Building a Backyard Deck

Costs so far:

5/29-5/31

I know it's been a while since my last update. Oh Well. Anyway, in the interim, I started laying down the decking....YEAH!!

I began by getting down about 3 boards, then I had to stop as I f*cked up my foot somehow and wasn't able to walk for a number of days. Once my foot healed, I got around to laying more of the 16' boards. I stopped when I got to just past the door.

Laying down the Brazilian hardwood was a time consuming task. I had to pre-drill and countersink for every single board. That was 29 different screw holes that had to be drilled before the decking was put down!

My foot was feeling better one day, so I decided it was time for the pea gravel to go under the deck. I cleaned out the Pinz and headed up to the local landscape yard for a truckload of rock. When I originally weighed the Pinz the scale said 4500lbs. After two buckets full of rock later, it read 8300lb. I had 1.8 TONS in the bed of the Pinz. It was definitely leveled out now. Amazingly the springs didn't bottom out. I still had about an inch of clearance. I got home and began to unload the almost 4000lbs of rock. Since I had so much, I decided to lay it out where the dog run would be as well. I ended up having to go back for another bucket load. Total rock in my yard and under the deck is @ 5000lbs. WHEW!

After the rock was down, I spent Wed. the 26th really laying down the boards. In one day, I worked from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m,. more or less non-stop. I got down about 13 boards that day. I know it doesn't seem like a lot, but I was exhausted because I was doing all the work myself.

Finally, yesterday the 31st of May I was able to get some more time for the deck. We had come home early from camping up at Red Feather because it was so cold up there. So, why not spend a beautiful Memorial Day finishing the deck. Kelsi helped me with the screws and we were able to get 15 boards down yesterday. I've noticed that the wood is beginning to warp after having been out in the elements since the 13th of May. Some of those 18' boards needed some help getting straight from the ratchet strap.

@ 5:00 p.m. yesterday I put down the last board on the deck. Whew what a chore! I'm glad that part is done.

After I'd laid down the last board, I started building the stairs that will face into the yard. I got the cuts right the first time, thanks to the great tips from the book I've been reading.

Basically, all I have left to do is some finish wok on the deck, stain it, put up the railings and balusters, and build the stairs for the dogs.

Here's some photos of the completed decking:

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Fiberglass Post hole digger (flea market)	$8.00
24" wood Stakes	$7.49
String	$2.59
Clear tubing (water level)	$3.00
more String (due to dog chewing)	$2.37
10" concrete tube  (6)	$35.88
8" concrete tube	$4.45
6x6 metal post bases (6)	$53.88
flashing (3)	$12.84
20'   2x4's  (2)	$19.88
50# bags of gravel (2)	$7.94
scrap lumber	$2.55
25 bags concrete 80#	$67.25
Concrete Mixer Rental	$42.13
P.T. 16' 2x10 (ledger)	$32.64
Subtotal as of : of 4/26/04	$302.89