Friday, August 19, 2016

i like big decks and i cannot lie {part one}

Well, hello there!

I thought I'd catch you up on Phil's Summer 2016 project:


The $437,000 Deck

I may be exaggerating a wee bit, but it certainly has been pricey. Perhaps we would have gone with a more conservative plan had we realized how much of our kids' inheritance we were going to be spending.

Maybe something like this:


source
That would have been totally affordable. 

Unfortunately, we STILL need to build something like that. Otherwise, you'll break your legs (and possibly your neck) taking that first step from the kitchen door onto the patio. Welcome to the door to nowhere.


I'm sure there's a reason I have matching, naked chairs on either side of the door. I just can't figure out what that reason might be.

But we're here for big decks!

Do you remember our phallic-shaped patio? I swear to you, we did not do that on purpose. Our plan is to have our deck on the other side of the patio, right under that sliding-glass door.



Phil has never built a deck, but that neither worried me nor stopped him. He did a bunch of online research, and then he did something so wild, so crazy, you won't even believe it!

He bought a book. A real, physical, page-turning book!



He bought so much concrete, I thought he was planning on burying someone under the deck. I steered clear of him for a while, in case that person was me. 


But then he started digging all these little holes, and I felt quite comfortable he couldn't fit me into those holes unless he chopped me up into tiny little bits first.

I have no idea why that made me feel better.


The holes are now all filled with concrete, and I'm still here to tell the tale! Whew!


See that board below the slider? That's called a ledger board. We attached that before we ever had siding installed, because we knew we were going to build a deck here. I'm fairly certain the guys who built our old house pretty much just nailed the deck on through the siding into the house. Classy.


And all that black tape? That's joist tape/flashing to keep the wood from rotting and falling off the house. Kinda like deck-gangrene prevention. Yummy.


That sliding-glass door goes to our bedroom, so you might see some flashing going on in there, too.

I know you've been wondering about Eddie. He's either supervising or trying to smell his butt. I'm going with the latter.


The second set of joists going down:


And the set of joists that will frame out the stairs:


Look mom! Two hands!


Next, he added the posts for the railing. I don't know about you, but it's wearing me out watching him work so hard.


He cut and built his own stair stringers!


Just in time for the decking materials to be delivered.


Did you see our shed in the background? That was his Summer 2015 project. The deck ended up being the exact same size as the shed. We didn't plan that, either.

This is where I'll leave you today. Because I'm leaving. Not the planet, just the laptop.

Have you ever built a deck? Do you love it??

Have a wonderful weekend, and stay tuned!


26 comments:

  1. No,I have not and I don't plan on it, either. Especially since I've seen all the hard work that Eddie's done. And whether it was butt sniffing or supervising, that's a rough gig either way.
    Philly has taken on another big build for the summer...good thinking on staying away while the concrete was poured. You're smart like that. Can't wait to see it finished! xo, T.
    P.S. Don't forget the kisses for Eddie. Do I always have to say it? It's always implied.

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  2. Replies
    1. Haha! NO! He puts in endless hours on the weekends. This has been our life for the last three+ years since we started building the house!

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  3. Love your posts! My husband has built decks on every house we've lived in. He's gotten rather good at it. We have our current home on the market, so there are probably more decks in his future. Phil has gotten a lot done. Can't wait to see the big deck finish! Eddie is adorable as always. I love how he always pitches in to help.

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    1. Thank you! I'm pretty sure Phil never wants to build another one once this space is finished. But it's going to be awesome.

      -andi

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  4. Love your posts! My husband has built decks on every house we've lived in. He's gotten rather good at it. We have our current home on the market, so there are probably more decks in his future. Phil has gotten a lot done. Can't wait to see the big deck finish! Eddie is adorable as always. I love how he always pitches in to help.

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  5. Is that where your hot tub's going? That looks like a lot of work, particularly using saws, which I typically do not use due to risk of self-maim-ment. I did, however, install my own paver brick patio, which involved 437,000 bricks. After two weekends my forearms looked like Popeye's

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  6. OK.... soooo the deck comes out from the bedroom right not the kitchen? I got my directions all messed up and I need to know in case I come and rob you. In which case I won't cut you up, I know that will make you feel better.

