My back deck build

[kevinwak]

I have been slowly building a deck on the east side of the house. It was started late last summer and then I left it for winter. Now I am trying to quickly get it done, as we invited the extended family over for Easter dinner and are expecting about fourth people. The weather has been nice, so hopefully some can eat outside. The deck is framed in PT 2X10's the decking is Trex in Tiki Torch colour and the accent colour is called Spiced Rum. Hopefully I finish the stairs tomorrow morning and maybe start a little of the skirting. Once the stairs are done I will measure and have aluminum railing welded up to match the railing on the front porch.

 

[kevinwak]

The framing began last summer.

 

[kevinwak]

My little helpers.

 

[kevinwak]

Stair building.

 

[s219]

Boy that looks good!

 

[cartod]

Cool deck, but those helpers look like trouble! :laughing: Make sure to post the final pics!

 

[dave1949]

That's a fine looking deck and crew.

Should be a nice outdoor space to enjoy.

 

[tractorgp]

You definitely know what you're doing!

 

[cqaigy2]

Fine looking deck, with a good crew.:laughing:

 

[davesl708]

Great looking project. I see the quality control team is inspecting the work every step of the way.
It will be a great space to relax on.

 

[kevinwak]

Pretty much finished the stairs and began some of the skirting. The rest if the skirting will have to wait until all the snow melts from underneath an the mud dries.

Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNet

 

[EddieWalker]

Beautiful looking deck. Really nice touch using the different colored materials!!!!

Around here you couldn't close in the bottom of the deck due to moisture. I don't know what it's like there, but down here in the South, we need the air flow under the deck to keep everything dry. I've seen where clients have closed theirs in just like you have and in just a year, mold is growing everywhere. When it rains, the water goes through the gaps in the deck boards and soaks into the ground. Then it just stays moist forever because there isn't any sunlight or wind to dry it out.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

Beautiful looking deck. Really nice touch using the different colored materials!!!!

Around here you couldn't close in the bottom of the deck due to moisture. I don't know what it's like there, but down here in the South, we need the air flow under the deck to keep everything dry. I've seen where clients have closed theirs in just like you have and in just a year, mold is growing everywhere. When it rains, the water goes through the gaps in the deck boards and soaks into the ground. Then it just stays moist forever because there isn't any sunlight or wind to dry it out.

Eddie

 

[The Suburban Farmer]

Beautiful looking deck. Really nice touch using the different colored materials!!!!

Around here you couldn't close in the bottom of the deck due to moisture. I don't know what it's like there, but down here in the South, we need the air flow under the deck to keep everything dry. I've seen where clients have closed theirs in just like you have and in just a year, mold is growing everywhere. When it rains, the water goes through the gaps in the deck boards and soaks into the ground. Then it just stays moist forever because there isn't any sunlight or wind to dry it out.

Eddie

+ 1

I LOVE the 2-tone look of the deck. The dark edge looks fantastic... nice design! HOWEVER, I have to agree with Eddie -- totally sealing up the bottom can cause moisture problems. Don't ask me how I know...

Make sure you at least put some adequate vents in there.

 

[sld]

Pretty much finished the stairs and began some of the skirting. The rest if the skirting will have to wait until all the snow melts from underneath an the mud dries.

Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNet

Very nice job! I am a big fan of closing the bottom out for several reasons. Keeps critters out, looks better and I use mine for seasonal storage. I used cedar and the boards will shrink slightly. This has always been enough airflow to prevent problems. Here is a pic before staining. The deck is 12 years old but I redid the bottom boards due to rot. This time I added a river rock border to prevent the premature rotting.

 

[chad22]

Beautifully done deck. Looks like a nice place to sit and enjoy the outdoors.

 

[Dutch445]

Beautiful looking deck. Really nice touch using the different colored materials!!!!

Around here you couldn't close in the bottom of the deck due to moisture. I don't know what it's like there, but down here in the South, we need the air flow under the deck to keep everything dry. I've seen where clients have closed theirs in just like you have and in just a year, mold is growing everywhere. When it rains, the water goes through the gaps in the deck boards and soaks into the ground. Then it just stays moist forever because there isn't any sunlight or wind to dry it out.

Eddie

Eddie how much venting would you recommend? i used 5/4 PT on a deck last year in the same fashion, but i left 1/8 gap with the wet wood that will
open a bit more as it dries. deck is 12x15. i had not considered a moisture problem.

 

[TCJatko]

Nice job. As others have stated, the two-tone look is very attractive.

 

[gsganzer]

Your giving me some great ideas for our deck and patio project. I really like the Trex and the accent color.

 

[EddieWalker]

Eddie how much venting would you recommend? i used 5/4 PT on a deck last year in the same fashion, but i left 1/8 gap with the wet wood that will
open a bit more as it dries. deck is 12x15. i had not considered a moisture problem.

As a builder, and somebody who has to stand behind what I build, I will always say that the maximum amount of ventilation you can possibly get is recommended. Think of it this way. Your deck is a series of boards with gaps between them. The gaps are big enough to let water through them, but not enough to let the sun dry out what's under there. You basically have a very nice shady area under your deck. When the sun cannot dry out the moisture, you need wind or air movement to do this. How much really depends on how wet it gets and how long will it remain wet under your deck? At what point does this moisture attract bugs? When does this moisture lead to decay and mold on your wood? And yes, Pressure Treated wood does rot and it's a great place for mold and mildew to grow. By closing off the sides of a deck, you are creating the perfect environment for this to happen. I have never built a deck with anything more on the sized then lattice.

Eddie