my deck/patio project

[ETpilot]

Looking at your pictures again, you may have to put a noise barrier around the AC unit. My house has a small alcove for a back patio which I never liked. I poured a slab extending out and along the back side of the house. This was great but the AC, placed similar to yours, was really annoying each time it turned on. I finally got tired of the noise and moved it around the corner of the house. The original AC was really noisy, the newer replacement is a lot quieter, like yours, but still would be a distraction.

BTW, my project looks similar to yours. I have four 14' pipes sticking up out of the ground.

 

[Chooglin]

Looking at your pictures again, you may have to put a noise barrier around the AC unit. My house has a small alcove for a back patio which I never liked. I poured a slab extending out and along the back side of the house. This was great but the AC, placed similar to yours, was really annoying each time it turned on. I finally got tired of the noise and moved it around the corner of the house. The original AC was really noisy, the newer replacement is a lot quieter, like yours, but still would be a distraction.

BTW, my project looks similar to yours. I have four 14' pipes sticking up out of the ground.

I agree,I think I may need to do something about that.I checked to see what it would cost to move it ($300.00) so I dont know if that is an option.

Good luck with your project!!!

 

[Chooglin]

I had a good day (got started at 10:00 am).completed everything I wanted for the day and best of all,I spent some more quality time with Dad.

They have changed the forcast for tomorrow,so I hope to get some of the
skirting up.

 

[Chooglin]

Front skirting is on and will be finishing up the side skirting during the week.

 

[EddieWalker]

Front skirting is on and will be finishing up the side skirting during the week.

This might not apply to you since I've never lived there, but here in the south, you absolutely HAVE to have air flow under a deck to stop mold from growing. Once moisture gets under the deck, the air flow is the only way to dry things out and keep them dry. That skirting looks like it will stop the flow of air and create the perfect environment for mold.

Eddie

 

[timswi]

This might not apply to you since I've never lived there, but here in the south, you absolutely HAVE to have air flow under a deck to stop mold from growing. Once moisture gets under the deck, the air flow is the only way to dry things out and keep them dry. That skirting looks like it will stop the flow of air and create the perfect environment for mold.

Eddie

I agree with you on the circulation issue...

As far as the ledger board...I put one on my house, but mounted it to the block foundation with posts and a box beam 4 feet out..Overkill as I've been told, but I didn't want to remove the siding and have the rot risk...Put a really wide 2 step platform coming out of the sliding glass door..Has worked really well, especially during snow storms...Everything stays below siding level.

Also, we have french drains in this part of the country and the ground close to the house is pretty much all gravel, so not good for post installation..

 

[Chooglin]

This might not apply to you since I've never lived there, but here in the south, you absolutely HAVE to have air flow under a deck to stop mold from growing. Once moisture gets under the deck, the air flow is the only way to dry things out and keep them dry. That skirting looks like it will stop the flow of air and create the perfect environment for mold.

Eddie

Good point,these boards are pretty wet,I assume they should shrink and create gaps for venting.I will give them a year to see how much shrinkage I get and if they dont gap,I plan on installing two vents on the sides.

 

[MotorSeven]

Good choice on 6x6's instead of 4x4's. They are not only stronger, but look a heck of a lot better!

 

[ustmd]

Moving along
I got off to a late start tonight (my helper was late getting to my house).
but I did get quite a bit done.the support beam is in and some of the floor joist.
Tomorrow I will be laying down the plastic and gravel and setting the rest of the floor joist.
They are calling for rain Sunday ,so I will get the day off

that is all for today.

Nice looking start.

I was looking back through the thread and didn't see, what is the span of the deck? What size are your joists-they look like 2 x12s, but it is difficult to tell from the pictures.

Not trying to snipe, just curious.

 

[Chooglin]

Nice looking start.

I was looking back through the thread and didn't see, what is the span of the deck? What size are your joists-they look like 2 x12s, but it is difficult to tell from the pictures.

Not trying to snipe, just curious.

The deck is 20'x10' and the joists are 2x10's.

I had several friends and family members ask, if I plan on parking my car on there......lol.

I have always beleived in "over kill"

 

[Chooglin]

I made a little more progress tonight.I put two more post in and the skirting on one end.these post's are not concreted in,just two 3/8" lag bolts in each post.these are just there for the railing,balusters and skirting.

I am hopeing to finish the other end tomorrow night and run the wire for electric saturday.(lights and outlets)

 

[ustmd]

The deck is 20'x10' and the joists are 2x10's.

I had several friends and family members ask, if I plan on parking my car on there......lol.

I have always beleived in "over kill"

Or parking one mother-in-law on it:laughing:

I am a big believer in over kill. When I was buildling my in laws's deck, I found a lot of information about injuries from decks that collapsed because they were built "good enough".

 

[Chooglin]

The more I think about it,I am going to go with Eddie's advice and put six vents in.I am looking at foundation vents, that I think will work just fine for the deck.

 

[Chooglin]

Or parking one mother-in-law on it:laughing:

I am a big believer in over kill. When I was buildling my in laws's deck, I found a lot of information about injuries from decks that collapsed because they were built "good enough".

My mother-in-law is a tiny woman,It would take a few dozen of women her size, to make the deck even grunt:laughing:

 

[EddieWalker]

I had a client that had a big deck that was all sealed in. I had to get under it to run some wiring and found that it was soaking wet in there, and covered in mold. I showed them the problem and that the reason was because of no air movement.

They are terrified of snakes and wanted it sealed up to keep them out. While that worked, it created other issues.

They came up with a really nice idea of cutting stars into the wood and attaching screen to the inside. I wasn't there to see them do it, but I did see it after they had finished. Each star is about a foot across, and they are about 4 ft apart.

Best part is that it solved the moisture problem!!!!

Eddie

 

[Chooglin]

Finished up the other end tonight.they are calling for rain and thunderstorms tomorrow,so it will be a good day to go buy more supplies.

 

[Chooglin]

I had a client that had a big deck that was all sealed in. I had to get under it to run some wiring and found that it was soaking wet in there, and covered in mold. I showed them the problem and that the reason was because of no air movement.

They are terrified of snakes and wanted it sealed up to keep them out. While that worked, it created other issues.

They came up with a really nice idea of cutting stars into the wood and attaching screen to the inside. I wasn't there to see them do it, but I did see it after they had finished. Each star is about a foot across, and they are about 4 ft apart.

Best part is that it solved the moisture problem!!!!

Eddie

I am going to go to Lowes tomorrow and see what they have as far as vents go.I hope to find somthing that will look good.

Thanks again for the suggestion !!!

 

[Chooglin]

I was able to get a little more work done on the deck/patio.I put the last 3 posts in for the patio area,I also put 6 of the 7 vents in and the electric.

The forecast for this week is not looking to good,so I dont think I will be getting much done until thursday.

 

[EddieWalker]

You suprised me with those posts out in the grass. How far is the roof going to go and what's happening in front of the deck?

Eddie

 

[Chooglin]

You suprised me with those posts out in the grass. How far is the roof going to go and what's happening in front of the deck?

Eddie

Eddie,the six taller posts will be getting a roof attached to them.that area will be the patio/pavillion area.I will be pouring a 24x15, stamped concrete pad there.

The roof will be made of 6x6 treated lumber (for the beams) and 1 1/2" thick treated ,tongue and groove.I will then felt the roof and put a tin roof over that.