Zen & The Art of Deck Building

I love being outside. I love camping, and when at home, I like hanging out in my backyard. I am not a fan of the screaming neighbors that obviously know all of the four letter words that I know and some that I don’t (but I do now), but nevertheless, it can be peaceful out there at times.

However, the gnats and mosquitos just love eating me. So, I bought a screened in canopy and a citronella candle to help cure the bug problem. However, that didn’t work completely either because those that hangout in the grass are the worst, and my ankles look like an over used pin cushion. So, I decided to build a deck to get me off the ground and out of the grass, and I secured the canopy on top of the deck. Although we (my son, my son’s girlfriend, and me) are not quite finished, when it is done and I have the lawn furniture back inside the canopy, it is going to be an awesome hangout. However, this was the first time that I ever built a deck and there are quite a few lessons that I learned along the way.

1. Cost. I measured the area, and anticipated the cost after checking prices. I had the materials at about $300. That was a nice try, but it wasn’t even close. The materials cost over $500. UPDATE: And several trips to the hardware store for things that you didn’t anticipate.

2. ETA. The estimated time of arrival. All we had to do was connect four pieces of wood together on top of cinder blocks to make the frame for the floating deck, put in joist brackets, set in and secure the joists, and lay the floor planks. We figured we would be done in less than a day. UH, wrong! We started yesterday morning, and like I said, we are still not completely done. The problem?

3. The weather. In the west when it is 90+ degrees, it is comfortable. Here when it is 90+ degrees, one can barely breathe because of the humidity, and there are heat advisories. Needless to say, we are sunburnt and miserable.

4. No matter how well and carefully you measure, the thickness of the wood is going to mess it up for you. For example, the deck is 14′ wide by 16′ long. The 2″x6″ floor planks are 16 feet long, and each at 6″ wide would make an even 28 planks. But, wood is never the size advertised. 6″ wide wood can be anywhere from 5.5″ wide to a little more that 5.75″ wide, and we had those and everything in between. Plus, we did one plank at a time. We laid one, cut it, and secured it down. Oh no, bad idea. We should have just laid all the planks, positioned them, and then secured them down. Oh well, if and when I ever build another deck, I will get it right the next time.

5. One must be in some kind of decent shape. Not only am I sun burnt, my muscles HURT!

So, if you have never built a deck before and think it is a project that you would like to learn to do, you need to also consider the various things that could possibly go wrong because, trust me, Murphy’s Law will take effect. Whatever can go wrong will go wrong and at the worst possible moment.

UPDATE: The deck is 99.9% done. Initially, I was going to have it has a floating deck (one that is not connected to the house). However, I have decided to run a walk way from the back door to the deck. As it is now, you have to walk out onto the stoop, down to the sidewalk, and step up to the deck. I can’t imagine me doing that if I were drinking very much. Plus, it will look nicer. So, what the heck.

It is supposed to be 92 degrees and rain; not a good day to start. But, the temp is supposed to drop to the low 80s and be clear for the next couple of days starting tomorrow. As soon as I get off work tomorrow, I will start, and hopefully be done in a day or two (considering I will have to do it in the evening).

UPDATE: It is done as of July 23, 2008. Links to the pictures are below:

http://www.geocities.com/zconscious/images/deck01.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/zconscious/images/deck02.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/zconscious/images/deck03.jpg

Yes, I know. It currently looks like a canopy covered dance floor in my backyard, so it is eventually going to need the railings.