2.5" is good enough

I've used hidden fasteners, Tigerclaw, with wood.

These are tempting to try(Screws driven in with a nail gun)

https://www.nailgundepot.com/3-x-120-acq-galvanized-coarse-square-drive-winchester-grey-details.html

I have deck envy after seeing some of these pictures. :)

Ours needs some attention but we're not sure whether to just replace the existing deck or build something bigger and partially screened in.

frankly, I like that one a lot better than all those complicated designs.
And that color is about as perfect as it can get IMO.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1569350504.png

That's not what she said...

haha,

Well, for him is it

Today I pulled the last of the perimeter boards I had cut back . Cleaned up and made sure all nails have been pulled . Then switched gears and mixed up some TSP and bleach and hit the joists under the deck . Let that sit a while then fired up the pressure washer . Knocked all the crud/mung/dirt off and will let it dry .

On Friday I will pick up six 16 ' deck boards and screws/ joist tape and install my first set of picture frame boards. After that I have to start pulling up the longer boards . Slow but steady progress .

Two pics of the progress so far it's taken me a few days to get the blocking done I'm a slow one man army :D This is the master bedroom side of the deck I am starting there and moving towards the other end . Nothing exciting but everyone likes pics :D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1569444306.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1569444306.jpg

Get some clear oil stain or preservative at least on everything while it's all open.
And some hangers. A few at least. No such thing as overbuilt.

attaboy. saweeet!

This morning I hitched up the car trailer to " Kong " 😆 my diesel dually and off we went to the lumber yard . I purchased from a facility that makes their own pressure treated material and sells to the public. I bought eighty two 16 footers , twenty 10 footers and a 25lb. bucket of 2 1/2 " screws with tax came to 1k ........... told the guy I am paying cash the total went down to $930.00 not bad I thought . It is # 2 grade but looks pretty clean.

Unfortunately they didn't have the joist tape so will have to source that elsewhere. I want to install the picture frame boards on the one end tomorrow so this tape is now a pacing item 😡 Hopefully I can post a pic or two tomorrow of some progress 😁

I vote for diagonal as water will drain away at all 4 edges and reduces rot problems.

Ran into a small snag , not one lumber yard or big box home center near me has joist tape 😡
I just went online and ordered from Amazon and supposedly it will be delivered on Sunday . Oh well I guess I will take it easy this weekend 😁

Are you using a good chop saw to cut the blocking pieces?
I did the cutting for a lot of the blocking that is going into my brother's new place.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1569707203.JPG
This is the bottom side of what he calls the speedster hut.
It's all screwed together.

Milt you are wise 🙂 I thought I would be able to get it somewhere locally but no dice . I can see where the tape could be useful so I ordered it , tracking confirms delivery tomorrow . I am not going to lose sleep wondering if termites " could " setup camp it is what it is.

The question about blocking I cut most by hand with a circular saw . Put a square on each one , made my pencil line and cut it . I am not and never will be a finish carpenter .......... sometimes good enough has to be good enough 😁

My brother and I have been doing a lot of construction at his new place the past 6 months. We've been using the heck out of his chop saw. It has turned into a production where time saved measuring etc helps so I worked out a 'stop' system where once the first block is cut/measured/inspected for length, all the rest of the blocks for that 'section' are the same. It's worked out great and we've seen our 'build times' decrease greatly the more we've done. What at first took us the better part of a day to do can now be done in a couple hours. Practice makes perfect.
I hope to be able to show you all pictures of what we've been doing. I'm hoping you'll like it.

So today around 10:00 UPS pulled into the driveway with my joist tape . I immediately started covering the joists on the far side of the deck . My thoughts were do one end and put the picture frame boards so the tape doesn't peel .

As it turns out this stuff is very sticky so my concern about peeling probably wasn't an issue . So one end of the picture frame boards is done tomorrow I will do the other end . Then start pulling up all the old boards , put down the tape and screw down the new boards .

Finally a few new deck boards are installed ! :D Wow has it been hot here we are near setting a new record for consecutive 90 + degree days and today was no exception I must have sweat 10 gallons !!! :( Anyway I finished up covering the joists and spacer blocks with the joist tape and now have the picture frame boards installed on both sides of the deck off our master bedroom . May not be a lot of progress but I am happy :D Everything screwed down nice and tight and looks good . The sound under foot is quiet I can see where the tape helps with that also . Tomorrow I work at my part time job so will get back on this on Friday . Friday will be the beginning of the tear out of all the old deck boards on that side . The black line you see in the one pic is the joist tape where the new boards will butt up to the picture frame boards .

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1569884866.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1569884866.jpg

I am still yanking up old deck boards piece by piece and today finally the weather has cooled off . When I picked up the deck boards from the lumber yard I asked how long should I let them " weather " before treating/staining them . The guy behind the counter said with the projected hot weather forecast he suggested getting something on it soon ( before winter ) . His thoughts were moisture gets into the wood , then freezes which starts the cracking of the wood . Our winters in GA. are pretty mild but I think his comments have merit . Unfortunately I forgot to ask him what they recommend to treat with ? :( I can and will call them up to see what they suggest .

But the Pelican brain trust is wide and deep :D so I will ask here , what do you guys like to use on outdoor wood decks for stain or clear preservative ? I know back in the day CWF from Flood was considered great stuff but online reviews of " today's formula " make it sound like it's no longer all that great . I am trying to get the wife to pick a stain color I would much prefer to get some color down IF we decide to go with a color vs. just a clear preservative . Many moons ago I sold Olympic brand stain and the thought process was use a semi transparent on horizontal surfaces does that still ring true ? Solid stains were considered for vertical surfaces .

I have a Home Depot near us and also have a Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore stores . So any suggestions on what to use ? If I apply clear preservative in the next month or so am I good for a few years if we then decide to stain ? Or do we have to make the decision NOW of clear vs. stain ? Rough figures are 700 s.f. needed so does 3 gallons sound about right ? Application would be cut in along house with brush then the balance rolled by hand . Are there still good quality oil based products out there or has everything gone acrylic/water based ? Fire away guys :D

Sikins is the product I use. They have been bought out by Pittsburg Paint. It’s called Cetol. It is an oil base product. Pricey but lasts a few years depending on the decks sun exposure. My decks are south facing so they get hammered by the sun.