Sullishak --
      Building a deck  (2001)
Up Early History Expenses Family -- 1978 Fireplace -- 1981 Porch -- 1988 Trees -- 2001 Deck -- 2001 Stove -- 2003 Cribbage -- 2004 Roofing -- 2004 Electrical -- 2008 Foundation -- 2008 Landscaping -- 2008 Ownership - 2009

by Dave Sullivan

Wes and Nell decided we should have a deck on the porch, and Bill put together the rough drawing. I bought a book about building decks and found a used telephone pole to use for decoration. These pictures show how the project went.

 Barb and I arrived in September 2001 at the cabin with a load of materials.

Top: I bought the telephone pole for $75 and cut it into a bunch of shorter pieces.

 

Bottom: Look at the planter box made of brick at the front of the porch. We will have to remove this planter in order to build the deck.
I was exhausted trying to dig the holes for the two main poles that will hold up the wind screen. Digging the first couple of feet was fairly easy -- then I had to chip my way through the hard-pan soil.
The Sullishak sign gets moved from the flag pole (seen in a photo above) to the new wind screen pole.
Nancy and Mick arrived next, and Mick tackled the job of demolishing the brick planter.
Here you see Nancy working with a shovel to level a support block. Bill has arrived in the background.
Mick also installed the remaining decking for the wind screen.
We've completed installing the floor joist on 12" centers. We decided to build the deck out of Trex ... a product made from plastic and sawdust. Trex isn't as sturdy as real wood, so we needed lots of joists to support it firmly.
Bill, Mick, and I struggle with the details of installing the decking correctly.
These staged photos make it look like Bill and I just stood around thinking. I remember a lot more hard work than these photos show.
Bill attaches a piece of Trex with a wood screw. We used Phillips head screws, and they weren't easy to install because the bit kept popping out of the slots. I'd recommend using screws that take a square screwdriver bit next time.
All done!


Top: Nancy relaxes on a bench built from scrap lumber and decking.


Bottom: Everyone poses for a group shot on the new deck.

 
 
The Sullishak.com, Allen-House.Com, and  RoyalHouse1873.com websites are maintained by Dave and Barbara Sullivan who live in the N. H. Allen House at 208 6th Avenue SE, Albany, Oregon. Our home phone is 541-924-5983. We also maintain Spacehounds.Com for Mary Lowd and Abbey Road Auto Repair for Dave Helton.