New Deck

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by madcorgi

More importantly, some water pipes from the water heater go through that space. I was glad we found that, as we were one hard freeze away from waders.

Got it. I was way over thinking it given it was under the water channeling troughs.

Originally Posted by Matt Smith

I like that deck Bob. Does it face the sun?

It was cloudy that day and I did not notice. The deck/platform if fine, although basic. It's fit-for-purpose given the property, save the Bob built steps.

[RWebb]

Seeing that goofed up stairs is ironic - I was just talking to a carpenter yesterday after he finished up some siding work for me. He was describing some stairs where the PC (Previous Contractor) had hung the step on small Simpson ties that were nailed to the sides (!) Sounded like the little tiny L brackets.

He ripped it out and sistered in step cut boards to support the steps from below (in compression).

And BTW, this guy also went on about people not paying him for his work. I was recommended as a customer by a friend of his (painter, deck/fence stainer) which is why he took my job. Weird to not pay a guy, and he is low cost AND very competent, neatly done stuff too.

I could say other things besides weird but the filter would kill those words.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by RWebb

He ripped it out and sistered in step cut boards to support the steps from below (in compression).

I am pretty sure I will be sistering.

Originally Posted by Zeke

They won't look like Beverly Hills but they won't collapse which is what they are about to do.

Yes, Sir.

It took about three minutes to tear the steps off. A little longer to remove the bizarre nose piece the steps were leaning against.

The deck itself had nice zinc coated carriage bolts holding it together but lag bolts were used to attach the deck to the house. No washers on the lag bolts and they were not bottomed out. Sigh.

It will be a couple days work for this DIY guy to bring the entire structure up to snuff but much of the time will be spent thinking and staring at things at Home Depot, like Simpson ties to get the right ones. I also like to trick stuff out with my router. Nice to be semi-retired and have the latitude to help family out.

I got pics but enough hijacking of madcorgi's thread.

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

I am pretty sure I will be sistering.



Yes, Sir.

It took about three minutes to tear the steps off. A little longer to remove the bizarre nose piece the steps were leaning against.

The deck itself had nice zinc coated carriage bolts holding it together but lag bolts were used to attach the deck to the house. No washers on the lag bolts and they were not bottomed out. Sigh.

It will be a couple days work for this DIY guy to bring the entire structure up to snuff but much of the time will be spent thinking and staring at things at Home Depot, like Simpson ties to get the right ones. I also like to trick stuff out with my router. Nice to be semi-retired and have the latitude to help family out.

I got pics but enough hijacking of madcorgi's thread.

Fear not--the thread is yours to hijack.

My old deck had these things holding it together, which my builder told me were pretty high end hardware. I harvested a couple dozen during the demo. Never know when I might need a fake bolt.

[dad911]

Hmmm. We use Ledgerloks / Timberloks all the time, but I've never seen one with the imitation bolt head......