What is the product that you covered the top of the joist with? Thats a good idea and should make them last much longer. I have a constant battle with my decks down here. seems like I have to tear up and replace a small section every few years. this was last yrs project.(the lighter wood) where that cat is setting will be next.
It was recommended by the lumber yard. It is called ZIP flashing tape and it feels like a huge roll of electrical tape. https://www.lowes.com/pd/ZIP-System-90-ft-Stretch-Panel-System-Tape/1000510449
Think I'll use that next time I pull up a section. Seems that the biggest problem is not the deck boards but the joist rotting. I know most of the early failures is my fault from the get go as I used the wrong nails the first time around 15 yrs ago. They rotted in the treated lumber. All repairs made after were using the correct screws and man do ya go through a lot of them!
Yes, I've used about $160 worth of stainless screws alone. I've got about $1,200 in lumber in this project so far.
OK, the steps are DONE! I left overhand on the sides so it is as wide as the front band. Now, I'm working on the railing balusters and mocked up the first one to see how it looks. This is the idea I'm going for. I'm going to use my pocket screw jig to put screws into the 6x6 from the side so they are well secured. I think it will support the faux posts next to the house better than the balusters that go from guardrail to the 2x10 joist/band. I never liked that and it was hard to sweep off the deck due to the prison bars all the way to the deck surface. Someone on FB said it needed to be lower so I can definitely do that. It is 4" off the deck and 4" between them.
I finally got all of the railing up. I think it looks a lot better than the old railing. I never liked it and it looked like an after thought. You can see by my pile of scrap that I put my chop saw to the test. I used the pocket hole jig to mount the bottom of the railing into the posts. There wasn't any way I could secure them from the bottom. The old baluster mountings kept coming loose if you bumped them. These will not. Now, I have to finish the lattice around the bottom and place a lot more red concrete walkway squares. Then, a little landscaping and it will be ready for spring.
Looking good! In the photo above it looks to me like the rise of the steps on the left are not the same? Might just be the photo (or my eyes). It's very important for the safety and ease of walking stairs that the rises are uniform, I know this, because the home I live in was built by as crazy person and NONE of the stairs were consistent when I moved in. Still have a concrete set that approaches the front door that are wrong... Someday!
It must be the angle because the stringers were cut the same. I did let the larger steps hang over a bit past the stringers on the sides. The tread boards are the same 2x6.
Started a small deck project yesterday. Post set in concrete. Today I'll lay out the stringers. This is more of just a fill in over a place that I dont like to mow and is otherwise unusable. Looking at lumber prices ... I think I picked the wrong time to take this on.
Yes, I suffered sticker shock, too. I was set to do Trex but nobody had everything as in every place in town together couldn't supply the stuff. That's why I used 2x6 radiused edge. It was less than $1/ft for 16ft boards and stronger than 5/4 boards. That only works if you are completing a project with it and not adding on or repairing.
I need to rebuild my deck but the current lumber prices & shortages are keeping me from starting right now.
Ugh ended up having to dig. I hate to dig! Got todays load installed. Going back for another load tomorrow as well as a bunch of galvanized lag bolts. have learned over the last 15 years of building decks that nails alone dont last and its much easier to do it now that redo it later.
Got my framing done. Gonna pick up a couple of rolls of the Zip tape tomorrow. Lowes online says its in stock at my store. Did you paint / stain the back side of the deck boards?
I did stain the backs of the boards. I don't know if it will help but I can't imagine it will hurt. Your structure is looking pretty good!
Thinking I'll cut everything to size then let it dry out for a week and then paint / stain the back sides and screw it down. I have so much deck around the house thats its become a yearly thing to demo a old section and redo. Looking at what I did 15+ years ago its a wonder it lasted as long as it did.
