Built a deck

[MustardTiger]

To some this might be just a simple project, but I found MMM around the time I bought my house and before then I was really the opposite of handy.  I have done pretty much all the remodeling myself minus the tiling.  Anyways I had a very ugly cracked concrete patio that we wanted to replace.  Got a quote to have it done professionally at ~2500.  Ended up being about 650 in materials and a future debt to help my brother with a project.

Prepping the joists and breaking up the concrete.


Flashing tape to keep moisture out, and pvc blocks to elevate the joists


Got the decking down, will update with more pics after I get the border on and everything stained.

[MustardTiger]

Oh wow I guess these pics are too high resolution, how do I change that?

[zolotiyeruki]

For shrinking pictures, I use a free program called IrfanView that has an easy resize/resample function.

[Grateful Stache]

Looks great man. Congrats!

[soccerluvof4]

looks good but i see one problem. The last concret step to the deck is probably (in most areas) not code and looks to be a trip hazard as well.  Also from side walk to deck what are your plans for that edge? otherwise the ends might curl on you.

[Jack]

looks good but i see one problem. The last concret step to the deck is probably (in most areas) not code and looks to be a trip hazard as well.

I hate to say it ('cause it's extra work), but I'd suggest raising the entire deck to be flush with that bottom step.

[dragoncar]

Oh wow I guess these pics are too high resolution, how do I change that?

After you upload, on the right side it says "edit image" and you can change the size.

[MustardTiger]

looks good but i see one problem. The last concret step to the deck is probably (in most areas) not code and looks to be a trip hazard as well.  Also from side walk to deck what are your plans for that edge? otherwise the ends might curl on you.

This weekend I am planning on putting a border around with 2x4's and doing the stain.  I know its not perfect and have no plans to make it level with the first step, its really not a huge deal.  I looked in the code for my area and it appears they do not have any restrictions if it is not connected to the house or raised a certain amount.

[Jack]

I know its not perfect and have no plans to make it level with the first step, its really not a huge deal. I looked in the code for my area and it appears they do not have any restrictions if it is not connected to the house or raised a certain amount.

Look in the part of code dealing with stairs, not decks.

[MustardTiger]

Ok, so if it isn't a hazard to us, what would be the worst that could happen?  Maybe we would have to do something with it if I sold the house?

[Greg]

The worst that could happen?  Since you asked, the worst that could happen is a friend or stranger might trip and fall on that 1.5" step and die.  More likely is someone gets hurt, then you get sued for damages.  Your home owner's insurance would of course be involved and/or could notice it beforehand and require you to change it or be dropped.

[Ohio Teacher]

If you decide to leave the deck alone you should at least put something like this along the edge of the bottom step: http://www.emedco.com/watch-your-step-warning-grit-tape-agwt23.html
It may even help you to avoid tripping over your own handiwork. 

[Greg]

If you get some friends to help you, you could lift the deck as a panel and put additional flat 2x4's down or even just blocks of 2x4 screwed to the bottom of the sleepers (the flat boards your decking is attached to) to raise it up to the step edge.  Not that you asked, a suggestion.

Other than that it looks nice.  Please post pics of the deck after stain etc.!

[MustardTiger]

Well I wanted to wait till the wood dried to do the stain, but the ends of some boards have started warping pretty severely (sigh).  today I am going to try and saw a few inches off the warped edges/put the border/and stain.

[BooksAreNerdy]

Another way to do this project would be to use pre poured concrete footings for the 'yard' side of the deck. These little piers have notches pre cut for your 2by to fit into. Then you just slip in a 2x4 on edge (as opposed to flat, which tends to warp) and level it on the house side of the deck by shimming. Having the 2x4s on edge will lend greater stability and much less warping. Also, having the joists on edge would probably raise your deck to stair level.

[MustardTiger]

Finished everything.  I had to put in extra work to trim the ends down as they were starting to warp badly.  Put a border and stained it.  Pretty happy with the end result.

[MustardTiger]

bottom two pictures are the same images, I just reposted to a reasonable size.

[MandalayVA]

Don't hide your light, I consider this totally badass!

[Exhale]

I second MandalayVA - totally badass.  Good for you!

[Greg]

Looks great!

[MustardTiger]

So quote from professional 2500 (slightly larger size).  With the stain and a few extra tools I had to buy it cost me just shy of 700. 

Next projects include: laying sod in the backyard (thinking buffalo grass), and about 75 feet of fencing along with tearing out the existing chainlink.  My wife also wants some planter boxes to line the side of the deck close to the a/c.

[BooksAreNerdy]

We have buffalo grass and love it. We did Cody buffalo from stock seed farms. In ESS than one year we had nearly full coverage and at 1 year it was a soft lush lawn. Never been watered since it established last spring. Mowing frequency is very low. It spreads quickly by both seed as well as stolon (runners) so the added cost of sod may not be worth is for how fast it establishes and spreads.