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A deck for my daughter

Project by Karson posted 161 days ago 838 views 0 times favorited 35 comments Add to Favorites Watch

This past week (2nd week June 2009) I went to my daughters to make a deck for the front of her house. When she bought the home the front deck and sidewalk had been patched and the corner of the deck was falling off.

I heavy wind came by a month or so ago and swung open the storm door and it hit the railing around the deck and broke it loose. We pulled both side of the railing off before they hurt someone. The front step was not built to the current code and it was very high.

So the need to replace the front steps. and a little work.

My daughter got the building permit and they wanted holes dug to 30” deep so she did that before I and her two brothers arrived.


We put cement in the holes on Tues night after arriving. It was hard on Wed morning so we went to buy the wood for the posts and beams under the deck The hurricane straps, joyce hangers and the cement to set the posts.

We completed the building of the frame on the first day. That night we bought the wood for the fascia boards and the deck surface.

We then mixed the cement to put in front of the steps and replace the patched sidewalk.

After installed all of the deck boards we went for the steps and railings. The deck surface was completed the second day.

We started to build the steps, using all of the math that hadn’t been used in a while and following the requirements from the building office. All steps must be the same rise and depth and have a kick plate at the back.

Pictures were not coming fast at this point in the construction.

We set the steps three times. First too high so instead of lowering it we raised it even more. Of course we had it all screwed down before me measured.

The third time we put each riser in and then measured. It worked the third time. It didn’t require any re-cutting just changes in the attach point. I also had to cut a little more wood off the heel of the steps to make it fit around our new cement.

We put the railing on the left first. It was a full section. The railing on the front required about 3” to be cut off.


The right side required two sections. We cut 3/4” off one end and 20” off the other end, that centered the balusters between the posts.

The construction crew.

And who it was for.

!

The deck is 21” off the surface. The building code only requires railings if the deck surface is over 30” and so we opted to not put a railing down the step to give it a more open look.

The happy construction crew after three days.

A side note on the construction. I bought a Hitachi 18 volt drill and ratched drill at Lowes for $229.00 before I went.

I charged up both batteries. Everything worked great. All joyce hangers, screws up to 3 1/2”, decking boards, facia boards stairs were attached with the two screw guns. It required an additional charge on each battry and a second charge on one more battery. One phyllips screw tip busted on the ratchet drill after a lot of pounding. and it was on putting in the stairs with the 3 1/2” screws.

I’m really happy with these Li-on set. It would run and when the battery was dead it just wouldn’t come on. So it was full speed and then nothing. If I was not aware of that condition we would have gone looking for bad switches.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †


35 comments so far

View a1Jim's profile

a1Jim

16598 posts in 469 days


posted 161 days ago

Hey Karson
I’ve built lots of decks and that’s a winner.great job.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

View depictureboy's profile

depictureboy

305 posts in 535 days


posted 161 days ago

nice job there karson….

-- If you can't build it, code it. If you can't code it, build it. But always ALWAYS take a picture.

View mtnwild's profile

mtnwild

2013 posts in 419 days


posted 161 days ago

Great post, I love the way everyone was involved. I’m sure the young learned a good lesson.

Just perfect…...........Thanks…...............

-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.

View DAN 's profile

DAN

6438 posts in 875 days


posted 161 days ago

well done my friend

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

View lew's profile

lew

4475 posts in 648 days


posted 161 days ago

I thought the doctor told you to take it easy!!!!

At least you had good help!

Nice Deck!!!

Lew

View Karson's profile

Karson

25794 posts in 1293 days


posted 161 days ago

I was clearing out my pores. But, yes he did say take it easy, and I won’t tell him any different.

My daughter told her office that she had no money but she did have talents. I’m getting her trained. After finding out you don’t put your fingers between two hot wires while putting up a ceiling fan, she did the next one by herself.

So she is being trained by on the job training.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View Beginningwoodworker's profile

Beginningwoodworker

4101 posts in 565 days


posted 161 days ago

Nice looking deck.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

View huff's profile

huff

1608 posts in 177 days


posted 161 days ago

Karson, Like the way everyone was involved. Thanks for the extra pictures, we have a habit of forgetting how much work goes into a project like this. It turned out great and I’m sure everyone is enjoying the new deck.

-- John @ Myrtle Beach

View patron's profile

patron

2376 posts in 233 days


posted 161 days ago

looks real good karson !
and a good starter project for you too .
just enjoy your family ,
we’re don’t have to rush anymore .

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

View Grumpy's profile

Grumpy

14914 posts in 743 days


posted 161 days ago

You are good at building those decks Karson. Well done.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

View jeffthewoodwacker's profile

jeffthewoodwacker

486 posts in 696 days


posted 161 days ago

Nice job of passing along all your talent to the next generation. Looks like a hardworking construction crew. The deck looks great.

-- Those that say it can't be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

View Napaman's profile

Napaman

3482 posts in 969 days


posted 161 days ago

you are the deck master…that is for sure…looks great…I like how there was so much involved…some demo…cement…joists…steps…railings….this was a complete job…so she learned a lot…and so did we!!!

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

View grizzman's profile

grizzman

523 posts in 196 days


posted 161 days ago

I REALLY LIKE THE DECK KARSON…VERY NICE LOOKING…GOOD CLEAN CUTS..AND TIME WELL SPENT WITH YOUR FAMILY…YOU FOLLOW DR’S ORDERS LIKE I DO…WE ARE SOMETIMES OUR OWN WORSE ENEMY…HAR…BUT ITS WAS SURE FUN HUH…...GRIZZMAN

-- The Grizzone

View griff's profile

griff

922 posts in 654 days


posted 161 days ago

Great looking project Karson.