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  7. I want to know the answer to Bliss' question, too. Here's my deck story: In 1981 I bought my first house, between husbands. Had a perfect spot for a deck. Talked to my neighbor who told me all I needed to start was 20? 25? can't remember, of these cement blocks that have a piece of wood in the middle. Phil probably knows what they are and what they are called. I bought 'em, he laid them out and all I had to do was buy the lumber and the deck would be built on top of them. The following spring, I had to move them all to mow down the weeks. Then I had to move them again, to mow the weeds that grew up around them. This went on for several years and I eventually gave them away. And that ends my deck story. I like yours better! Dona

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    1. Hi Dona! First, is that you who friended me on FB? I've never known your last name, so before I accept, I gots to KNOW! ;) As for Bliss's question, yes, the deck comes out directly from the bedroom. There will be a mini deck (basically just stairs) coming out from the kitchen door to nowhere that will land on the patio. So the kitchen stairs and the deck will come down to the patio, which is in the middle. Did that make sense or confuse you further??

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    2. Yes, ma'am! That wuz me!! And, yeeaaah, sure, that makes perfect sense, uh huh. Yeppers, you betcha. Understand perfectly.

      What?

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  8. Oh Andi, the deck is going to be wonderful! Nope, haven't built one. When I want/need one, I will have to call you and Phil. lol Okay, a contractor close to my locale.
    Love the gratuitous Eddie photo. :) You and Phil make a snazzy looking couple.

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  9. I love reading your blogs! You are hilarious! My husband does this stuff for a living, so he never wants to work at our place. But he likes to buy property that needs work. I think that is messed up somehow. My husband can build some pretty cool stuff, but I envy you your husband who seems to finish things. We are having a patio poured soon, maybe I should shut up.

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    1. Thank you, um...Unknown! =D I'm glad you found me! Phil is a workhorse. I think he'll be ready for his winter hibernation when the time comes though! We knew it was a huge commitment to build this house, and we still have quite a bit to get on with, but he's been a trooper. I'd love to see what your husband builds!

      -andi

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  10. Dagan and Leah put in their deck with the help of her brother-in-law who used to be a carpenter and worked on building houses. (Very hard work-he's now a teacher.) It was a LOT of work. So much so they got it all together and left it for a long time before they worked up to sanding, staining, and sealing it--which just got done recently--a year later--LOL!

    Kudos to the hubby!! I'll be waiting to see more pictures! :)

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  11. My kids just bought a fixer upper; it's my home until I'm gone and their retirement fund. Luckily I can plan on living at least another 20 yrs before they need the fund. We are putting in new window n siding this year. Next year I would love a deck andfrench doors from my kitchen. My bedroom is at the other end, so wouldn't be.practical.to build there. I have a patio but it needs taken out as all the rainwater runs into the basement. Did I say this is fixer upper? Okay, my son in law is a home remodeler so I have some hope this will happen next summer. I hope it isn't as.costly as yours because the retirement fund isn't worth quite that much. I'm sending this to him, so he'll know I'm researching deck building. Thanks Andi, can't wait to see the final pictures. Say hi to Eddie. I think I had one of his ancestors 40 yrs ago.

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    1. *windows and siding.

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    2. Hi Peggy! Rest assured, our budget runneth over due to the size of the deck (12x20), but mostly because we decided to go with maintenance-free composite decking materials. They are expensive!! Good luck with yours!

      -andi

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    3. Last Sunday the final huge windows along the front went in. Its done except the woodworking inside (the winter project). Next up new siding. I was informed that I should have seen your deck blog BEFORE we put new windows in the eat- in - kitchen. I think my hopes for an exit down to the patio there is dashed. I hate having to go through the garage. I'm wondering if I'd live if I suggested those two windows were returned and a sliding.door and steps put in. They might cash in their retirement fund a lot earlier than I plan.

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    4. I believe I've talked myself into a beer stein of wine.

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  12. I think I need to go to bed early, watching all that work Phil did exhasuted me. I hope he realises he's only rehearsing for building my deck later!

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  13. I'm pretty glad I now know where your bedroom is...for no reason whatsoever...ummm, what's that over there...

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  14. My deck looks terrible. My long-term goal is to turn it into a true Florida room, which will cost an arm and a leg. I think I'll take the leg from Willy Dunne Wooters (he doesn't walk well anyway). I don't know about the arm. It won't be mine. Perhaps Franklin will attack some hapless neighbor and return home with an arm. Maybe we can practice a trick called "steal a big, strong arm." Franklin will get a treat when he brings me the arm. Your deck is lookin' good, chickie baby.

    Love,
    Janie

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  15. I was hell bent on ripping down our platform deck at the beginning of the summer, but then a few pots of flowers distracted me and calmed me down. Now I have deck envy to go along with the trellis envy my deck clematis had months ago. Your projects make me restless!!!!

    Hi Eddie!

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  16. That deck looks so well made...yay to Phil. I have made two huge decks but my ex has them, somehow I couldn't take them with me when I left.

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  17. Your blog have great substance data, i get more contemplations in the wake of perusing this amazing web journal.
    Big Cut Sawing & Drilling

    ReplyDelete

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