Fellas,
It’s been a while since I have popped my head into breaktime but I had to “share” a job with you. This is a job I just rebuild. FOR THE RECORD: none of these phtos are of my corrected deck. If you want to see them, I’ll post them later.
The photos of the deck I have attached are of a deck built not by a homeowner, but of a (I don’t even want to use the word) “contractor”. If you need me to explain the deck to you… respond. I think the photo’s speak for themselves.
David.
Yes, he used 2×8’s for the decking and no, nothing was set into the ground (i.e. concrete footers or 4×4’s).
David H. “Splinky” Polston
Founder of Sawdust, Norfolk, Virginia
Replies
Interesting. It makes you wonder what the hell is going on in some peoples minds.
Did the contractor walk away from that deck thinking, "WOW, what a beautiful job."
Here are more photos. Take note of photo ...017, that is his version of a handrail.
I ended up finding out that my new deck cost less (labor and materials) than his materials. Go figure!
Strange world isn't it?
Splinky
David H. "Splinky" Polston
Founder of Sawdust, Norfolk, Virginia
A number of years ago, I was called upon to fix a deck that failed final inspections. The original contractor was nowhere to be found (of course). The HOs had paid him in full before finals.
It cost about 1/2 of the original price for the repairs. Some of the problems were- main girder under deck not spliced over posts; decking ends not landing on joists; steps from deck not landing on concrete pad and incorrect rise layout; railings only nailed to perimeter joists with 1 nail- I was able to push the railings off very easily.
They were very happy with the repairs, and I got more work from them. I just wish I could have had a "talk" with that first guy.
There is more to the story.My client: works with my wife but in a different capacity
My client: works with a partner (2 people in her department)
My clients partner: refered HER son, the contractor to screw up her deck
My clients partner's husband: works for a "box lumber" store
My clients, partner's husband: has him (the son) on the contractor list to work for the "box store" coustomers I don't think my fingers will hold out long enough for me to type all of the "conversations" I have had will all of the above players on our little drama.There is good news though, my client has already contracted me to build her a pagoda over her hot tub, stain everything, install a woven fabric top onto it, build her sister a new deck and in the spring, add on to her house (bigger bedroom and expand her "one-butt" kitchen (her kitchen will only hold one butt,it's way small)Here are some of my photos of the deck (pre-staining)David(I just realized that I didn't take any photos after the stairswere installed. I will post more when the pagoda is up and the deck is stained)David H. "Splinky" Polston
Founder of Sawdust, Norfolk, Virginia
Just sitting here hoping someone will reduce all these pics.I'm curious, but not curious enough to open a bunch of 2 meg pictures.
Are we there yet ?
Here dude, I'll resize them. They're just too good not to see. Maybe the best I've ever seen here.... actually gave me the giggles. Only one that may have been better was that porch someone had pictures of where it looked like they used random length joists and rafters and then put a rim board and fascia on them.
Awesome stuff Splinky.... those pictures are priceless. I think my favorite one is the one with the vabor barrier/ mosquito nest with those footing things and that one little lonely lag bolt in the middle of the ledger. I could stare at that picture for hours. Awesome.
View Image
> Maybe the best I've ever seen here.... actually gave me the giggles.
So you gotta see the one of the gutter crossing in front of the windows. That I really laughed at. (Looks like the attachment didn't work)
-- J.S.
Edited 9/23/2005 7:06 pm ET by JohnSprung
Another try on the attachment, still not working. But it's already here in message 61263.10
-- J.S.
Thank you Brian.I think I'll pull a Buck here and AAAAAAAAaaaaaahahahahahahahaaaaaa
Are we there yet ?
ok, other than the 2 lag screws holding the entire thing to the house, and the strange 4x4 joist stiffener, would someone mind listing the mistakes in the framing/foundation? i think i may have picked out the problem with the top stair tread.
Thanks for taking the time to resize the pics. They really are priceless.
Mike
Nice work, what you've posted so far. The pagoda sounds like a fun project.
