Backyard deck building
-
wrote on 6 Jul 2020, 22:45 last edited by xenon 7 Jun 2020, 22:48
Has anyone done it? Am I crazy to try and do it myself (with zero carpentry experience - should I start smaller)?
While I enjoy these sorta things, I would hate to sink in dozens upon dozens of hours as well (and not spend the time on the weekends with family)
I have a cement patio in the backyard (half covered and half open). Some areas are inexplicably raised on the uncovered part (only by a coupe of inches, but enough to be a tripping hazard), and the area below the covered part has a different type of cement flooring.
The idea is to class it all up and still use the grades and drainage underneath the deck to my advantage (deck would be no more than half a foot off the ground).
Probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 300sqft
-
wrote on 6 Jul 2020, 22:48 last edited by
Get an experienced carpenter, make sure he follows all the local codes.
-
wrote on 6 Jul 2020, 23:02 last edited by
Yeah, I'd give it a thumbs down, Xenon. Unless you know what you're doing, you will end up like me: the pile of wood pieces you cut that didn't fit, will be higher than your finished deck.
I built a wood gate for my neighbor, years ago. It ended up being overkill. Way too many pieces, weighed way too much, and looked amateurish. Which leads me to. . .
As I have looked at our deck (goes from 2nd-floor big area, with steps to the lawn), it's very clever how it is put together. You can follow the load-bearing all the way to the ground. No way I could have come up with that sophisticated of a design to be very strong, using the least amount of wood.
And, what Copper said. It will likely need to pass some sort of code thing.
-
wrote on 6 Jul 2020, 23:02 last edited by
What Copper said. This is a big deal, with lots of hidden dangers. It's going to involve a significant investment in tools and equipment, not to mention time.
As a moderately experienced woodworker, I would not have tried something like this, but YMMV.
-
wrote on 6 Jul 2020, 23:08 last edited by Catseye3 7 Jun 2020, 23:09
What George said at the end of his post you should pay attention to. He has posted pics of some of the things he's built, and they are lovely and very professional looking. If he would hesitate to tackle your deck, that should be a red flag.
Maybe you could do some prep, i.e., look at some YouTubes, get some woodworking books, build a couple of small items like maybe a table to put on your new deck, maybe a doghouse . . . and then ask your pro if you could trail around after him and observe how he does it.
There -- advice from one who has zero experience whatsoever.
-
What George said at the end of his post you should pay attention to. He has posted pics of some of the things he's built, and they are lovely and very professional looking. If he would hesitate to tackle your deck, that should be a red flag.
Maybe you could do some prep, i.e., look at some YouTubes, get some woodworking books, build a couple of small items like maybe a table to put on your new deck, maybe a doghouse . . . and then ask your pro if you could trail around after him and observe how he does it.
There -- advice from one who has zero experience whatsoever.
wrote on 6 Jul 2020, 23:14 last edited by@Catseye3 said in Backyard deck building:
What George said at the end of his post you should pay attention to. He has posted pics of some of the things he's built, and they are lovely and very professional looking. If he would hesitate to tackle it, that should be a red flag.
Maybe you could do some prep, i.e., look at some YouTubes, get some woodworking books, build a couple of small items like maybe a table to put on your new deck, maybe a doghouse . . . and then ask your pro if you could trail around after him and observe how he does it.
There -- advice from one who has zero experience whatsoever.
That's a good idea.
Years ago, I had a block wall fence built on our property. The guy I hired was a mason, so I asked if I could help. What I found out, is that an experienced mason is way above my ability. While I was trying to get just the right amount of mortar, and position it right, there would be too much mortar, or not enough, so no way to make a straight line.People with the skills and background are worth the $.
-
wrote on 6 Jul 2020, 23:32 last edited by
Makes sense. I tend to dive into the deep end sometimes.
Between the investment in tools and time - probably not worth it. Plus the space looks pretty decent now - I'm trying to turn it up a notch... I probably won't be able to pull that off.
-
wrote on 6 Jul 2020, 23:34 last edited by Doctor Phibes 7 Jun 2020, 23:35
We have a home made deck built by the Roy Rogers impersonator we bought the house from.
I'd hire a bloke. And not just any bloke.
-
What George said at the end of his post you should pay attention to. He has posted pics of some of the things he's built, and they are lovely and very professional looking. If he would hesitate to tackle your deck, that should be a red flag.
Maybe you could do some prep, i.e., look at some YouTubes, get some woodworking books, build a couple of small items like maybe a table to put on your new deck, maybe a doghouse . . . and then ask your pro if you could trail around after him and observe how he does it.
There -- advice from one who has zero experience whatsoever.
wrote on 6 Jul 2020, 23:38 last edited by@Catseye3 said in Backyard deck building:
What George said at the end of his post you should pay attention to. He has posted pics of some of the things he's built, and they are lovely and very professional looking.
Let me add to what you said, and thanks for the compliment.
Almost everything I've built was from a set of plans, or at least a photograph of something I thought I could do.
I built the desk I'm sitting at, and it's pretty damn fine. I saw a picture, blew it up, scaled it for proportion with some minor variations, etc. Well-proportioned, etc. I love the thing.
Then, I built a sewing desk/hutch for Mrs. George based on how I thought it should look. It was a disaster - totally disproportioned and awkward (no, I have no pictures).
I've commented that I'm the most un-original person I know, but I can follow instructions (plans) well. I can't improvise worth a damn.
Building a deck on-site is a study in improvisation.
Don't.
-
wrote on 7 Jul 2020, 00:21 last edited by Mik 7 Jul 2020, 00:37
The carpentry on a deck is doable - once the proper foundation is set.
Aye, there's the rub. Getting the foundation right is difficult. Not that it is beyond your ability,
Given that your current situation is a patio, the first step is removing all that concrete. Once you have done that and considering your location, I would want to go with nice pavers, something that is permeable with all the water. I have a large wooden deck (30' x 15' plus a 13' square covered pavilion). It's a lot of maintenance. It could only be worse in a very wet area. At the very least use a composite material, which makes the foundation a bit more complicated because you need to lay the deck on much closer joist centers. I would do 8".
Building and tearing out walls in your house is easy. For a deck I would hire a pro.
-
wrote on 7 Jul 2020, 00:34 last edited by
Hey Xenon,
If it's any help, I have three hammers and I would gladly send you one.
Only problem is, I lost the all the instructions.But, you're welcome to it.
Let me know if interested. -
wrote on 7 Jul 2020, 01:12 last edited by
Tell you what, you come haul pavers and sand for my patio, I’ll come swing a hammer for yours...
-
wrote on 7 Jul 2020, 01:58 last edited by
Not sure why i remembered this video, but maybe it fits here.
Link to video
-
wrote on 7 Jul 2020, 12:16 last edited by
I'm the Lone Dissenter.
If the current slab drains decently, you're not having to grade out anything. You can build a deck with no more power tools than a skilsaw and a battery drill driver, as long as you aren't desiring some curvy piece of art.
Hiring it done will result in it being done much faster, with less mess and fuss. Probably a few less curse words.
But what's the fun in that?
-
wrote on 7 Jul 2020, 12:50 last edited by Mik 7 Jul 2020, 12:52
That is true - you could use the existing slab as the foundation. I'd cantilever it so that the slab did not show.
Is there a step down from the house to the slab? The only reason I have a deck instead of a paver patio is I wanted teh deck level with the first floor. I think it extends the house more.