Little Deck Project

[TMcD_in_MI]

Two years after we moved in, I finally am getting around to building a deck in back of the house. Alas, I didn't get to use the tractor to dig the pier holes - I don't own a 3 pt auger. The rental guys wanted about $200 for an auger-equipped Bobcat, so I dug them by hand, 12 inch diameter and 42 inches down. I told my wife that I should get the $200 we saved to put in my tractor fund, and she agreed!

Tom

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

Got the concrete poured and the posts in over the next two days... still no tractor work.

Tom

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

Next came the beams ... still no tractor work. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Tom

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

Finally, yesterday and part of today, I got all the joists nailed together, but I assembled the whole thing two feet away from the house so I would have some hammer swinging room to nail into the ends of the joists. So, when I got it all together, squared up, and braced, I ... ta-da! ... used the tractor to push the whole thing across the beams and up almost against the side of the house. I was pretty stoked. It worked like a charm.

Tom

 

[beenthere]

Nice looking project, and glad you found a use for the Deere.

 

[SCB]

Tom,
Did you use the sonotube all the way down the hole for your footings. I always thought that those were used above ground or in an excavation area, and that if you had a tight hole they weren't needed. But that's just me thinking out loud, as I have yet to use them. Great looking deck! and great idea about leaving the extra room for the hammer.

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Tom,
Did you use the sonotube all the way down the hole for your footings. I always thought that those were used above ground or in an excavation area, and that if you had a tight hole they weren't needed. )</font>

I did use them all the way down. I thought it would be easier than trying to dig just the right diameter hole for a snug fit on the tube and then building bracing for the short section of tube that would stick out of the ground. I looked at my county's recommendations for deck building, and they showed the piers sticking out of the ground a bit, so I figured I'd better do it that way. I believe it's to keep the bottom of the post and the bracket as dry as possible.

Tom

 

[LBrown59]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( still no tractor work. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Tom )</font>
=====<font color="orange">========= </font> =====
I know the feeling.
I'm building a small 6x6 deck with 2 steps
and all the time I'm hammering and sawing away on it I keep thinking this thing is robbing me out of a bunch of seat time.
LOL

 

[woodlot]

TM - I'm working on my deck right now too. Why did you use a beam so close to the house? I just used a ledger board bolted to the rim joist on the house. I then only needed one beam 13 ' from the house, it sets on 6x6 posts.

Of course I didn't get to push my deck around with the tractor, darn!

 

[accordionman]

TMcD,
that sure brings back memories. my first
deckwas built with a hammer, it took about
three weeks for my arm to get back to normal.
that is when i bought a nail gun. all my projects
have been much easier since then.
oh, yes, nice looking deck.
good luck with your projects.
accordionman
wlbrown