I did a deck/screen room this summer. I'll post some pics when I get the chance.
I've got cable, but the guys with dial-up really can't open files that big. At least, not quickly. If you want more people to look, you should resize 'em.
splinky... for cryin outloud.. would you reduce those pics to something others can see ?
they should be under 100K....yours are 2mb..
download Irfanview and help yourself to some great free sharewareMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Spinky, on your photo #070 I notice there are some screw heads standing proud of the decking. Those can be pretty rough on bare feet.
The new deck is a world of improvement over that original POS.
just thought i'd toss this one in...
got a call from a rental proporty owner (in a reasonalby nice neighborhood) a while back to come and give him a price on doing a "deck repair". He said his tenents had just moved out and wanted to see if what kind of "quick fix" I could do.
This is what I saw looking out of the back door. I gave him a price and never heard from him again... thank goodness.
> has him (the son) on the contractor list to work for the "box store" coustomersSo was the original deck built on a contract through the big-box?
*** has him (the son) on the contractor list to work for the "box store" customersThis deck wasn't contracted through them. The homeowner worked directly with the person. (She was sick over it, she was out of town when it was built).I see some interest in the lag bolt thing. Check out the pic below. And yes, the stringers were nailed to the top of the finished deck causing the trip hazard. The homeowner wouldn't let her 5 year old out there because of the safety concerns. My wife and I were just talking about this thing (she knows all the guy) and she said that he thought he did a good job. He even went back and fixed the deck once. He also built his mom and dad a deck and mom loves hers and didn't think that one (the one in the thread) was too bad.It is interesting that you all pick out the same things I saw on the deck. here are a couple more particulars: the 2x8 dexking was secured with 2" screws and 12p finishing nails. Contractor dude also put um a privacy fence using no concrete for the 4x4's. Yep, just stick 'er in the ground. He did some roof repair somewhere on the house (the shed I thing) and buried the excess shingles in the yard. Yes, you did read that right. It was like finding buried treasure... dig around a bit, bingo! Shingles!Splinky I am sorry about the size of the pics. I was a professional photographer before I realized I could make more money building. I still run the photo business on the side. But I still I forget to resize them sometimes.David H. "Splinky" Polston
Founder of Sawdust, Norfolk, Virginia
splinky.. interesting pics..
if you can resize them to under 100K, you will still get all of the detail and they can be viewed without panning
View Image
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Edited 9/24/2005 11:25 am ET by MikeSmith
Ok, #26 in splinky's post............It is just me, or does it look like that fence post doesn't even got into the ground?
When in doubt, get a bigger hammer!
Great thread... on the resizing of pics I recently found this link for the best I've ever used pic resizer. Its microsoft so it integrates with your windows perfectly. You can resize on pic or whole folders. Just right click and pic you size. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx
Scroll down the right column for Image Resizer. Small program...but works great.
Byron
--- I ended up finding out that my new deck cost less (labor and materials) than his materials. Go figure! ---His materials were probably all surplus (or "shrinkage") picked up from someone else's site!How else do you account for joists spliced to posts, and perimeter fencing for a handrail???Rebeccah
"Take note of photo ...017, that is his version of a handrail."What's wrong with that handrail?It's functional.It's attractive.And during mating season, when wasps start building their nests in those #$%**# metal tubes the neighborhood kids will get a lesson in entomology (and first aid, to boot).
Splinky
I'm partial to those steps! Wow how the hell could some one build that trip hazard.
How could you walk away and not realize what ya just did?
Doug
My guess is the guy who did the original work bought those stupid pre-cut strings from HD or one of the other big boxes.
Judging by the rest of the work, he probably wouldn't know how to cut strings himself.
HA HA I love how that little footer/thing in the upper right corner of the pic. in Diespig's post is just leaning over to the [email protected]!
And Don't make fun of those steps guys.......thats good green building! Use up all those scraps so that you don't waiste any more wood!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Casas a gusto--Si no te gusta, Well your guto's got a problem
WOW! No freakin way
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
WWPD
Hmmmmmmmmm..............