think in my shop that purchased new was my sawstop table saw. If you can’t build this using inexpensive tools found at a big box store, you shouldn’t try it.
Great Job!!! Watched it twice and learned so much. You're an inspiration. As far as animals are concerned --- search for "ultrasonic pest control" and your answer will show up. Best wishes to your family. 👍 🙏❤
I have a deck with composite surface built in 2011, some joists that are rotten at the top, due to the fact that a composite dock does not get stain. My old deck had joists from 1993 and were still in good shape.
Don’t get into an HOA and then start complaining about it. I’ll be damned if I spend all my years working towards a house just to get a home built directly in an HOA. I prefer country living
The trouble you went to with the joists to get a flat plane is admirable. However the way you set the posts on some gravel instead of frost free footers will eventually cause the deck to settle and most likely not evenly. Like another commenter mentioned the posts should be resting on concrete not encased in it. By doing so the PT 4x4 will rot because it will take much longer for the wood to dry after a weather event. For your and everyone else who might read this I will say that a post can rest on a buried footer of it is done properly. But the best way is to pour the footer to above grade then add a post bracket that is anchored to the footer. This really is the best way since the formula of chemicals that is used to preserve wood was changed to eliminate arsenic some years ago. The new AZQ does not work as good as the old CCA which is why it is recommended to use the flashing tape on to of the joists to prevent water intrusion into the boards. If you had hired a experienced and knowledgeable professional then you would know that the posts and footers were done right. That is the most crucial structural element of any build. As you did it you have to cross your fingers and hope for the best. Good luck with that.