-- Mike, Bruce Mississippi = Jack of many trades master of none

View Karson's profile

Karson

25794 posts in 1293 days


posted 161 days ago

Lots of fun Grizzman. On one of my trips to Lowes getting supplies, they had the 1/4” cedar closet liner. 16 Sq ft in a carton normally 22.50 a box. They had a closeout for 4.50 a box. I keep wondering if i should have bought it all.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View cabinetmaster's profile

cabinetmaster

8474 posts in 450 days


posted 161 days ago

Great job on the deck Karson. Glad you followed the doctors orders to the tee…............... yea right.

So how much of the cedar did you buy and where are you going to put it?

-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps

View Karson's profile

Karson

25794 posts in 1293 days


posted 161 days ago

I paid for 250 Bd Ft of the cedar. !/2- 2X8 X10’, and 1/2 1X various widths. But I got over 300 bd ft. He made sure I didn’t go home light. But I think I posted earlier someone stole over 3000 bd ft from him along with some cherry and walnut. (That wasn’t me)

And putting it. It’s still sitting on sawhorses in the driveway. No room to put it.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View dustyal's profile

dustyal

443 posts in 367 days


posted 161 days ago

Sounds like that new pacemaker had you all charged up for this project… just like the energizer bunny… you keep going… and going…

Well done. Nice improvement and I bet those young ‘uns will appreciate…

Thanks for taking the time writing the running story… very interesting.

-- Al H. - small shop, small projects...

View jack1's profile

jack1

375 posts in 919 days


posted 161 days ago

A very nice deck. I’m glad you are doing well also.

-- jack -- measure once, curse twice!

View TopamaxSurvivor's profile

TopamaxSurvivor

2994 posts in 568 days


posted 161 days ago

Looks good from here:-)) Quite a crew she’s got working for her !!

-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

7034 posts in 1192 days


posted 161 days ago

Nice job Karson, it really added some curb appeal to the house.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View stefang's profile

stefang

1642 posts in 226 days


posted 161 days ago

Great job Karston and fine result. I especially like the way you placed the stairs in that notch in the deck. Also liked the railing which looked different, but really nice.

A wonderful way to spend time with your family too! well done. It looks like that pacemaker is doing the job.

-- Mike, American in Norway

View Splinterman's profile

Splinterman

4827 posts in 253 days


posted 161 days ago

A great family project and effort Karson…......very well done.

-- I will just keep doing it till I get it right.

View shinju's profile

shinju

39 posts in 225 days


posted 161 days ago

great job on the deck,works well with the house. shinju

View robdew's profile

robdew

79 posts in 607 days


posted 161 days ago

great deck – I wish I could build one like that.

When you publish numerous pics like this inside your post, it pushes all of the pics out over the RSS feed, which people typically read quickly or on portable devices. It would be helpful to keep the pics in the gallery, so only a thumbnail is sent out over the feed.

View sharad's profile

sharad

704 posts in 697 days


posted 161 days ago

I am amazed to see what you have done. It has given a betterlook to the already beautiful house.
Sharad

-- patanjali

View Karson's profile

Karson

25794 posts in 1293 days


posted 160 days ago

Thanks for the comments. I was very happy. Every time we turned around I was giving a new suggestion. One was for electric (My daughter passed on that because it would require a revision to the building permit) The second was tearing out the cement sidewalk. It would have been hard to fit the steps in with the old sidewalk. We would have been outside the original sidewalk.

The daughter and kids busted out the old sidewalk while I went to purchase cement. It was very crumbly and came up easily along with a pry bar and a 20 lb sledge. The grand kids also got to put their hand prints in the wet cement.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View cabinetmaster's profile

cabinetmaster

8474 posts in 450 days


posted 160 days ago

Karson, What I meant by the cedar was the 1/4” you said Lowes had on sale. How much of it did you buy?

-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps

View Karson's profile

Karson

25794 posts in 1293 days


posted 160 days ago

None of it. I thought too long about “Did I need it?”

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View clieb91's profile

clieb91

683 posts in 827 days


posted 160 days ago

Karson, Nicely done deck. Glad to see everyone pitched in and helped as well I am sure learned a few things.

CtL

-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."

View jim1953's profile

jim1953

1598 posts in 734 days


posted 160 days ago

Nice Job Karson

-- Jim, Kentucky

View woodshaver's profile

woodshaver

95 posts in 245 days


posted 160 days ago

Nice job! Looks great! I’ve built a few myself and yours looks strong and should last a long long time ! All you need now is to make a couple of rockers!

-- My shop teacher said "You can do it".... Now I can't stop!

View Karson's profile

Karson

25794 posts in 1293 days


posted 160 days ago

Very true Woodshaver

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View mmh's profile

mmh

1381 posts in 614 days


posted 158 days ago

Nice deck. I need a small one for the front of my house. Maybe if you come over and build me one, I’ll make you a cane to hobble home with! }:)~

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe

View patrick m's profile

patrick m

180 posts in 705 days


posted 141 days ago

Hello Karson, Hope you’ve been well. Really great how family all helped ya out !
I’ always love to see that. Haven’t experienced the feeling myself yet. ha
I’m still the lone pack mule fix this fix that, the rest of my fam thinks do-it yourself means yellow pages or me.
OH I miss my Gaudalcanal Grandpa. would re-build jukeboxes-auto-slots-woodwork-whatever.
Keep em interested, With no more shop-class in schools, It’s up to us to pass on the bug.
Good for you.
Happy 4th o’ July!!!
Pat

-- PJM.`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> ""BY HAMMER AND HAND ALL ARTS DO STAND""1785-1974 nyc Semper Fi, Patrick M

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