Need deck board layout help

[Scott Douglas]

That looks like it's going to be a nice place to relax.

[Baz]

Very nice, Rick. Good timing to get her near completion before the real heat arrives!

Marv - thanks for the head's up on the TWP - I'm always doing wood projects and have never been happy with most of what's out there for preservatives.

I'm re-doing my outdoor shower deck this weekend. It's not a huge area ((10) 5/4"x6" boards, 8' long) and was looking at composite but holy mackeral way too expensive! So I will be using the weathershield lumber from HD.

[rfuerst911sc]

Thanks guys yeah I am looking forward to being able to just chill on the deck 😁 . Baz I am sure you know but just in case you don't new pressure treated wood has to weather some before staining . It has to dry out so the oil/pigment of the stain goes INTO the wood vs. sitting ON the wood .

Not sure about your situation but our deck gets the morning sun and then is mostly shaded by the house roof in the afternoon . But just the morning exposure has dried out the deck boards in the few months they have been down . My plan is to give the deck boards a light sanding with some 80 grit then hit it with some deck wash .

In a perfect world I can get two weeks of no rain , that would allow a couple days of drying after the deck wash . Then a day or two to dry after the first coat and a day or two to dry for the second coat . That is the game plan but mother nature has to play nice for this to pan out 😁

[Baz]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Thanks guys yeah I am looking forward to being able to just chill on the deck 😁 . Baz I am sure you know but just in case you don't new pressure treated wood has to weather some before staining . It has to dry out so the oil/pigment of the stain goes INTO the wood vs. sitting ON the wood .

Yup I'm aware of that, thanks. Just thinking ahead a bit. I'll do the demo work today and then hit HD tonight when traffic isn't as bad here or in the store.

Will do the install tomorrow. Like I said - not a big job like yours but way overdue.

[Baz]

Didn't realize HD would be closing this early (they changed it to 6pm as of yesterday). Glad I checked before leaving. I've always preferred going there between 7-9pm.

Oh well....guess I'll go in the morning.

T.N.N....

[rfuerst911sc]

Hey guys today I finished the construction phase of this deck restoration man it feels great . Today I installed the hand rail cap boards I ended up using 2x4x12' pressure treated . By using 12 footers it cut down on the butt seams and ended up with very little waste . After installing the caps my wife and I ventured out to Home Depot and purchased solare post lights . Came home and got those installed so all 12 posts have a solar light on them . Not expecting greatness on the lights just a little mood lighting

So really all I have left on this portion is to sand/wash/stain which I will do sometime in the next two months . I say this portion because phase two will be extending the deck behind the parking garage I am building . My vision is step down two steps and the portion behind the parking garage will be where the gas and charcoal BBQ grills will reside along with a fire pit . Our youngest son bought us the wood burning fire pit for Christmas about 5 years ago time to put it to use . Here are three pics of today's progress .

[Captain Ahab Jr]

I'm really enjoying this project, looks great, Rick, thanks for the distraction

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by Captain Ahab Jr

I'm really enjoying this project, looks great, Rick, thanks for the distraction

Cap I hope you and Mrs. Cap are staying safe on your side of the pond

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Cap I hope you and Mrs. Cap are staying safe on your side of the pond

Thanks, we are save over here, hunkered down and keeping busy, hope you guys are save too

[rfuerst911sc]

Yesterday when I installed the solar post lights it was around 3:30 so they didn't have a full day to charge . Around 9:00 last night it was dark out and I walked the deck , all 12 lights were lit and for an advertised claim of 9 lumens they were quite bright . I actually was surprised . What surprised me more when I got up this morning at 6:00 they were all still lit and looked to be as bright as they were last night !

It is now almost 7:00 and I checked again and they are all still lit , two are dimmer than the others . These lights are nothing fancy , they were purchased at Home Depot and are made by Hampton Bay . For $19.95 a twin pack I am impressed . Will be interesting to see how they perform tonight after a full day of charging .

[rfuerst911sc]

Hey guys I'm back . So now my thoughts are getting ready for stain . I'm going to wash down the house first as the vinyl siding needs it . But then the deck . So what do you use to clean the deck ? Just some soapy water ? A mix of bleach ? Deck wash from big box store ? The woods seems dry to the touch so it's ready for the stain , just need to know how to clean .

The stain we have narrowed it down to TWP oil based semi transparent . I will apply with a roller do I use a foam roller cover or traditional style ? And what nap thickness ? I plan on applying two coats either the same day or back to back days . Any other tips ?

[rfuerst911sc]

Yesterday my wife and I went to the local lumber yard to pick up the deck stain , we ended up buying 10 gallons of TWP oil based semi transparent color # 120 pecan . Guy there said of all the stain brands they sell they get the best feedback on TWP so I am expecting greatness . Have to wash the house first then the deck so it will be a while before I post pics .

[rfuerst911sc]

Ladies and gentleman I think we can stick a fork in this one ................ she's done . My wife and I started at 9:00 yesterday morning and got all the stain applied we finished around 5:00 man are we beat . This morning I just had to do the outside of the posts as it was too hard to reach through the hogs fence . Weather was picture prefect yesterday and today high 70's to low 80's and a breeze . We ended up using TWP oil based semi transparent in color # 120 pecan . So another project checked off the list now going to concentrate on the new parking garage . Thanks to everyone that chimed in with suggestions and comments , it was very helpful . And on to the pic's

[Scott Douglas]

That looks great!
Good contrast to the pics you posted in #106 above.
Tell your wife she done good.

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

That looks great!
Good contrast to the pics you posted in #106 above.
Tell your wife she done good.

Scott I told my wife what you said , she said " well that was nice of him " Appreciate the comments .

[Evans, Marv]

Wow! What a major and beautiful addition to your home. Did you end up using the foam or knapped rollers? It always feels go good to get a big project behind you. Congrats!

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

Wow! What a major and beautiful addition to your home. Did you end up using the foam or knapped rollers? It always feels go good to get a big project behind you. Congrats!

I applied the stain with a standard 10" wide lambs wool applicator . To me I thought that the applicator would be fairly quick/easy and it worked the stain into the boards. I did have 1/2" thick standard style roller covers on hand but didn't use them . I was surprised the applicator pad only caught on a wood sliver only twice on the entire deck. On a rougher deck surface a roller would be the way to go .

[john70t]

Nicely done. I like the semi-transparent stain and wish I'd gone with that. The Cabots Australian oil I used is beautiful for the covered porch but on outside exposed wood it flakes up in spots and lasts only a few years before looking ratty again.

[rfuerst911sc]

John I couldn't decide between semi or solid for a while , I ended up with the semi after talking to some locals and just doing internet research . Our oldest son lives in the same town and his deck is also PT wood . He used solid stain ( don't know the brand ) and he has peeling issues in spots . Time will tell how long this lasts but my hope is 3 years . Any more would be a bonus 😁