I never did anything with the deck yesterday as I had some errands I had to run. This morning I started about 8:00 making sure that I had everything in place to rise the deck.
Up inside the door I have a 4×4 36” long that is resting on either side of the door frame. It is kept 3’ off the floor with a strapping legs. I will use this 4×4 as a place to tie off the deck as I tip it up. You can see the heavy duty tie down straps that I will be using to pull the deck into position. Also note the vertical 2×8s screwed to the deck.
I am using my car jack to raise the deck 6” and then I relocate the 2×8s by dropping them 6”. I then release the jack, build up the base under the jack and raise the deck another 6”. I did this several times until the deck was about 3’ off the ground.
Here are a couple of lifting progress pics.
When I had it 3” off the ground I went upstairs and pulled of the straps. No go. Hmmmmmm. DW then came outside and said “why don’t you use the come-along”. Doh . . . why didn’t I think of that. In the picture below you can see the red strap connecting the steel cable of the come-along. I have removed the vertical 2×8s.
Here I am ratcheting the come-along and rising the deck. The cable is about as far as I can pull it in at this point in time.
The bolts are sliding into the mortises.
Here I am bracing the deck as I have to release the come-along and shorten the strap.
Another view of bracing the deck.
Here I have shortened the strap and reattached the come-along. You can see where the red strap attached to the steel cable.
After a little more ratcheting the deck falls into place. Here I am screwing in a lag.
Putting washers and nuts on the bolts that came through the mortises.
Looking up through.
I reworked some of the bracing and started working on the stringers. Tomorrow I will have to add the back deck posts and start the decking.
-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them
12 comments so far
pommy
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892 posts in 569 days
posted 127 days ago
Man i worry about you my friend that block on the foot of the ladder please tell me you staked it in the ground but on a plus note the frame is looking good
But please when you start to deck out please get another pair of hands that looks a dam long way down to the floor and the gap looks kind of small lol….....;) ;) ;)
Hoping to be your long friend Andy
-- cut it saw it scrap it
Zuki
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1218 posts in 955 days
posted 127 days ago
Yep I sure did stake it . . . there are 4 8” galvanized spikes in that block of wood. After you pointed out what happened to a fellow Jock I got a little worried so I increased the safety factor. This is it.
With the block in place (driven 8” into the ground) the ladder will not move. That being said I am still cautious.
I will probably tie myself off with a safety harness when doing the decking. It is a looooong way down.
I appreciate your concern pommy. :-)
-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them
Brad_Nailor
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1192 posts in 835 days
posted 127 days ago
Wow..your a one man army my friend! Looks good but I bet you sighed a giant relief when it slipped into place!
-- David, South Windsor, CT "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning"
patron
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2244 posts in 219 days
posted 127 days ago
nicely thought out ,
and well done !
keep us posted ,
i expect you’ll be done this (july 4th)
weekend ?
-- david ,new mexico ,allheart
a1Jim
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15521 posts in 455 days
posted 127 days ago
Hey Zuki
pretty ingenuios deck tilt,I build a lot of em. The only thing I would suggest is to use pressure treated wood on the area that’s on top of the concrete.
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
Zuki
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1218 posts in 955 days
posted 127 days ago
It was a relief. I measured everything at least 6 times . . . and then one more time to make sure. It “fell” in place with a solid comforting thump.
Patron . . . I should be able to do quite a bit more tomorrow (4th). Then I have to get more lumber. The bracing will be a bit of a challenge . . . strong but nice looking. DW has some things in mind.
-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them
Zuki
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1218 posts in 955 days
posted 127 days ago
Hey Jim. Tks.
We are not fond of pressure treated lumber. If you notice the pics you will see the black on the bottom plate. This is ice shield. I use it to keep the wood from touching concrete. It will not allow moisture to get between the concrete and wood.
-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them
DaveR
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1468 posts in 598 days
posted 126 days ago
Looks good Zuki. I was holding my breath as the thing went up. :-)
Do your neighbors come around to watch?
-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.
Zuki
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1218 posts in 955 days
posted 126 days ago
Actually Dave . . . there was a guy working on a set of deck stairs next door and he was staring at me more than working at the deck. The owners were not home so I guess he had no one looking over his shoulder. :-)
-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them
DaveR
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1468 posts in 598 days
posted 126 days ago
Well, you showed hhim a thing or two. ;)
-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.
Russel
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2030 posts in 817 days
posted 126 days ago
Those Egyptians and their pyramids having nothing on you when it comes to building. Getting that into place by yourself is pretty spiffy work. You’re making good progress and it is sure to be a handsome addition to the house.
So, will there be stairs coming down from there? Or is it more of a jumping off point?
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
cabinetmaster
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7973 posts in 436 days
posted 126 days ago
WOW. I can’t believe you did it that way but that is pretty ingenious work. Great job.
-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps