Deck Project 2022

Final product. 26’x12’ Trex Deck with Aluminum railing. #trex #deckbuilding #first_time

4 footings. 50” deep, 2” of gravel, 48” of concrete. Frost line is 40” in Michigan.

This would’ve been a good time to clean up the extra dirt that’s out of the line. Currently new grass seed has to go down because all the grass died.

Spread that limestone….

….just like that. Don’t worry, we added more limestone at the end of the project.

The process of setting the post for the beam to rest on, was a trip. Had to use the laser level just before the sun came up to mark all the cuts properly.

Setting the post, beam, and framing all of this took a complete day. There was also a lot of times of stopping and thinking about the final product. Adding in blocking now to support the pieces of decking that ran in opposite directions

Thanks Pinterest for the design idea. Also Pinterest, you’re loaded with ADs and for that, you suck.

Mmmmm, that pattern

Threw together this quick box to help support the decking boards that were getting cut on the deck. This allow for the miter saw to get removed from the stand and moved closer to the project. Check out them pocket holes on that box.

Main deck and skirting done.

And now for the stairs. After figuring out where the stairs would land and making a based for them to sit on. They could be thrown together. Getting this 100% right took the whole day. You know how weird it feels when you walk down steps and that first step doesn’t feel like the rest of the steps

Stairs are 5’ wide. It was very nice when someone could go up the steps at the same time that someone was going down.

I was originally concerned about this railing and if it was the right style. I’m glad we made the choice we did.

Someday I’ll add decorative skirting around the deck to keep the animals out.