IT IS DONE!!!!
Ok, it needs to be waterproofed, but really IT IS DONE!!!
Joists, taken from my back door
We spent last week finalizing the joists (which are the REAL backbreakers on this project). They all needed ‘Hurricane clips’ and various other Ninja-star-looking metal bits screwed into them, and we had to keep checking levels and stuff, plus adding joist-hangers… it was the hard work I tell ya.
They need to have deck kits that include joists… because its a completely unsatisfying part of the project. They are ugly, you spend the entire time stepping THRU them, and tripping OVER them, and did I mention all the metal hangers you have to screw in to place to HOLD them there?!?!?
Crappy crappy crap. Joists suck. I get that they are the skeleton of my lovely new deck, but they suck anyway. So there.
Laying the cedar deck boards over the evil joists
After three weeks of working with the pressure-treated-chemical-filled 2×4s that became the evil joists, we made the decision to go with the cedar boards for our actual deck.
A very good-but-expensive choice (cedar was double the cost of pressure-treated deck boards) – but at least we got them on a weekend with a special no GST/PST!
So we started screwing them into place on Saturday afternoon.
And despite the rain on Sunday, we mustered on through, screw after screw.
Our deck, as taken from the west side
Finally resulting in this beautiful finished cedar deck!
We only have about half the screw in place, but that is probably going to change <groan> tonight.. and then we Thompsons-waterseal the sucker and HELLLOOOOO Summer!!
I’m totally thrilled, it makes the backyard look so much bigger, and the cedar is gorgeous.
