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

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 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. )</font>

Good Question. I did a deck tear-off in a previous house, and found that there was some rot starting behind the ledger board. When I replaced that deck, I decided to make it free standing and I just did the same with this one. I'm sure that when it's done right, a ledger board can be weather-tight and last a good long time. I know most decks are built that way.

I may be a little paranoid. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Tom

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( 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. )</font>

A nail gun sounds great, but my arm doesn't get all that tired because I work so slowly. I try not to work any faster than I can think. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I'm afraid that with a nail gun, I would get so far ahead of my brain that by the time I figured out I'd messed up, I'd have a few hundred nails in.

Tom

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

It took me over a month, but just for the record, I got my deck done. The next project will be more fun - a tractor shed. I will probably start it in September. This summer has been too @#!! hot for a heat wimp like me to build in.

Tom

 

[FL_Cracker]

Nice job. You really finished it off great.

As for the tractor shed,

Get-R-Done /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Sorry couldn't pass on the one-liner, We went to see Larry Live in Ft. Lauderdale last night. He's one funny guy.

 

[GerardC]

Nice looking deck. You did a really nice job on it. Now sit back and enjoy 'til you start on that tractor shed.

 

[Larstan]

Fantastic Job! But I think you may be a little fuzzy from the heat.. If you ramp those stairs and put a roof over the deck your tractor shed is already finished, then you can start on a deck for the wife. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Nasty135]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I try not to work any faster than I can think )</font> <font color="blue"> </font>

Boy aint that the truth!! I must stare at a projected space and go through it in my head at least a dozen times just so I can visualize every aspect of the job before I start /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif The older I get the longer it takes...

Great job on that Deck , I love those steps , they must have been fun to figure out.. Its always best to work at a pace your comfortable with /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[EddieWalker]

Great job on the deck. Those stairs really say "WOW!!"

Eddie

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

Thanks for the kind words guys. Of course, that's what I was hoping you would say. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif It definitely turned out OK.

Larry - Before I turn that deck into a tractor shed, I probably better recalculate the floor loading. Also I'd better decide where I want to sleep at night! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Nasty135 - Yeah, the stairs took quite a bit of head scratching /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif before they started coming out right.

Tractor shed, here I come.

Tom

 

[Larstan]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Larry - Before I turn that deck into a tractor shed, I probably better recalculate the floor loading. Also I'd better decide where I want to sleep at night! )</font>

It seems to me you can handle the engineering side no problem /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif As for where to sleep - With the tractor of course /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif