The Little Deck that Could
by Christopher Fox
(Grand Haven, MI, USA)
The Little Deck that Could
I started with completely tearing my little 10X12 treated wood deck out--it was simply too small to fit my new 6 burner grill and my growing family.
Once I tore out my old deck I wasn't too sure what to do next, since I had never built a deck before.
After a few hours on the internet, I decided to go buy a how-to book from Home Depot. After a few minutes thumbing through the pages, I was inspired to say the least.
I bought a book that walked you through the steps on building a deck. After deciding on what size and configuration, I applied for a building permit and submitted my drawing to receive a permit.
Once I got a permit I purchased all the treated wood and joist hangers along with gray Veranda composite decking from the Home Depot. I reused all the older joist that appeared to be in good shape.
One of my biggest challenges was building a grilling station that didn't protrude into the general walking area.
I dug all the holes for the post and added faux stone post covers from my lumberyard. These covers really set the deck off. It makes it look very sturdy.
Another challenge was to cut the stair railing to the proper angle--for an amateur it took three tries before I got it right.
The hidden fasteners on the deck give it a clean look and now my deck and outdoor living area is the envy of all my neighbors--all because I rebuilt the little deck that could!
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