Ingersoll444 was in inquiring about deck ideas, so I thought I'd add this.


Here's some pics of a deck that I built in 1991 that I just scanned.

I had french doors professionally installed in place of a window for access out of my dining room. I had the contractor install a ledger board down the side of the house so I could attach a deck.

I did all of the work myself, except for a couple of friends that helped on digging and pouring the piers, and also to set some joists.

I used a book to get basic deck construction techniques, and designed the deck myself. I spent hours thinking and drawing, but it paid off.

The raised flower bed was over a little storage area underneath. The flower bed was lined with plastic that was perforated directly over some PVC pipe that was ripped in half. It actually worked!. Don't know how well it held up, as I moved about 4 years after I built the deck.

The benches and the raised flower bed/storage area took the longest, as I kept changing my mind and did a lot of changes on the fly. The whole thing took a week of vacation, and working every evening possible after work for about a month! But I'm a pretty slow carpenter.


http://www.homepage.mac.com/userosx/.Pictures/deck4-MTF.jpg


http://www.homepage.mac.com/userosx/.Pictures/deck5-MTF.jpg


http://www.homepage.mac.com/userosx/.Pictures/deck-rsd2-MTF.jpg


http://www.homepage.mac.com/userosx/.Pictures/deck-rsd-MTF.jpg


http://www.homepage.mac.com/userosx/.Pictures/deck-flwrs-MTF.jpg


http://www.homepage.mac.com/userosx/.Pictures/deck-MTF.jpg

More pics.

Looks good Mow :congrats: Now the wife wants to know when can you come over and do her one just like it. :trink39:

Well, Jody, I was about 14 years younger when I built that. I don't know if I have it in me to work dill dusk after working my job all day like I did back then! :D

Great job Mow..Did you do anything to the place you are at now? :congrats:

Nope, it came with one already on it, and ain't built near as good as my old one! :D

Mow,

That was very nice. The seating also was what I referred to in my post so as to not lose the open effect. Question, what is the wire mesh for?

Cheers

JDFANATIC
JD2210

The chicken wire was to hold the plastic liner for the flower bed dirt. I forget what mil plastic was, but it was fairly thick.

Nice job Mow and I have complimented your efforts/skills on a prior project also!! Speaking of which, am I to assume it is still undergoing revision? ROF ROF

Nice job Mow and I have complimented your efforts/skills on a prior project also!! Speaking of which, am I to assume it is still undergoing revision? ROF ROF

I've throttled it down, as my wallet is light, and I've done enough damage for the time being! :D

Mow , Thats a work of art , and real good pics , I wish I could do stuff like that . I have the tools but no wood smarts. :congrats: :hatsoff:

Thanks for the compliments, Doc. I try to work by myself, as I'm sure I'd drive someone crazy because I'm pretty slow at it. The best way do carpentry if it doesn't come naturally is to just take your time and lay things out where they're going to go before you cut them. I make double and triple measurements which is a good practice with the price of wood these days!

Thanks for the compliments, Doc. I try to work by myself, as I'm sure I'd drive someone crazy because I'm pretty slow at it. The best way do carpentry if it doesn't come naturally is to just take your time and lay things out where they're going to go before you cut them. I make double and triple measurements which is a good practice with the price of wood these days!

I think a wise old Yankee said, "measure twice and cut once." I think his name was Norm Abrahams or something like that -- or maybe it was Samuel Adams -- or maybe that was what he was drinking -- or well warning us not to...

Woodworking is fun, and if you take Mow's approach, something everyone can do and enjoy!

Cheers

JDFANATIC
JD2210

I wouldn't concern yourself too much on your speed or slowness as a carpenter. It'd the quality of the work that shows long after you lay the hammer down. And there are too many guys out there with a saw, a hammer and a truck and claim to be carpenters that will bang together some wood in an afternoon and tell you it's quality work :00000060: , when in reality it's crap. Nothing to be ashamed of, if it took a little time to put your best effort into it. :fing32: