Favorite project?

[ArtDeck-O]

We all have one....the project that you probably went 3/4 nuts working on or maybe you got close to being in the poorhouse, but the end result was well worth it. Whether it was for you or a client, let's see what you did!

Here's mine....the deck surface you see is 8' above grade, we hid the drop with the deck. This one was tough to build!

http://www.hannawoodworks.com/Decks57Pirie.html

[Andy Engel]

Nice job, Art.

[cdac]

bent beam/curves

[ArtDeck-O]

Very nice work! I like curves. We've been doing the ground level curves for awhile, but I have yet to do an elevated version. How do you bend the beams?

[redwood]

This was a fun project that I did many years ago. Thus the poor camera work.

I actually held my wedding reception here.

[ArtDeck-O]

Man that is one nice bench! I like the small deck too....fine job.

[007deckbuilder]

Art,
Amazing work!! About how many man hours did you spend on a deck of this size with the upgrades? Sadly most of the decks we've done in the Pensacola area were never this nice. Always good to have a client with more luxurious tastes and checkbook to match.

[ArtDeck-O]

Yeah we don't get too many of the high rollers yet....mostly first or second time homeowners with a budget. But every now and again, we get a good one.

It took us 7 weeks to build and a week to prep and stain. There were three of us on the staff at that point so figure 7 hours average a day actual build time....probably 800+ man hours.

Of course this one was done in the heat of summer and the white rock was radiating quite nicely....I think the ambient temp was around 110* and the heat index close to 114*. In fair weather we could have knocked it out in a little less time.

Kelly

[lavrans]

We all have one....the project that you probably went 3/4 nuts working on or maybe you got close to being in the poorhouse, but the end result was well worth it. Whether it was for you or a client, let's see what you did!

Here's mine....the deck surface you see is 8' above grade, we hid the drop with the deck. This one was tough to build!

http://www.hannawoodworks.com/Decks57Pirie.html

Nice looking deck. I like how seamlessly it transitions.

Here's a particular nightmare.

It's actually 2 decks, one over the other. The shed is a column that extends to the ground- approximately 40' from top deck to the ground, on the side and back-side of the house. Not accessible with a crane.

Started off as a simple decking replacement- but the framing and old beams were rotten. Oh- and the house had been originally sided with LP and the replacement crew didn't replace or there never was any flashing. Wound up re-building one entire corner of the house, reframed upper decks, including new PT glue-lam beams on both decks. Added metal cap flashing over all beams, an under-deck system to keep the lower deck dry (that one has a very large hot tub on it). There was an existing system that had sheet metal between the joists of the upper deck framing to keep the lower deck dry, but the design just held water to the joists helping speed their failure.

the weird red picture is the sheet metal pan under the "shed" that protects the column underneath (it's the same dimension as the shed) from moisture. Lots of planters, all had to be re-built. New planters got copper liners painted with elastomeric paint, all have drains, irrigation and lighting.

Long and hard- had to get all those beams up by hand- couldn't get a crane to reach. Plus what you can't see- a 6-1/8x 22 GLB that held up about 1/4 of the house that had rotted out because of the nonexistent flashing. We had to shore up the house, remove & replace the beam. Again- no way to get mechanical assistance, and a steep slope that we had to move all tools & equipment down (and, of course, then back up).

[ArtDeck-O]

That one doesn't sound fun at all. Looks like you did a good job with it though. I think I looked at that brand of under deck treatment....what was the name?

[lavrans]

That one doesn't sound fun at all. Looks like you did a good job with it though. I think I looked at that brand of under deck treatment....what was the name?

It actually had enough interesting stuff to make it fun. And memorable. I spent a few years rebuilding decks up in the hills here, and they are all on these brutal hills with the decks on the back side of the house. Everything gets drug down 45º slopes in the rain and snow. Lots of hay to keep the path walkable. And scaffold- I don't have a picture, but we had 4 levels of scaffold on this deck. Another took 5- that one we had to re-build a GLB in place, while it was holding up the piano room.

The waterproofing is Dek Drain. It seems to be holding up really well- it's been 5+ years and no problems.

[ArtDeck-O]

Cool...I recently signed up with them....that's a great product.

You can have those hills....:):):) We don't have many here, but if I lived where I used to [Ruidoso, NM], I'd be used to 'em by now. Dallas doens't have too many cliffs or steep hills but I do have a job next month on a white-rock cliff.

Glad it was an enjoyable project for you, that makes it all worth it!

[BuildWritewell]

Newaygo Decks With Composite Decking
http://www.homeplansforfree.com/Free-Deck-Plan-Designs/thumbnails.php?album=4

This lakeside deck turned out great when we finally finished it!
http://www.homeplansforfree.com/Free-Deck-Plan-Designs/thumbnails.php?album=4&page=2

[ArtDeck-O]

Good timing getting the Red Tail in the deck photo at your house....nice shot!